School lunch prices have come a long way

I guess $1.25 isn't too steep for a school lunch in 2007 ("School lunch prices will rise 25 cents," Star-Bulletin, Dec. 15). It just reminds me of Kuhio School circa 1955 when a lunch was 15 cents. I recall a main dish, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk, and Miss Mori or Mrs. Takeshita asking me, "Peter, you want seconds?"

Boycott Disney for ousting symphony

Apparently the city's booking agents have not been here long enough to learn that Neal Blaisdell used public money to build a permanent home for the Honolulu Symphony ("Bumped by Broadway show, symphony seeks new venue." Dec. 12). I remember how proudly he attended the first concerts in the hall, which turned out to be an acoustical marvel.

He certainly did not envision a time when the symphony would be evicted from the hall built with public money for months on end in the midst of its season to make way for traveling road shows to make the money and run.

And where will this all end? Why not rent this publicly funded hall all year round to visiting profit-making ventures?

This sounds like a good time for people who love our town to boycott all Disney enterprises.

Family hopes Web site will help brother

As we entered the holiday season, my thoughts were of the many blessings I am surely thankful for -- a loving and supportive family, friendships and renewed relationships. But I also thought of my brother Shaun C. Rodrigues.

Shaun is serving a sentence of a minimum of 12 (out of 20) years for a crime he did not commit. He is not the "Manoa Robber." This January it will be a year since he was taken and sent to prison.

This is his first holiday in all of his life that will be spent away from his family. He still holds his head up as the innocent man falsely accused, unjustly prosecuted and wrongfully convicted. Although this isn't an easy situation to adapt to, I admire his strength and perseverance to remain the humble, respectful person he is, proof that he will never stop being a father to Christopher, his son, and a husband to his wife, who needs him home.

We would like to let the public know of the Web site the family has started through the suggestions of supporters: www.shaunrodriguesisinnocent.citymaker.com. It is our hope to shed light on the inconsistencies of this case and the wrongful conviction of my brother Shaun. Please feel free to share your comments with us through the site.

Shaun continues to exist through the support of his family and friends. We thank those in support of Shaun and his innocence. Your letters and kind words are an inspiration to Shaun and the family. We ask that in your prayers this holiday season, please remember Shaun, his safety and his exoneration.

Lawmaker's vote insults police officers

On Dec. 6, House Resolution 1082 was voted upon in the U.S. House of Representatives. This resolution, mostly symbolic in nature and sponsored by representatives of Pennsylvania, condemns "the decision by the city of St. Demis, France, to name a street in honor of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted murderer of Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner."

The vote was made just three days shy of the 25th anniversary of Faulkner's murder.

Resolution 1082 passed by a landslide vote of 386-31. Of the 31 "nay" voters, all were Democrats, and at the top of the list was none other than Hawaii's own Neil Abercrombie. Not only does this resolution condemn the murder of Faulkner, but also, "Commends all police officers in the United States and throughout the world for their commitment to public safety."

As a voter and law enforcement officer, I can't stop shaking my head in disbelief and disappointment that this is the type of representation Hawaii can expect in Washington.

Increased ticketing won't slow speeders

Our police department is clueless about how to stop traffic deaths, especially by DUI. Its method is to issue thousands of speeding tickets on our highways, on top of the regular take ("Crackdown targets speeding," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 10).

The count might be 7,000 tickets in one month, and while the campaign is going on we still have ongoing deaths. I am not clairvoyant, but none of those ticketed would have died or had an accident. The speeders they ticket are not the ones crossing the center line, sleeping at the wheel, going airborne in a drunken stupor or taking risky chances. A total of 43,000 people die every year even while millions of tickets are issued. Give no tickets, 43,000 will still die.

If this continues, 7,000 x 12 months equals 84,000 tickets. But each person who gets a ticket will complain about it to their spouse, children, passenger, friends. So 84,000 x 4 equals 336,000 people per year who will not respect authority ... unless this campaign is just about police job security. You do your own math.

Bush finds it too easy to play with lives

Does anyone believe that Japan and Germany did not have many patriotic soldiers who faithfully fought for their Emperor and fuhrer during World War II because they believed they were doing their duty for their country? Many of them bravely laid down their lives. Does that mean that their war was justified? So why do so many Americans keep saying that we must not criticize the Iraq war because our brave soldiers are risking their lives?

These people also forget that President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, the main "deciders" of the illegal and immoral Iraq war, did everything they could to avoid being sent into war themselves. It is so easy to be macho with other people's lives. Then they criticize Sen. John Kerry, an honored Vietnam veteran, for disrespecting our fighting men. Kerry screwed up his joke about Bush; the joke was not aimed at our servicemen. If screwing up a joke disqualifies a man from being POTUS, listen to many of the Bushisms that are on Youtube.com.

Readers, tell us about 2007 THE tick of the clock from December 2006's last second to January 2007's first is really no different from any other. Nonetheless, it marks a turn of time regarded as a genesis -- a beginning. The Star-Bulletin would like readers to submit their thoughts, ideas and hopes for 2007. Tell us what you would like the year to bring or what you expect 2007 will be like. Feel free to get the family involved -- we'd like to hear from our younger readers, too. And you're welcome to express your feelings in a photograph or drawing rather than words, if you prefer. Comments and observations may be personal or global, material or spiritual -- whatever is on your mind. We will publish your words on New Year's Day, along with some photos and other artwork you send. E-mail us at newyear@starbulletin.com, or send mail to Editorial Dept., Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI, 96813. We look forward to hearing from you!