Brainstorm! Challenge

---

What is happening to people of faith?

When I was young, back in the 1940s, I was surrounded by good and decent people. They lived a way of life taught by example by their Buddhist and Christian forebears. I never heard a discouraging or mean-spirited word.

Now I look around and I am stunned by the things I see and hear. There are Christians who break the commandments at will and ignore the teachings of the Lord. There are Buddhists who seldom pray and do not practice the selfless teachings of the Buddha. These people are actually practicing atheism and Jesus Christ told us that atheists go to hell.

A British philosopher and medieval scholar once said if you are given the chance to look into hell, do not look because what you see will either kill you or drive you insane. Why would anyone want to go to such a place?

If we do not return to our roots, we are going to see a disaster of our own making.

Alex P.S. Furubayashi
Honolulu

Electorate must keep tabs on Maui council

It has always been a joy to write positive and supportive letters about the actions of local government when officials are willing to honestly support the needs of the citizens of Maui County. I wish the circumstances were such that open channels of communication and support between our citizenry and our council were available and working. I can hope for such a future -- but I also understand it is only through determined work and thoughtful introspection of our system of government that such a reality can ever have the chance to be more than just a dream.

We have a long way to go in the Maui County Council to have truly open, honest, skilled and compassionate servants of the people. It would be great if the majority of Council incumbents were willing and able to serve in such a role. It's not that they are bad people -- they are not. It's that they do not have the capacity to see the value in such service. This is unfortunate. I would like to see the county council reach a point where it IS an honorable and ethical place of service.

We all have to take responsibility for the capacities of the people we vote into power. If we are not willing to hold them responsible or to replace them if necessary, it is in the long run a failure on our part. Democracy insists on an aware electorate. Can we remember this in our upcoming election?

Sean Lester
Haiku, Maui

What's with all those grouches on Big Isle?

Thank you, Oahu, for a great first trip to Hawaii this past February. The general helpfulness of everyone I encountered, regardless of job description, was most impressive. Certainly not an easy task given the million-plus visitors every year.

Is there some sort of time warp that causes all this to evaporate on the Big Island? No aloha spirit here. At least pretend to look up from the counter when asking for a credit card. Also, please save aboriginal-rights issues for elected officials and do not take out hostilities on visitors. My guess is that so far, Uncle Sam has been pretty good to everyone there. If you're 6,000 miles from home and you break down on the New Jersey Turnpike, you want a friendly face to help -- and not one that first asks for a credit card.

I enjoyed selecting a new beach to visit every 20 minutes and can hardly wait to come back to Hawaii again.

Harvey Meyer
Cambridge, Ontario
Canada

Withdrawing from Iraq is best course to take

After the Iraqi interim governing council is selected by June 30 and a nationwide election is held in January 2005, we should plan to withdraw our troops and let the United Nations take over the security of Iraq. Things have become too complicated and deadly there for us to understand what is happening.

By withdrawing, it will give us time to sort out and plan for future decisions regarding our relations with that country.

The Iraqis want us out of their country, sooner rather than later. We need time to ponder our actions and rebuild our armed forces. What do you think?

Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu

One can do good work without the degree

In regard to Kelly Baird's comments (Letters, May 17), there are many individuals throughout the state that possess undergraduate and graduate degrees in the social sciences. Many of these caring people work within social service agencies providing needy people critical services. Why shouldn't these individuals be recognized as human services professionals?

Just because a person possesses an Master's in Social Work, that does not make him or her more competent than another person with a degree in a related field. Many quality workers within the Department of Health Services that don't possess an M.S.W. but do possess other advanced degrees. The bottom line: A caring attitude helps people, not just a degree.

Ryan Tin Loy
Honolulu

U.S. 'emperor' gives isle Democrats focus

As a delegate to the Democratic Convention last weekend I found Richard Borreca's May 26 article, "Isle Dems seeing numerous new faces," to be informative as well as amusing. After attending the caucuses I couldn't agree more with Senate President Robert Bunda that the "Democratic Party is alive and well." Democrats are more energized and motivated than I have seen them since Bill Clinton's second term, and is it any wonder? Emperor Bush has done more damage to our nation both domestically and internationally than any previous president.

Members of his own party vocally question his leadership. What I found amusing was GOP Chairman Brennon Morioka's remark that the Democrats "are still searching for themselves." I will personally send the chairman our party's platform because he doesn't have a clue what it is and what we stand for. And if he doesn't believe we are committed and have beliefs, just watch how we turn out on November 2!

Tim Slear
Honolulu

---

BACK TO TOP
|

[ 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