Unwarranted violence begins in the home

I am horrified, ashamed and angry at the incident that took place at the Waikele outlets on Monday, involving a local family and a military couple (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 22).

I think this violent display is indicative of a larger problem: the inability of parents to raise conscientious, caring and moral human beings. The question is, What steps need to be taken to change this situation? This kind of change definitely won't happen overnight, but it's something that needs to be addressed in light of the many incidents of violence against people.

We need to ensure that people who participate in this type of behavior, regardless of age, own up to their actions and serve harsh sentences.

Beating isn't typical of Waianae residents

How sad that this cycle of violence continues from some residents from the Waianae Coast, in the savage beating of the couple at the Waikele Shopping Center over an insignificant fender-bender. I understand that this type of violence is not limited to the Waianae Coast, but it seems to have more than its fair share.

Where does this young teenage boy who allegedly assaulted this couple get the idea that it is OK to beat on other people? A clue to this is the reported actions of his father, Gerald D. Paakaula. His alleged brutal beating of the couple only reinforced in this young teenager that this is acceptable behavior.

I was raised on the Waianae Coast, and I know that the majority of the people there are good people! Come on, people of Waianae, be a good role model and teach your children how to be good citizens. I want Waianae to be the Waianae that I remember -- a place of a good and loving people who would stop and help anyone in need. Let's stop this cycle of violence now!

Rail will fail without stops at airport, UH

The City Council vote on our transit system must fall under the "What were you thinking?" category ("Rail route to go via Salt Lake," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 22). If it wasn't so expensive, it would be funny.

What is the use of buying a ladder that doesn't reach the roof? It would be cheaper but would only be good for cleaning under the eaves and not climbing on top of the roof. If this expensive boondoggle doesn't serve the people, they won't use it. I am not in favor of the transit system, but if I have to pay for it, I want it done right. If you exclude the airport and the University of Hawaii, you exclude a major portion of the people who would most likely use the system.

Don't judge all drifters by the lawless few

In response to the letter writer of "Drift racing no boon to the community" (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 7): I'm sorry for your bad experiences with seeing and hearing kids racing up and down your streets. Even as a car enthusiast and a drifter, it rattles my nerves to see modified cars race stoplight to stoplight and weave in and out of traffic. But please don't let that destroy your perception of the racing community as a whole.

Please don't blame the lawmakers, either. They are doing the best they can until they can find a more suitable alternative. Monthly events at the stadium satisfy much of our adrenaline needs until the next month rolls by. Hopefully the state can fund a racetrack soon so that we can take our sport away from residential areas to somewhere more suitable. Until then, I think the noise coming from the stadium is a little bearable compared to having cars speeding up and down surface streets.

Don't think that drifting and road racing events at Aloha Stadium entice street racing, when in fact they do the opposite. With every group come individuals who ruin it for everyone else. The people you see speeding up behind you on the freeway and racing up and down your street represent only a small percentage compared to the number of racers who would rather have a safe venue to race on or not race at all.

Ban fireworks -- and Bush, while you're at it

Letter writer Danielle Douglass' support of fireworks is based on misguided, selfish myth (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 19).

Fireworks on the Fourth of July has nothing to do with patriotism any more than our military being illegally in Iraq has to do with insuring our "freedom at home." While our military has been participating in an illegal invasion of another country, which under international law is a war crime, our freedoms at home have been eroded by the Bush-Cheney administration, which has lied to the American people, sent our military to die needlessly in foreign countries for oil and American corporation profits, spied on its citizens, depleted its treasury, and taken from its children and elderly. These are just a few transgressions that come to mind. Fireworks are a safety and health hazard.

Senate Bill 831 should be passed this year by the Legislature. The rest of the United States does quite well with controlled municipal fireworks on the Fourth of July. If you want to do something "patriotic," then join the voices for impeachment of Bush-Cheney for their crimes against "we the people."

Cogenerators cost HECO more money

In your Feb. 16 editorial claiming HECO's proposed tariff would unfairly impede private power generation, you argue that "cogenerating customers also are reducing potential build-up costs for HECO by reducing demand." Wrong! HECO must build its system for those times when the cogenerating units are undergoing maintenance or otherwise not running. So cogeneration reduces revenue from power consumption, but not the need to build the electric system to meet peak demand when cogenerating units are not running.

That's why a tariff is needed to recover the demand costs -- or the rest of HECO's customers would have to foot the bill. That's not fair to the vast majority of HECO customers. Customers should pay for the costs they create.