Big Island roads conducive to accidents

In regard to your Dec. 26 article about why there is such a high fatality rate involving Big Island car crashes, I believe the reasons are quite simple. First, there is no barrier or median to separate oncoming traffic on the highways. Unprotected vehicles are zooming past each other at 55 mph in opposite directions only three feet apart. The smallest distraction can create a deadly head-on collision. Second, if you take a drive around the island, you'll notice that you have only one lane. An impatient driver stuck behind a slow vehicle will overtake and miscalculate, again resulting in a head-on collision.

Looking at the statistics, most of the fatal crashes on the Big Island result from cars crossing the center line. The solution can be costly though: Install a center barrier to prevent head-on collisions, and have two lanes in the direction of travel instead of one.

Pictures brought back fond mochi memories

Your Dec. 27 pictures of mochi-making brought back great memories of the Paoli/Koko Drive neighborhood in Maunalani Heights.

U.S. can afford to give much more

I am appalled at the fact that President Bush has pledged a mere $35 million in disaster relief aid. It is an outrage that such a pittance is all that the richest nation on Earth can manage to contribute.

In contrast, the cost of waging the ongoing war in Iraq amounts to a staggering $177 million per day, or $7.4 million per hour, or $122,820 per minute.

Armor is needed in all areas of Iraq

Jeffrey Herman (Letters, Dec. 28) misses the point regarding unarmored Humvees. The simple fact that they are in Iraq, a war zone, should require that they be armored. One only has to read the news coming out of Iraq to know that there are no "safe zones."

We have had other reports coming out of Iraq about troops refusing to go on missions because of a lack of armor and protection. Other troops are on the verge of being court-martialed for stripping damaged vehicles of armor for use on their unarmored vehicles.

The source of the question to Rumsfeld may be questionable but the validity of the question remains. Rumsfeld's response was an affront to every member of the armed forces serving in Iraq in this mismanaged war.

Homeless volunteers reach out to others

I want to commend the Star-Bulletin for the Dec. 26 feature article about a downtown church, First United Methodist, reaching out to the homeless in downtown Honolulu. Many churches throughout the mainland United States provide tents and/or shelter within their buildings for the homeless folks, especially during the wintertime. This program at First UMC began with a committed young man, Utuloa Langi, handing out blankets to the homeless on the beaches of Waikiki. After that it was food, and developed into a program where homeless persons help prepare and deliver the food to other homeless persons.

I admire the courage of the church's pastors and members, as well as the persons who are willing to give up their own comfort and safety to reach out to those who, like Mary and Joseph and the baby whose birth we have just celebrated, can find "no room at the inn."