Baby's death rates a stiffer sentence

As a former resident, I'm appalled at the Circuit Court's decision to hand down such a spineless punishment to Tayshea Aiwohi ("Mom gets probation for son's death," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 26).

Even more infuriating is the judge's view that Aiwohi accepted responsibility for killing her child by "completing rigorous and demanding drug treatment and parenting classes."

That is a joke. I'd get a stiffer sentence if I spanked my 6-year-old in public, and would lose parental rights. Aiwohi smokes crystal meth, thus killing her baby, sheds some tears, goes to rehab, gets her five children back and moves on with her life ... must be nice to not be held to a higher standard.

Worse than that is defense attorney Todd Eddins' claim that "It's been our position all along that conduct committed prenatal is not a criminal offense, and Tayshea did not commit a criminal offense."

But what upsets me the most is painting her as a victim! Please take a stance to hold individuals accountable for their actions, raise the bar for parents and "parents to be" to conduct themselves like adults ... if not for themselves, then for their children.

Hawaii must outlaw selling of dog meat

I have been following your stories about the selling and eating of dog meat ("Police look into theft and sale of dog meat" Star-Bulletin, Aug. 20). There are a few points that our community should also be aware of.

First, when a dog is slaughtered for the dinner table, this is usually done in the person's yard. This includes within city limits in residential areas for all to see (beatings), hear (dogs crying when being tortured) and smell (blowtorching).

Second, when the animal is slaughtered, it usually is not done in a humane manner. Rice is feed to the dog (to clean out his intestines) then his mouth taped shut (to prevent regurgitation), then the throat is slit (the dog is usually tied and hanging from a tree). This is the time when dogs are beaten and/or blowtorched.

There have been many phone calls to the humane society and police, when people have driven by and seen a dog being blowtorched, or heard cries of dogs being beaten and killed.

When a call are placed, either the humane society is too late to do the investigation on animal abuse, or the caller is told this is a "cultural" practice.

Hawaii is a beautiful melting pot of diverse cultures; however, there are several cultural practices that are illegal in America, and that includes Hawaii.

If anyone sees this barbaric and inhumane treatment, I beg you to videotape it or take photos. Send the tape it to the news, Oprah or any other prime time television show.

We can get this practice outlawed; it's only a matter of time and perseverance.

Benefactors help launch Kapolei library

The opening of the Kapolei Public Library is a true demonstration of a community coming together for a good purpose. Kapolei residents and businesses have donated countless hours and resources to make this dream for Kapolei a reality.

I especially want to recognize the outstanding generosity of Campbell Estate and the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation for their support. They recognized the value and import- ance of a library to a community from the beginning and showed their tremendous support by donating the three acres of land on which the library sits.

In addition, the estate and foundation contributed $100,000, which allowed the library to purchase books and other materials. Because of this donation, the library was able to acquire the materials that formed its initial book collection. They also contributed $1,000 that helped to cover the expenses for our grand opening celebration.

Eisenhower boosted isles' statehood hopes

The Aug. 19 Gathering Place column, "Hawaii's struggle to become the 50th State," by Larry Nakatsuka gave an interesting account of historical events but does not address why really Hawaii became a state. As a 58-year resident of Hawaii, I remember vividly why our islands became the 50th state of the union. The achievements and heroic deeds of our fighting men during World War II and the Korean war became the catalyst to swift statehood.

General Eisenhower went to Korea in 1953 to assess the situation on the 38th parallel where we stopped communism, and he praised Hawaii for sending brave soldiers to the war front. Hawaii contributed more soldiers per capita than any state. And I remember the general said, "Hawaii deserves to become the 50th state." With the help of our politicians in Congress, President Eisenhower signed the statehood bill on March 18, 1959.

Kerry's post-war acts offended many

Regarding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads:

Hawaii's senator and several of his Democratic colleagues have signed a request for the president to condemn the Swift Boat ads against presidential candidate John Kerry. I wonder what the senator's stance is on what Kerry did after his return from Vietnam?

I am a veteran of the Korean conflict. I don't care about Kerry's medals and heroic acts during the Vietnam War. But I do have strong feelings regarding what he did after the war. I didn't believe in our involvement during the Korean War, but if I had denounced our nation after being discharged in 1954, I probably would have served some prison time.

Kerry's anti-war stance after his discharge appears to equal Jane Fonda's and very close to the acts of Tokyo Rose. Does this portray "a true American patriot" to you?

Candidate Kerry should muzzle his wife

John Kerry and his loud-mouthed Democrats should muzzle the acid-tongued Teresa Heinz Kerry for the rest of the presidential campaign. Though she clearly used the word "un-American" in her rambling speech as witnessed on national television, she vehemently denied she had in her furious "I didn't/You did" salvo with a media reporter.

Moreover, all lying aside, she then had the effrontery to add insult to injury by snarling "shove it" into the microphone for all the world to hear. America does not need a first lady from hell. Teresa Heinz Kerry may be a ketchup billionairess, but she has a lot to catchup to the grace, dignity and good breeding of Laura Bush.

Evidence of Bush's service is missing

Letter writer Carol R. White, in her letter of Aug. 22, stated that the Boston Globe investigated George W. Bush's National Guard service in 2000 and found the concerns about his missing service time "bogus."

That is not true. A search of the Globe's archives reveals that in two separate stories in 2000, reporter Walter V. Robinson found there were serious questions about Bush's service, and wrote that "the period between May 1972 and May 1973 remains unaccounted for." The truth is that the records remain missing and the rewards offered by former Guardsmen to anyone who might have served with Bush during that time remain uncollected.

A little research (and a little money for the Globe's archive service) will bring the truth to those who are willing to learn it.