Media heap too much praise on Warriors

It's time to tell it like it is. Enough is enough! The local media and sports talk show hosts must not unduly give praise and promote the University of Hawaii football team to the detriment of the believing loyal and avid fans. From the preseason write up to the weekly pregame shows, the constant praising of the team and how good the team is has the supporters disgusted. The sports talk show hosts will abruptly cut you off if you dare speak the truth about how lousy and overpaid coach June Jones is.

The local sports fans need to hear and read objective and truthful constructive criticism from the media.

Isle teachers learn from opera workshop

This last week I was privileged to attend an opera workshop for teachers put on by Erik Haines of Hawaii Opera Theatre. We were provided the terms and background of opera in general and for the 2005 HOT season in particular: The Flying Dutchman, Susannah and Turandot. We were given a sample of the resources and speakers that teachers may draw upon from HOT for the benefit of their students, more than 5,000 of whom attend the opera each year.

Hawaii Opera Theatre programs benefit the entire community: The Young Artists' Studio, Residency Programs, Touring Program, Arts and Communications Academy at Roosevelt High School and much more. These provide opportunities and supplement the poor state of arts programs in our public schools.

Three cheers to the staff at Hawaii Opera who go far beyond the performances they present in Blaisdell Concert Hall to provide opportunities and experiences for the youth of our community. And let's not forget the many enlightened teachers and administrators who bring these programs to their schools! Bravi! Bravissimo!

How many more people can isles take?

Imagine a pristine tropical island, with white sandy beaches as far as the eye can see and waves playing along the coastline, inviting you in to surf, snorkel and swim, while lush green landscaped mountains await you with breathtaking scenic vistas and hiking trails.

A world power notices business opportunities and the strategic military location of the island, then takes control of it, and entrepreneurs come in and build hotels to beckon tourists. What was once a place of beauty becomes a developer's paradise, with hotels, high-rises, condos, tract subdivisions and freeways emerging.

Inching along the freeway becomes almost unbearable. Is rail transit the solution? It might be and possibly not, as in many cities where motorists chose to drive their cars rather than ride the rail, which became an eyesore and added billions of dollars in debt to their communities. To keep electricity rates down, will a windmill farm be constructed in the waters off Waikiki? When will we reach the last straw? After Diamond Head is leveled to make way for new high-rises, and the leftover dirt is used to fill in the Ala Wai canal to construct the Hawaii Raceway Park East?

Afghan people welcome U.S. troops

No matter where you stand on whether the war on terror was justified, we must never forget the thousands of service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and the thousands of others who have been wounded. We must remember the extreme sacrifices military families are making, particularly the ultimate sacrifice of the loss of a loved one.

It is tragic enough when a war is fought clearly to defend our country, as was evident after 9/11 when our focus was an al-Qaida terrorist threat. But the Taliban and Osama bin Laden are not Afghanistan. The Taliban are a cult of ignorant psychotics who took over Afghanistan in 1997. Bin Laden is a political criminal with a plan. When you think Taliban, think Nazis. When you think bin Laden, think Hitler.

Afghanistan is a Third World country with no economy and no food. The soil is littered with land mines. Some Afghan people welcome us here to take out the Taliban and clear out the rats' nest of international thugs holed up in their country.The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was not adequately sealed in a timely manner, which allowed bin Laden and the al-Qaida and Taliban leadership to slip away. Our purpose here now is to help liberate the Afghan people and fight for their democracy.

Outdoor Circle's work is never done

Everyone who values the scenic beauty of our islands should celebrate the recent ruling from federal Judge David Ezra upholding Honolulu's ban on aerial advertising. In his ruling, Ezra said "the ban was designed to protect what is perhaps the state's most valuable and fragile economic asset -- the natural beauty upon which Hawaii's tourism economy relies."

Honolulu's aerial advertising ban came after decades of fighting by The Outdoor Circle, which has as a primary mission protecting Hawaii's visual environment. In that role, we are the watchdog that rallies support to block the efforts of those who would rob visitors and residents of Hawaii's unique beauty. We began fighting aerial advertising in 1947 and we remain at the forefront of the battle to this day.

But despite winning this battle, the war wages on. The group that wants flying billboards in the skies over Oahu has vowed to appeal the ruling. The Outdoor Circle hopes this decision will inspire all of us to remain ever vigilant against those who believe the right to free speech includes intrusive and inappropriate advertising.

For our part, the members of The Outdoor Circle will continue working to protect Hawaii from visual blight -- whether from power lines, billboards, aerial advertising or other sources. We invite all others who share our commitment to join us in fulfilling our promise to all Hawaii visitors and residents alike -- what you see is what we protect.

Use highway funds to reduce gas taxes

On a morning talk show, Sen. Donna Mercado Kim stated that the state highway fund was being raided because of excess funds that are not budgeted. She is also in favor of returning taxes to the taxpayers. If that is the case, why not let the excess build up in the highway fund until it reaches the point we could reduce the gas taxes? Is the high price of gas the fault of the gas companies or is it because of our lawmakers?

Repeat offender should get jail time

Your story about Richard Simms highlights precisely what is wrong with our criminal justice system ("Former judge's son pleads no contest to assault," Nov. 16). Simms admitted that there was sufficient evidence to charge him with terroristic threatening, assault, car theft and fleeing an accident, all after being evicted from a bar.

The charges carry maximum penalties of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The defense attorney wants a deferral of all charges for this son of a former judge, while the prosecutor wants probation with no jail time. Where's the justice?

This violent man has 15 prior arrests -- 15! -- for theft, DUI, and liquor violations, yet amazingly has never been incarcerated. Obviously, he hasn't learned a thing, yet the prosecutor doesn't even ask for jail time. What message does this send to other criminals?

Where is the concern for public safety? Does someone have to die before Simms is taken off our streets?

Let's hope that Circuit Judge Michael Wilson understands the plight of Simms' victims, past and future, and puts this incorrigible away for five years to dry out and contemplate his violent misbehavior. The public deserves no less.