Retail tent doesn't belong at memorial

I'm shocked that a private retail business has been allowed to open in a tent on government property right between the U.S.S Arizona Memorial and U.S.S. Bowfin Museum at Pearl Harbor. This is no place for something that looks like what you would see at the Aloha Stadium flea market or International Marketplace in Waikiki. There should be an immediate investigation about how such an ugly project was approved without public input or knowledge. This is apparently just the beginning of a permanent retail store that plans to sell not just food, but also jewelry and T-shirts.

The Arizona Memorial has been visited by most local residents at one time or another, and is an important part of Hawaii history and important to our tourist economy. This commercial exploitation should not be allowed to continue.

Don't waste tax money tracking fat teachers

Years ago, I got a laugh out of then-state Sen. Rod Tam's "naps and snacks" bill. I thought it was not humanly possible for an elected official to come up with anything so dumb.

Well, I was wrong. State Rep. Rida Cabanilla has outdone Tam.

Cabanilla introduced House Concurrent Resolution 145 this session, and it has to be one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation that I have ever heard of. This bill requests that the Department of Education spend tax dollars on creating a database to track teachers whom Cabanilla considers to be fat.

Forget the crisis we're having in our classrooms with teacher shortages. Forget that every available penny should be spent on improving learning for our keiki. Let's put energy into monitoring fat teachers because after all that's really important in the overall scheme of things. Unbelievable.

Well, Hawaii State Teachers Association. What's your response to this madness?

Church is pro-chastity, not anti-homosexual

Your April 5 story on homosexual-related legislation conveyed an erroneous impression that the church to which I belong is anti-gay. On the contrary, we are really pro-family and committed to chastity, whether those involved are heterosexuals or homosexuals. We have members who are chaste homosexuals, and we love and care for them. It is not right to mistreat anyone.

Those of us who believe in chastity should be protected as well. Those who want to remain true to their beliefs should not be forced to go against their conscience in matters having to do with others' sexual-related behavior. I feel compassion and urge support for those other Christians, Jews, Muslims or anyone who holds to chastity outside of marriage.

Do we now do away with discrimination based on sexual orientation only to institute and practice even more discrimination against religious believers? Let us work toward that golden mean that allows all to find happiness, so that those who want to be true to their beliefs can be and those wanting to practice sex with consenting adults can do so also, neither group imposing their values, behaviors and lifestyles on the other.

Democrats need equal time on the radio

The April 6 Star-Bulletin editorial stated that the governor's radio messages are within her rights. She has been using radio shows to promote life as she wants it to be, while not providing alternatives to her point of view, which is contrary to the concept of keeping the public well informed. When the public hears only one side of an issue, they are misinformed.

The editorial reports that the Federal Communications Commission dropped the Fairness Doctrine's equal time requirements because of First Amendment considerations. Was it that, or was it that the Republicans appointed commissioners who would quiet or eliminate dissent of Republican views? The governor's press secretary would be hard pressed to write a better op-ed piece.

The governor's communications director states that President Bush conducts a weekly radio address. It is pretty clear now that Bush isn't to be used as an example of what to do. Bush overwhelmed the public with misinformation in his radio addresses that led to the initial support he got for the Iraq war, but now that the truth is out, a majority of Americans disapprove of his actions.

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