Brainstorm! Challenge

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Editorial cartoon was in poor taste

The cartoon by Corky in the May 25 Star-Bulletin was the most appalling, repulsive, disgusting and awful cartoon I have ever seen. It depicted President Bush in the fuselage of an airplane surrounded by the flag-draped coffins of our deceased servicemen and women returning home. The caption read: "If we knew then what we know now, we'd have done the same thing."

I believe Corky and the editorial page editor of the Star-Bulletin should make a public apology to the people of Hawaii for printing this insulting and abominable cartoon.

Robert M. Lowe
Honolulu

Corky's cartoons are consistently great

I have been remiss in not writing about the quality of the Corky cartoons that I have enjoyed over the years. I must admit that I think you are making a mistake by moving his page one cartoon inside to page two, but I guess that encourages the Corky followers to buy the paper instead of being able to see him on the bottom of page one.

But I do make a serious request: Never, never, never let him take vacation during the legislative session. There are just too many great opportunities for his editorial comments.

Jerry B. Norris
Makiki

Abu Ghraib fits with policy of deniability

Abu Ghraib is the most recent incident of the policy and practice of chain of command deniability, i.e., "do what you have to do to get what we want done; we don't want to know how you did it." Then cover-ups and whitewashing follow.

An earlier incident of deniability and cover-up during Gulf War I is recalled in Manoa Valley Theatre's current production. Based on the true story of Lt. Col. Ralph Hayles, "Gunfighter: A Gulf War Chronicle" tells the story of a soldier whose career and life are changed by a tragic friendly fire incident during the 1991 Gulf War. Hayles is the only soldier in the U.S. Army's history to be named publicly by the military and media as the shooter in a friendly fire situation. "Gunfighter" is the tangled story of media and military, ambition and duty, and it reveals the complexity of professional relationships when they collide with technology and personal ambition.

These are not "isolated incidents of a few bad apples," but are systematic and pervasive throughout the military ranks, even extending to the chaplaincy corps as well as to the Pentagon. When it comes to integrity vs. personal careers, it is more important to go along to get ahead, as I observed during a 40-plus-year career in the military and state and federal government from 1959 to 2001.

T.J. Davies Jr.
Retired captain, USAF
Kapolei

Kennedy's remarks should spark outrage

How dare Sen. Ted Kennedy suggest that the torture chambers of Saddam Hussein are now being run by the U.S. military. It is outrageous to compare Saddam's slaughter of innocent civilians to the psy-ops methods used by U.S. military police to break down enemy fighters. Doesn't Kennedy realize that he is giving encouragement to our enemies in our war against terror, while putting our own soldiers at greater risk?

John F. Kennedy would turn over in his grave if he could hear what his brother is saying. Where has that Democratic Party gone? It is sickening that "Mr. Chappaquiddick" can speak so irresponsibly, and yet I hear no public outrage. Auwe.

Stef Wenska
Kailua

Civil war may be only way to unite Iraq

In Iraq, consider this: If the Shiites and Sunnis are bent on fighting each other to gain recognition in their government, let them have their civil war without American or U.N. military interference. After all, the states weren't truly united until after our own Civil War.

Marjorie Scott
Kailua

Unwed mother isn't the one to 'Idolize'

Well, America has chosen Fantasia Barrino as our new American Idol, so I must say congratulations to her! See, kids, what America is saying is that as long as you have some talent, you can drop out of school at about age 16 or 17. You can get pregnant and be an unwed mother at about the same age. Slack off a couple of years just eating, hollering at your child. Then audition for "American Idol," and hope and pray Randy, Paula and Simon just love you, along with the rest of America. Win it, have fame, make tons of money, make No. 1 records and live happily ever after! Wait! Is this the kind of person we want our kids to idolize?

It's great that she's gonna make tons of money and she's gonna be able to take care of her and her daughter's future. But that's not someone I'd want my kids (if I had any) or nieces and nephews too idolize, it's sending the wrong message.

Diana DeGarmo and Jasmine Trias, now they are my American idols. Too bad the rest of America didn't see it that way. Diana did a fantastic job and she would have been a great American idol, but I'm sure we'll see her for many more years to come.

I'd like to thank Jasmine and Camile Velasco for representing Hawaii with such grace and poise throughout this competition and for showing America what great talent Hawaii has. Week after week they brought all of us in Hawaii together as one big ohana, jamming up the telephone lines voting for them and trying to keep them in the contest for as long as we could. May their futures be as bright as they are.

Ryan Boshard
Wahiawa

Some media too quick to report bad news

I find it irresponsible that some of the television and radio news programs decided to jump on the sensationalistic news of an officer assaulting a suspect outside the police cell block.

Strange that a story would make such news before all the facts are known, such as did they even know that the "victim" in question allegedly was threatening to "kill" the officer? Did they know that the "victim" had many prior contacts with police where he threatened them and tried to assault them and spit on them?

Did they even wonder what would make an officer punch a suspect outside a police station when he knows there are cameras surrounding the exterior of the station?

The answer is plain and simple. The news reporters once again jumped on the bad news to make ratings, even if the news was misrepresented.

I find it refreshing that the Star-Bulletin ("Officer's altercation sparks internal inquiry," May 11) decided to do its homework instead of printing an article before all the facts were known.

Albert Lee
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] The ponds at the state Capitol are full of icky green stuff. What, besides holding an election, can we do to get rid of all that scum at the Big Square Building? Or should we just replace the ponds with something else? Tell us what you think, whether you know of a way to clean the ponds or if you'd rather see a remodel of the Capitol grounds. Anything would be an improvement. Send your ideas by June 16 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750