Keep things civil by getting rid of weddings
In the United States, all couples must get licenses for their unions to be valid in the eyes of the law. Gays call the union a "marriage"; they are "married." Straight couples call their uniting a "wedding," and in a religious service they are "wedded." Many straight couples choose "weddings" that are performed by a judge and therefore are "civil ceremonies."Why not abandon the verbal referencing and be done with it; let a rose by any other name suffice. Gay couples can have a civil ceremony and be as content as are straight couples who choose a "civil license." If gay couples want a church ceremony afterward, who cares but them and their friends, as they are already married in the eyes of the law and entitled to the benefits therefrom?
Kailua
Let's try to adapt to Kailua's changes
I will be pleased to be able to park under cover while shopping at Longs and Macy's in Kailua. There has been a great hullabaloo about the "ugly" three-level garage being built in downtown Kailua. It may not be beautiful, but it will give us two levels of covered parking without bird droppings. I am sure the cars stored on the top level by a dealership will not be that visible from the street. In fact, the whole building is already eclipsed by the larger Longs building in front of it. The only people who will see it are the residents of a nearby high-rise.I, too, want to keep Kailua the way it was, but this has become impossible. There are more people living here all the time. If you want to keep things the way they were, practice birth control. For more people, we must have facilities to accommodate them. The trick, in the future, is to arrange for the new facilities to look rural, like the monkeypod trees in the medial on Kailua Road. Delightful!
Kailua
After years of despair, America can hope
John Kerry's speech at the convention was just what this country needed to hear -- a message of hope and positivity. After such a difficult three years, filled with so much deception and distrust, there is finally reason to hope again.Kerry is a man with integrity, a proven record, strength and wisdom. It's time for Americans to get behind our next great leader.
Kailua
Networks make sure people are uninformed
It has been noted with concern across the country how little coverage the TV networks are giving to this year's political conventions. Unfortunately, reporting that informs and educates seems to be at a premium.This has been compounded by the fact that the three major TV networks have chosen to provide only three hours of coverage per convention. The blatant rationale for not fulfilling their role and responsibilities to the American people strikes another blow to our democracy.
More countries around the world know more about what is happening in our country than "We the People" who continue to be misinformed and uninformed.
Honolulu
Is eruption needed to shake up islands?
I watched an episode of "Hawaii 5-0" the other day, probably shot in 1969 or 1970. I enjoy this program because it brings back the old Hawaii with scenic background of how Oahu looked some 30 years ago. This episode closed with Kono -- who passed away this year, also known as the entertainer Zulu -- overlooking a construction site in Pearl City.With the background full of red dirt and new homes, sadly he said, "Someday we'll be strangers in our own land."
How sad it is that we local people who have created this paradise with our way of life and spirit of aloha are living the reality of a movie script. The people we put in office to protect our way of life have let us down so many times and in so many ways. I'm not Hawaiian, but I wish someone could make living conditions for all Hawaiians affordable. It's just not right to see this land turning into a military stronghold with military getting new homes on Hawaiian soil and the Hawaiian people struggling on the beaches and parks.
I overheard two oldtimers talking one day while fishing along Kewalo Basin. One complained to the other that too much money is being spent on tourists by putting up cameras in areas to protect them, too much being spent on advertising to bring them here for their money. Not enough is spent on housing and transportation for local people; the price of everything keeps going up and up. The other fisherman said to him, "The best thing that could happen for the local people is for Pele to erupt Diamond Head Crater so we can be rid of the greed on this island and people can go back to how it was."
Aiea
Audubon should know what cruelty is
It's ridiculous for the Audubon Society to say it's going to create a task force of experts to humanely deal with the population control of peacocks ("Waimea center sorry for killing peacocks," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 3). We're talking about one of the nation's most respected bird protection organizations. If they don't know how to be kind to birds, then they need to re-evaluate what they are really all about as a charitable organization.
Citizens for Humane Animal Policies
Honolulu
Audubon overreacted to peacock problem
The Waimea Valley Audubon center apologizes for beheading seven peacocks and shooting at least two others with bow and arrow (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 3). I'm sorry, but that just won't do. They went for an al-Qaida solution to a manageable problem.Any employee who had anything to do with the approval or killing should resign immediately, and the legalities of what they did should be investigated.
Honolulu
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