Gonzales, Socrates have much in common

I agree with the opening premise of Ray McGovern's article (Commentary, Star-Bulletin, Jan. 9) contending that torture is morally wrong. But in attacking the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for attorney general, McGovern also argues that this nomination should be turned down for the same reasons Socrates was condemned to death: "making the worst case the better and corrupting the youth."

It appears to have slipped McGovern's notice that Socrates was unjustly condemned on trumped-up charges for essentially political reasons. In fact, many of the jurors who initially said Socrates was innocent later, in the sentencing phase of the trial, chose the death penalty over a merely giving Socrates a fine. Why? Because they didn't like Socrates' demeanor or philosophy during his spirited defense of his actions.

Not that anything unjust like that is happening in the Gonzales confirmation.

U.S. obscures real Hawaiian history

James Kuroiwa Jr. is an American who has no roots during the time of the U.S. invasion of the kingdom or prior to it ("Akaka bill opposition will lead to dialogue," Letters, Jan. 13). He is preaching to the choir who are directly involved and many who never acknowledged the United States as possessing our country. Most of the islanders living here today have no knowledge or involvement of that part of our history. They only know the one-sided American revisionists' version of the events, which white-washes the U.S.' involvement in destabilizing the kingdom's government and its takeover.

We know the truth, and Kuroiwa has yet to learn it. The plebiscite of 1897 has been ignored and the Statehood Organic Act has been deemed irregular and thus illegal and unlawfully executed. The United States contends that the people of Hawaii voted for statehood, but only Americans were allowed to vote. Many Hawaiian subjects were barred from participating. Now that's the truth.

Senator was handy with a chainsaw

During the heavy rains on New Year's Day a large tree fell across the road blocking the Pali Highway. KGMB News showed video of a man standing in the rain and using a chainsaw to cut the branches off the tree but did not identify him.

I thought that the man looked familiar, and my intuition was later confirmed when I found out that it was none other than Sen. Fred Hemmings, who just happened along with a chainsaw and was being a good Samaritan by helping to clear the debris from the roadway.

I would like to send out a big mahalo to the senator for helping out.

Social Security ads on hold unwelcome

I called the Social Security 1-800 number the other day. I eventually got a real live person; a very helpful one, actually. Even one located right here in Hawaii. But while on interminable hold, I was treated to a series of would-be helpful advice pieces. And then, to my impatient ears appeared a crass political commercial for the Bush administration's Social Security fix. Most experts agree, I was told, the Social Security will shortly go broke.

Never mind that most experts don't agree, including those who are paid by the Social Security Administration to fret over its future. Why is the Social Security Administration's Muzak system serving up a political commercial? Why is my tax money being used to make and deliver a message intended to lobby me?

If this isn't a violation of law, it bloody well should be!