UH students need parking manners

I read with interest your April 9 article about University of Hawaii parking because I live in the area and deal with the parking frequently. It seems if you live near a high school, community college, university and/or a shopping center, you might not be able find on-street parking during the day. However, if you live in the Dole Street/Frank Street/Eugene Place area, not only do you have to deal with a daytime student population, you also have to deal with the dorm population.

Some of the students who reside in the dorms park their cars from Sunday evening through Friday -- that is, if they move their cars at all. They monopolize the on-street parking.

Many seem unaware of or just don't care about parking rules in regard to driveways, fire hydrants and stop signs. They block trash cans so the automated trash drivers will not pick up trash. They leave their trash on the parking strips -- fast-food wrappers, soda cans, beer bottles, college notebooks and almost anything else.

I certainly understand the need for parking. I was once a UH student myself. I just wish the kids were more considerate of the people who live in the area where they park.

Leaders have ignored illegal immigration

Most of the serious problems we have in this country result from "willful neglect" by our elected officials who pander to business, corporate and other interests, and by our own ambivalence. Take illegal immigration. In 1986, President Reagan gave amnesty to millions and Congress passed the Immigration Reform & Control Act to prevent a recurrence. But successive presidents and members of Congress have not demanded enforcement of that act and some have actually discouraged enforcement.

Recently I received an e-mail response from a member of Hawaii's congressional delegation regarding illegal immigration. He wrote four pages on immigration history and at the end he was sitting firmly on the fence. He has not formed a position, and in his words, "Please be assured that I am closely following developments in the Senate."

We have too many fence sitters whose strategy is to get re-elected by verbally appealing to everyone while doing nothing for the average American.

If our representatives refuse do the right things or to take a position so that we can make informed choices, party notwithstanding: Vote the bums out!

CPS needs to be cleaned up, too

We have corruption within the state Liquor Commission, our Honolulu Police Department has officers receiving kickbacks from the underworld and some legislators have received illegal contributions. They are considered lawbreakers and the state and city are taking steps to reprimand them. But what about the state Department of Human Services?

You have Child Protective Services, which violates the constitutional and civil rights of most parents when they remove the child or children. There are some cases where the parent is at fault and the removal of the child is necessary. But it seems that CPS assumes every parent is guilty. It automatically initiates a service plan, instead of investigating the case thoroughly. CPS workers just go through their set standard without finding out whether the parents were at fault or not. Federal and state audits of the system have found that there are flaws in the CPS system, but nothing has been done to correct them. Lawmakers, one of these days your child could be taken away unlawfully, and you will have a long fight with the system to get your child back.

Stop playing politics with National Guard

Having served in the military, I am deeply concerned about the Legislature's move to segregate the National Guard from the rest of the U.S. armed forces. Today, in the 21st century, the U.S. military is striving toward further integration not only between the reserves and Guard forces, but also among the various service branches.

For example, it is now not unusual now to see a Navy officer take command of ground operations in Bosnia or an Army officer guide air operations in Iraq. The Legislature's desire to run against the modern trend toward further military integration by demanding the state adjutant general only come from the National Guard is simply bad policy. What further troubles me is that the Legislature never had a problem when Gov. Burns or Gov. Waihee, who were Democrats, selected a state adjutant general from outside the Guard, but when Governor Lingle, a Republican, did so, suddenly there is a problem.

I had the pleasure of serving under Maj. Gen. Bob Lee when he commanded the Army Reserve in Hawaii. I can find no example the Legislature can directly point to that shows why Lee's command of the National Guard in Hawaii has been anything less than exemplary. With this measure the Legislature is forcing a silly policy that runs counter to national trends to fix a nonexistent problem for purely political reasons. This is what happens when politicians play games with our military.

'3 strikes' rule should apply to the president

Hey, won't someone tell our commander in chief that in America, it's "three strikes and you're out" in baseball, criminal justice and running the country?

The Bush administration insiders have maneuvered the country into invading Iraq without the support of the United Nation, many allies and a substantial number of Americans. This action was motivated by the administration's hidden agenda, preconceived notions and scanty evidence. Lies, leaks and unilateral actions have alienated friends and foes alike at home and abroad. Protesters were labeled disloyal and a martial-law atmosphere enveloped the country, which appeared to limit the civil liberties of all but the insiders -- the rich and the powerful.

Whatever respect and credibility America had earned and established in its history has been tarnished. The recent federal surplus has been replaced by a record-breaking debt.

In any game, league or country, all of this amounts to more than three strikes. Why isn't the batter out? It is because the commander in chief says that in times of turmoil, he makes, interprets and enforces all the rules -- even if he created most of the turmoil in the first place. Duh!

Thank goodness for dedicated troops

I read the item in the Sunday, April 9 paper about Sgt. 1st Class Juanita Wilson of the Pacific Army Reserve's 411th Engineer Battalion, who lost her left forearm in Iraq but nevertheless re-enlisted on April 6.

She said she was "very humbled by the fact that my senior leaders deem me fit for duty."

This woman has more guts than good sense. I love her. Good luck and God bless you, Sergeant. Thank you, and good wishes.

Chapel Singers keep sacred music alive

The Chapel Singers, a 30-member ensemble from the University of Redlands in California, have been performing this week at various Oahu churches. Anyone lucky enough to attend one of their hour-long concerts was treated to a glorious evening of sacred music and spirituals. The Chapel Singers are directed by Jeffrey Rickard, whose son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Jeni, sing in the ensemble. Rickard's wife, Margaret Winter, plays the flute beautifully.

The Chapel Singers will perform before services tomorrow morning at Central Union Church in Honolulu, then conclude their Hawaii tour at 7:30 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua in Kailua.

I urge you to try to attend one of the Chapel Singers' uplifting performances.