Young musicians make listeners euphoric

The Hawaii Youth Symphony brings magical music in these times of so much negative happening, from the local to around the world. Nothing is more pleasing to see and hear than the musical talents of Hawaii's finest youngsters from the 7th to 12th grades from the private and public schools, as well as home-schooled.

The symphony is celebrating its 40th anniversary and every year the music gets better, thanks to the conductors who put in hundreds of hours with these talented youngsters from all over the state.

Yes, they all have to compete to be on the various levels of Concert Orchestra or Youth Symphony I or II. Maestro Henry Miyamura, who conducts the top Symphony I, has been at the helm for more than 20 years and Michael Nakasone conducts the Symphony II, with Derrick Yamane conducting the Concert Orchestra.

Listening to these youngsters performing complicated and difficult musical pieces is a delight and makes for a very relaxing and enjoyable time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday mania.

By all means, when these youngsters do perform, do yourself a favor and don't miss it. You can get hooked on musical magic. We did and can't wait for their next performances.

Prices are so reasonable that one can take his whole family by skipping a meal out at a restaurant. Just attend, sit back and soak in the beautiful and dynamic music, and come out with the "feel-good euphoria."

Akaka bill would add racial element

Governor Lingle is wont to address questions about the proposed Akaka bill by proclaiming that some actually say the bill is racial. Then she says, "That's ridiculous."

Let's consult the dictionary:

If, by law, we favor or set apart for special treatment one person over another solely because of heredity, what is that to be called if not racial discrimination?

Looking at the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and reflecting on history, it appears obvious that the Founding Fathers had an antipathy toward political preferences based on heredity. Then we had a Civil War at least somewhat based on that belief. Our nation is based on the importance of the individual. Our finest hours as a nation have come when we rejected ancestry or race as a basis for privilege.

But the Akaka bill does just exactly that. It takes a group, by bloodline, and assigns preferences in perpetuity.

Governor, please explain why you think it is "ridiculous" to say the Akaka bill is racial. Otherwise, your remarks must be perceived as "government speak" as in the novel "1984," where the Minister of Truth revised history and the government proclaimed "War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength."

Kanno stands against big business

Newspaper articles and an editorial (Star-Bulletin, April 13) serve to denigrate, intimidate and subject the hardworking Sen. Brian Kanno from Kapolei, Makakilo, Village Park, Kalaeloa, Waikele and parts of Waipahu.

Kanno is chairman of the Senate Labor Committee and as such, he did his job when he assisted the former employee of the Norwegian Cruise Line. Kanno was standing up for an employee rather than allowing big business to trample on the rights of the worker. Someone needed to stand up for due process.

Besides all this, there is a deeper motive in this witch hunt and that is discrediting a Democratic senator. Kanno has worked hard for our district in making sure that funds were intact for the new library, the new high school and the new judiciary building, among others too numerous to list here. The Republicans have never in the last nine years introduced a bill for the benefit of our community, except for this year, but have not been able to garner enough support for any of the bills that make a difference for our children or community.

The facts have been distorted. Since when is the Philippines a center for human rights? Since when is big business fair to workers regarding pay or due process unless they are required by union negotiations or federal/state laws?

State budget has plenty of fat to cut

So the governor has criticized the 10 percent arbitration awarded to the Hawaii Government Employees Association (Star-Bulletin, April 16). What the governor should do, if it's within her power, is hire some "efficiency experts," I think they call them consultants today, and let these experts go through every state agency and department to see how many positions can be cut. I'm sure that there's plenty of fat in these departments.

If anyone deserves a 10 percent raise, it's the teachers; they are grossly underpaid.

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