Bus drivers can help prevent accidents

I run the Kamehameha Highway gauntlet almost daily, as I am an employee in the tour industry, and there is never a day when I fear a head-on collision anywhere along our scenic highways with passengers on board ("Tour bus kills SUV driver," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 13). As an experienced and well-trained tour driver, I'm comforted to know that my employer would never compromise driver safety and awareness just to reach a time schedule.

Any corporation or driver that operates a commercial or private vehicles must bear equal responsibility of driving defensively. Planning your trips and lessening driver workloads, knowing when you've overdriven yourself, watching out for the other guy and just keeping common sense behind the wheel will cut down on such tragedies. I quietly grieve the loss of Corey Voss and wish that all will be well for his wife and unborn child. I hope and pray that such a tragedy will never happen again.

Another tour driver took unnecessary risk

I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Corey Voss.

Just Tuesday evening I was returning home from Kailua in the center lane on the H-1 when a Roberts Hawaii tour bus overtook me between the University Avenue onramp and King Street offramp. The bus then cut across three lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at King Street. As I was going a steady 55 mph myself, I imagine the bus to be traveling well into the 60s.

While some might consider it acceptable to cruise along at 10-15 mph over the limit, I consider those speeds reserved for emergency vehicles and police.

To the driver of the bus on the H-1: Didn't you learn anything from Monday's tragic accident?

Why do people throw trash all over island?

My family and I moved to Oahu last October and were immediately impressed with its beauty. We love it, but everywhere we go there is litter. I cannot understand how a place as beautiful as this can be taken for granted by those who live here. There are diapers on the beach, pop bottles and cigarette butts everywhere. You use the beach washrooms and personal hygiene products are on the floor because someone was too lazy to put them in the garbage. We go to Laie Point and there are fishing line, broken hooks and garbage people have left behind.

I can appreciate that some is left by tourists, but when I see residents doing it -- or anyone, for that matter -- it makes me very sad and angry. This beautiful island should be revered and taken care of. Do your share, pick up after yourself and others, get the message out that you care about your home. Maybe others will do the same. Teach the children to have pride in their surroundings.

Once oath is taken, it must be honored

Mr. Ehren Watada (I can't bring myself to refer to him as a member of the armed forces, let alone an officer) is naive at best to think he can simply resign his commission and "self-relieve" himself of his duties and obligations to the oath he took. He's confusing marriage, where divorce is an option, with his military obligation. Once an oath is taken, you honor your obligation, no matter what second-guessing you're going through.

Sorry, Mr. Watada, there's no escape clause here, and there's "NO DEAL" here for you.

Watada's objections to war seem sincere

On democracynow.org, I saw the tape Lt. Ehren Watada made regarding his decision and heard their interview with him.

Watada believes the war is illegal and unconstitutional and that his duty as a soldier is not to follow illegal orders. If he is correct about the legality and constitutionality of the war, then he is right and is showing incredible courage. He took an oath to uphold the Constitution first, not just obey orders.

In listening to him, I do not believe he is grandstanding or uncourageous. I believe this decision, which will affect him for life, was an extremely difficult one.

Although I hope that our government did not break laws and violate the Constitution in pursuing the war in Iraq, if it is true, then I will be more horrified by all of the military who blindly followed illegal orders. It happened in My Lai, and it could happen again. I will withhold judgment until the trial findings are made public.