Inspectors may not recognize abuse

June Watanabe did a commendable job in researching and answering the question posed in Kokua Line (Aug. 22) about the monkeys at Blue Tropix nightclub.

However, two important questions were left unanswered: What protocol did the Hawaiian Humane Society use in investigating animal abuse at the Blue Tropix, and what are the qualifications of the investigator that enabled him/her to make the determination of "no animal abuse?"

The way the monkeys are kept at the Blue Tropix is upsetting many people. Numerous concerns and complaints have been sent to the Humane Society. The staff at the Honolulu Zoo, with whom I volunteer, believe the squirrel monkeys at the nightclub are under tremendous stress, and certain behaviors confirm this. To the untrained eye, the symptoms of psychological abuse, such as head twirling, could be misinterpreted as normal behavior.

I hope the society's future investigations at the Blue Tropix will include personnel with experience in primate behavior and care. These visits also must take place when the nightclub is operating at full swing.

Nightclub causes monkeys to suffer

Humans take away the rights of animals and other humans when they confine them to zoos and prisons. While this is not considered unethical, most people agree that inflicting torture on confined individuals is immoral because it causes suffering.

Decades of scientific research have verified that animals and humans suffer in the same ways. One of the primary causes of stress for both is lack of control over an adverse situation, such as being unable to escape from or lessen the impact of noxious stimulation. This can lead to depression, neurotic behavior and disease.

Some of the techniques used to torture prisoners include sleep deprivation and exposure to loud music and bright lights. Suffering lies in the prisoners' inability to get away from the music and lights. The barren enclosure of the squirrel monkeys at Blue Tropix nightclub and chronic exposure to loud music is no different.

Human patrons at Blue Tropix might like the music and lights, but they can leave when they have had enough. The owners of the nightclub are guilty of far more than simply depriving these monkeys of a natural environment. They are causing them to suffer.

JACL stands in support of civil rights for all

I wonder why James Kuroiwa Jr. feels that the Japanese Americans Citizens League (JACL) is a racist organization (Letters, Aug. 15)?

I've been a member and on the board of directors for eight years, along with numerous individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. JACL Honolulu has taken positions to support the rights of and non-discrimination against native Hawaiians, Arab Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, African Americans, Filipino Americans, Japanese Latin Americans, gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people, citizens of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and who knows who else before I came on board.

How does that make JACL racist? If Kuroiwa has a response, I would invite him to a JACL Board of Directors meeting to discuss it. But, please don't pull a "Michelle Malkin." Any response should be based in fact, not fiction.

Swift boat group should thank Kerry

The Swift boat veterans group criticizing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry believe Kerry was attacking their service in Vietnam.

More than 58,000 U.S. troops died in that war. Kerry had observed that the war was costing the country too many lives, and Kerry knew that if his effort could help stop the fighting, many more soldiers would be spared death and injury.

Upon return from duty, he spoke with many Vietnam veterans who told him of atrocities they had committed. In testimony before Congress, Kerry relayed this information to the committee investigating the war. His efforts paid off and the war was stopped in less than two years in 1973.

Had Kerry not testified, the war that started more than 10 years earlier might have lingered for many more years. Some of those Swift boat veterans who are now attacking Kerry might have been killed or wounded. They should be thanking Kerry, not criticizing him.

Tamayo should clear the air on candidacy

Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo volunteered to go to Iraq, a wonderful thing for any person to do.

However, if she is re-elected as the representative for my district, she will not be able to do her legislative duty. The Democratic Party could appoint someone to take her place or she may be able to name a proxy to do her job while she is away.

Since she and the Gabbard ohana are such "moral" believers, I wonder why she doesn't take the high road and stop her campaign. To serve one's country is a beautiful way to show support of all of the freedoms many of us take for granted, and, as a veteran myself, I will keep her in my prayers.

Still, I wonder if there is a motive for her continuing her campaign. Does it have to do with her father, who switched parties to run against Democratic Congressman Ed Case and who can be named as her proxy if she wins re-election?

I implore her to do what is in the best interest of her district. Voters deserve answers before they go to the polls.

Frank Fasi has shown he's got the right stuff

When choosing the nest mayor of Honolulu, we must parallel our steps with the one who has proven himself to be trustworthy, experienced, bold, not afraid to step on toes, makes things happen for the betterment of our great city, but most importantly, one who keeps his word.

All these qualities have been seen through past decades in Frank Fasi.

Fasi may be up in years, but he has more energy, integrity, experience with this city and has always kept his word in getting things done, especially for police and firefighters.

Hawaii Farm Bureau misleads on Bill 35

The Hawaii Farm Bureau's recent comment on Bill 35 (Letters, Aug. 25) conveniently conveys only one side of the issue. If Bill 35 was really about helping working farmers, why did it also give tax breaks to "gentleman estates" and owners of vacant agricultural land, including those just waiting for the next development opportunity?

The city's tax compromise process gives working farmers the safety net they need. Bill 35, on the other hand, is a special interest give-away that the rest of us taxpayers will have to pay for.