Mainland, Hawaii both have advantages

Great job by the Star-Bulletin and C. Richard Fassler on the college series of articles ("To go or not to go?" Nov. 14). On choosing the mainland vs. Hawaii, the article was thorough, thoughtful and fair. Some brief comments: College on the mainland is better for some, not for others. Some thrive, others will come home early. That's OK. It's still worth the risk and effort. Independence, self-reliance, and confidence are the rewards. The quantity, quality and variety of jobs are better, too, both during and after school.

Staying home for school can be great as well: a comfortable base, low tuition, and so on. You can pay your way by working, still play sports and attend classes full time.

If you're tempted to go to the mainland and feeling nervous, go for it. Take it one year at a time. It might be cold, but you just might like the snow.

Go to the mainland if you're ready and you want it. If you don't, stay home and work hard anyway. Your college years are a great time to grow and learn and have fun. You can do it well no matter where you are. The college experience is more about the state of your mind than the state of your campus. This is a special time. Enjoy it!

Drivers courteous to those waving signs

On behalf of the signholders for Representative Glenn Wakai, 31st representative district (Salt Lake, Tripler), I wish to commend the motorists traveling Salt Lake Boulevard, Arizona Road, Moanalua Valley roadways and the H-1 onramp. They were most courteous, responsive, cordial and encouraging. It was a pleasure greeting them and I hope we were able to give them a pleasant start in the morning and a relief from their stress in the afternoons. We apologize if our efforts caused any annoyance or inconvenience but we trust you nonetheless appreciate this form of free expression during the election season.

Marriage means more than piece of paper

I just don't get all the hubbub about gay marriage. My boyfriend and I have been together for a long time and we are planning to be married. Granted, in the state of Hawaii we cannot get a marriage license and the only piece of paper available to us at this time is a Registration of Reciprocal Beneficiary Relationship. We don't care; after all, it is not the piece of paper, or being able to file a joint tax return, that makes us a couple.

We are planning to invite family members and a handful of close friends to the ceremony; we are going to exchange vows and rings with each other. The reception is going to be filled with all the memorable traditions that accompany marriage: champagne toasts, dancing and cutting our wedding cake; throwing the bouquet and of course a lavish buffet of delicious foods. We have not decided on where we want to honeymoon yet. He likes Paris, France, and I like Bandung, Indonesia.

Neither this elected administration nor other U.S. citizens can dictate who we can date, hold hands with as we walk down the street, or choose to sleep with. Talk about treading on "the pursuit of happiness" and a few other rights.

Dandi and I wish all the best to other couples considering marriage; remember that it's not about a piece of paper. It's about finding true happiness and loving the one you are with.

Bad coaching puts UH on bottom

Watching the University of Hawaii get rolled over by Fresno State was sad and also boring ("Warriors hit bottom against run," Nov. 14). What has happened to this once exciting team of yesterday? For one thing, June Jones has shown that his coaching is not acceptable. When the team was losing 49-0 at halftime, why did he continue to leave in the same players the rest of the game? If he let the second string play, they could not have done any worse -- maybe better. Even the ESPN announcer kept saying that it looked like Fresno was playing a high school team. The defense had many missed tackles. To make matters worse, Jones kept Timmy Chang in until the last two minutes and let his backup quarterback take over. This same thing happened when they played Boise State.

How long can UH continue with this overpaid coach who's not producing winners? I can't imagine UH playing this year in a bowl game.

Warriors coach should be replaced

I cannot believe the futility of the University of Hawaii Warriors football team. Big coaching names like June Jones sound good but winning is what the people remember. June Jones is not cutting it! The UH football team is the pride of the islands. I beg of you, a man like Steve Spurrier, who has proven himself with the University of Florida, a National Championship coach, would be a perfect fit for the program.

If you are going to pay $1 million for a coach, make sure it is one who can break you into the top 25. UH has been humiliated on national television twice. If it is not time for a change, I ask, when is it right? Please, let the charade be over. Let's move on. There are a handful of coaches that do not accept defeat, they can make this program right!

Are Americans living with moral values?

The polls showed the majority of our country claimed "moral values" as their reason for voting for President Bush. (More important than Iraq, terrorism, joblessness or the growing amount of people living in poverty.)

What does "moral values" mean? Does it mean a desire to help the homeless find a place to live? A fair wage paid to workers looking for a job? Does it mean better family values -- like less divorce, less child abuse, better education opportunities for the needy, and not allowing trash TV shows and violent movies to pollute our country? Does it mean allowing civil rights for all? Does it mean getting AK-47s and other unnecessary guns off the market?

Other than Karl Rove, can anyone explain/parse the phrase "moral values" in concrete, practical terms that really mean something?

Antarctica story was geographically lacking

Tsk, tsk! Let's give the Australian version of our "statehood award" to reporter Mary Vorsino and her editors for the information in a story Nov. 12 that a ship bound for Antarctica will "stop in Australia and Tasmania" on the way. That'll get those Tasmanian devils snarling and spitting more than ever.

Last I heard, Tasmania is a state of Australia, just as Hawaii is one of the United States of America.

Lingle sides with dangerous faction

I enjoyed reading your Nov. 5 editorial about the recent election ("Lingle, lawmakers need to get along -- for voters' sake"). Hopefully, Gov. Lingle will seek compromise with the Democrats rather than the arrogant style of leadership she has exhibited during the last two years. Many of us voted for her thinking she was a different kind of Republican, someone who was a political moderate and had a deep sense of the need for dialogue.

Instead, Lingle has shown herself to be a fanatically partisan and a blind follower of the president.

President Bush has been one of the most divisive presidents we have ever had. He is not a true conservative, but someone with a radical agenda for America.

The loss of the five Republican seats in the House of Representatives was, as Senate President Robert Bunda has said, a mandate against Lingle's right-wing zealotry. In my district, we elected Lyla Berg, a brilliant, charismatic person who will help to challenge the GOP zealots. Our next goal will be to replace Lingle with someone who reflects the spirit of aloha and tolerance which are core values in Hawaii.