Stryker protesters can be patriotic, too

I take issue with Capt. Kathleen Turner's response to the federal lawsuit filed by Hawaiian groups against the Army's deployment of a new Stryker force in Hawaii ("Groups sue over Stryker in isles," Aug. 18, Star-Bulletin).

Turner said, "We are a nation at war and the entire Army in Hawaii is participating in the global war on terrorism." She goes on to imply that opposing the Stryker force in Hawaii is tantamount to putting American troops at greater risk.

I don't know the merits of the lawsuit or whether the Stryker force belongs in Hawaii.

However, this thinly veiled accusation that citizen groups who question any government action in the name of "war on terrorism" are somehow not patriotic is unfair at best, and may infringe on the litigants' right to voice their legitimate concerns with Army policy.

May I suggest that "the best solution for our soldiers," as Turner puts it, would be keep them out of unnecessary wars in the first place.

Bicyclists on sidewalks endanger pedestrians

Pedestrians should be safe on pedestrian walkways. They are not, especially in the university area.

In the last week, as I walked to the campus, two cyclists came up behind me with no notice or warning and attempted to pass me on a narrow sidewalk or footpath. I became aware of the first when he jammed on his brakes directly behind me and attempted to squeeze past me. The second, in total silence, swerved off the sidewalk to a narrow patch of grass, close enough to scrape my hand as he went by.

At my age, 84, it is easy to be pushed off balance and thrown to the ground by this sort of behavior.

The remedy is simple, cheap and sensible. If cyclists are too stupid or selfish to use a warning, I suggest that all bicycles be required to carry bells on the handle bars, as they do in many other countries.

Perhaps the City Council member from Manoa could be persuaded introduce an ordinance to make cyclists carry a bell and use it.

Removing parking on Ala Wai is anti-local

What is up with the removal of parking spaces along the Ala Wai? Does the city think that beautifying the road will attract tourists? Tourist don't really come to Hawaii to see the Ala Wai, but visiting locals and residents do.

Removing the parking sends an anti-local message. The powers that be want Waikiki to be for tourists only, and they are succeeding. The high cost of parking in Waikiki keeps residents out.

Liberals are the ones who are in the know

It was my turn to chuckle when I read Ada Koene's letter (Aug. 16), bemoaning the glut of Democrats -- and by implication liberals -- in the news media. It is often those on the far right whose perspective won't allow them to see moderate views as being "fair and balanced."

Other groups such as lawyers and academics are often similarly branded with the "L-word" by conservatives. They will get no argument from me on this point, but I should like to point out the full implication of their complaint.

If reporters, generally the best informed among us, attorneys, who arguably know the law best and those persons whose intelligence has allowed them to rise to the top of their academic field are predominately liberal, then it follows that the smarter and more informed one is, the more liberal one tends to be.

I strongly urge my conservative friends to continue this line of argument.

Candidates should pass exams first

Everyone needs to be knowledgeable about politics as every aspect of our lives is political. Mainstream media do not cover all topics thoroughly because the corporations would remove their advertising if they did.

Investigative magazines such as "In These Times," "Progressive," "Mother Jones" and "The Nation" give us the full truth.

I urge a member of Congress to introduce a bill requiring presidential candidates to pass an examination of their character, physical health, mental ability and education qualifications.

If the president is not qualified, he can make bad decisions and cause serious problems in the world. Sen. John Kerry is qualified to be president.

Bush haters continue to twist the truth

I am amazed at the depth of madness afflicting Bush haters. In their lust to demonize the president, they have again accused him of being AWOL in his last year of National Guard service. The Boston Globe and other newspapers investigated that charge in 2000 and found it bogus.

Then they charged that Bush went into the National Guard to avoid being drafted, inferring cowardice. That's a nasty shock to Guard members since guardsmen were called to serve in Vietnam.

Furthermore, Bush and other guard pilots risked their lives every time they went up in those jets. Bush did it for two years of active service and for another year of part-time duty. Fitness reports and men in his unit have testified to his skill and leadership during his years of service.

John Kerry made his Vietnam service the centerpiece of his campaign and the Democratic convention. But personal bravery is not the same as leadership.

Democrat crazies have mischaracterized every Bush policy so that one can barely identify the original issue. Hopefully, Hawaii's voters will reject their bitter partisanship and return President Bush to office.

Iraqi Olympians now have freedom to win

To those critics who doubt President Bush, continue to repeat the gibberish about weapons of mass destruction, who believe the invasion of Iraq was a big mistake and that John Kerry can do a better job: "Hogwash."

Just seeing the Iraqi national soccer team go to the Olympic Games and beat the European champions, Portugal, 4-2, was a thrill. They felt free to go and play without the threat of having their toes cut off if they missed a penalty.

That was reason enough to go to Iraq and clean it up. I hope the Iraqis win the gold medal.

Dollar sign represents university's largesse

How about making the dollar sign -- $$$ -- the new logo for the University of Hawaii?

It could stand for all the time and money ($142,000) wasted in pursuit of said logo, as well as the salary of the university president (in both his old and new jobs), and the legal money spent in that legal fiasco (close to a zillion and still going).

People of Hawaii could look at the logo with pride and say, "I helped finance that."