News media could have spread warning

Where was the media? Where was our Pacific Tsunami Warning Center? Having just returned to Hawaii from three months of traveling in Thailand, India and other Southeast Asian countries, I'm amazed that my fellow travelers, as well as residents in these areas, were not warned by our international news media about the impending disaster. CNN, BBC, English radio stations, Internet and other international news services are available in many of the areas that were hit and certainly in the capitals of all of the countries hit.

Why in the world didn't the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have a plan to notify the appropriate international media, as well as others who could get the word out during those precious minutes and hours before disaster struck these countries?

Who in the center is accountable for this gross oversight that cost so many lives? What is the center's future plan to inform the media and warn others throughout the world when it first detects an impending disaster?

Military was slow to respond to tsunami

It is a relief and joy to see the local military units responding to the horrific disaster caused by the tsunamis in Asia. My only question is, why did it take them three days?

Isn't the American military the most prepared, funded, organized and responsive system in the world? Were they just waiting for their commander in chief to break away from his vacation fun?

We cannot blame the military; we can demand more of our leaders. Like many Hawaii residents, I donated quickly -- and have been horrified at our nation's slow response.

As the death count is rising quickly each day, we must respond even more. The post-Christmas tradition of returning unwanted items could actually be taken one step further this year. Why not send the money from these items to the relief organizations?

In fact, Hawaii could make an even bigger sacrifice: I propose that we demand that Governor Lingle return the expensive and useless Stryker Brigade and get our money back. That $700 million would be much better spent in humanitarian relief.

Soldiers in Iraq want more protection

Jeffrey Herman (Letters, Dec. 28) unfortunately falls victim to his own pet peeve of relying on sound bites for news. Or maybe he just chose to ignore the loud cheers and support that National Guardsman got for asking Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the U.S. military's lack of armored vehicles in Iraq.

Maybe he also chose to ignore the news story about the crew in Iraq that chose to defy orders because the crew members feared for their safety in ill-equipped vehicles. Herman should go tell them about how only 15,000 of the 19,000 vehicles in Iraq are armored, and it's just really unfortunate that theirs weren't. Maybe it was because they were only fuel transporters that the vehicles weren't armored. I mean, fuel isn't really necessary for a war, is it?

Rely on numbers all you want, but you might get a more rounded view of the situation there if you listen to the stories from the soldiers themselves. It is disrespectful to place a higher authority on numbers than the stories of the people involved.

Question posed to Rumsfeld was valid

Jeffrey Herman's letter of Dec. 28 is a poor attempt to defend the Bush administration's record and its willingness to "support our troops."

He claims that "only" 4,000 of our 19,000 Humvees lack adequate armor and that they are not used for patrols. Are they and their troops thus immune from attack? Have we alerted the insurgents, so that they will not target them?

Herman also repeats another irrelevancy commonly stated by other knee-jerk administration supporters -- that the soldier's now famous question to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was at the instigation of a reporter. Does this make it a less valid question?

Rumsfeld's gaffe is simply further evidence of the Bush administration's continuing inability to admit its errors in dealing with Iraq -- failed diplomacy, failed intelligence and lack of planning and execution for the aftermath of the invasion. We had time to better arm our troops; war was not thrust upon us.

Rumsfeld's removal would still be a step in the right direction, even if it does not appear likely to immediately change administration policy or the current situation in Iraq. It would at least be a symbolic admission of the need for a fresh assessment of the agonizing and embarrassing mess these people have created.

Monkeys should be rescued from bar

I am a recent visitor to your beautiful city. I was visiting my daughter and her husband for the holidays. During the course of conversation over dinner, my daughter, son and their friends talked about a bar called Blue Tropix. They said that it was a place that housed spider monkeys in cages for the supposed entertainment of customers.

I am appalled that such a place exists. I went online to see if this practice continues at this bar and read that the public has been trying to free the monkeys since 2001.

How is it possible that no one in your city has the power to stop the owners? Why is there not legislation to protect animals from exploitation? Is this the kind of publicity your city wants? What is wrong with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture? The city prosecutor? The Hawaii deputy attorney general? From what I've read on the Internet, the buck keeps getting passed.

Shame on the owners of Blue Tropix. Shame on the elected officials who won't take a stand and act on behalf of the monkeys and shame on the officials who look the other way.

'Fee for service' would work better

Oahu's property tax system is at the end of its useless life. It provides neither an equitable tax burden nor a stable source of county income.

Karl Marx said, "From each according to his ability and to each according to his need" -- the idea behind our socialistic property tax system. This system assumed that the value of one's property was related to their ability to pay and that property values would remain stable -- invalid assumptions. The city gets windfall/starvation regardless of services rendered.

"To each according to his need" is how services are distributed. The "free" services, including fire, police, and garbage collection, are according to need.

However, "From each according to his ability" is not in the current system because in order to pay, some must sell their homes. The current system forces a low-income/asset person to pay property taxes based on how much his neighbors sold their property for, even if he lives alone, uses very few city services and cannot afford the tax.

A better system would charge "fee for service," requiring those using the services to pay for them. Some services could be better provided by non-government providers.

Youth sex should be discouraged

Barry Raff's article opposing abstinence education highlights the present culture war (Gathering Place, Dec. 29). Safe-sex (condom) education program advocates like him believe their strategies are based on good science, a claim made also by abstinence program advocates. One is reminded of "expert witnesses" who disagree in court cases. How can the Department of Education deal with these contradictory positions?

The U.S. Supreme Court provides guidance. The majority opinion in the Lawrence vs. Texas case (2003) indicates its position allowing extramarital sexual behavior "does not (extend to) minors. It does not involve persons who might be injured or coerced or who are situated in relationships where consent might not easily be refused (and) it does not involve public conduct."

Of course, children might need help in dealing with their sexual feelings. Since pre-adult sex is legally not permitted, such behavior should be discouraged by the DOE. Safe-sex/condom programs are thus inappropriate. In their place should be programs, like abstinence, that work with parents to help students exercise self-control, respect others, and thus avoid sex until adulthood.

Mahalo to backers of Kapolei Warriors

The Kapolei Warriors Football Association would like to give a heartfelt thank you to our board, coaches, sponsors, parents and players for a truly awesome 2004 season. We are deeply thankful to our sponsors this year to assist all of our 10 teams at the Aloha Stadium OYSL Friendship Bowl Dec. 11.

Mahalo to Kiewit Pacific Co. in partnership with Aloha Airlines for a special award to Joe and Fran Stevens, volunteers who help coach and coordinate fund-raising boosters even though their children are no longer involved. A big mahalo goes out to Campbell Estates, Delta Construction, Green Thumb Inc. and Royal Construction for their generosity in supporting us. Many other parents showed support through their businesses and affiliates getting buses to the stadium, along with team gifts. Thank you all, and I look forward to seeing you in the 2005 season.