Hawaii, UH were lucky to have Paul Durham
Regarding the death of former University of Hawaii athletic director Paul Durham (
Star-Bulletin, June 24):
Paul Durham's early life and career took place at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., and his later life and career at the University of Hawaii. Both Oregon and Hawaii have fonder memories and are better places to live today because of his presence and contributions.
Few men are able to live one good life. Paul Durham had two. Lucky for Hawaii!
Richard Y. Will
Honolulu
Dems lacked courage to cut state budget
I think the hypocrisy award of the month for politics has to go to the Democrats who wrote, in the final report on the state budget, "Indications that Hawaii's economy is slowing provide additional incentive to exercise fiscal conservatism" -- and then cut about one-1,000th of the spending amount recommended by the governor!
Democrats had the power to hold up the budget and force some real cuts in spending, or at least slow down the huge increase in spending that actually went through -- but that would have required courage. Why do we keep electing spineless hypocrites to the Legislature?
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
Economy could suffer if activists prevail
Your
June 28 front page article said the state Historic Preservation Division has asked developer General Growth Properties to redesign its Ward area retail and housing complex in order to keep in place the native Hawaiian remains found there and to rebury remains already disinterred.
Prior to the Hawaiian activist movement, when contractors discovered human remains they were allowed to rebury them in the public cemetery at the landowner's expense. Now, it appears that this division of the state government is making recommendations that, if followed, will surely negatively affect the state's economy and the majority of our society within our islands.
If the ruling of the Historic Preservation Division is sustained, new construction, both private and public (such as low-income housing, highways, streets and perhaps the planned fixed rail system), will be affected. The construction sector, and the various supporting and related businesses, could be forced to lay off workers and close their doors.
With less taxable income, the state and county governments might have to lay off civil service workers and greatly reduce expenditures for government projects, social services, education, health and security.
Wilbert W. W. Wong Sr.
Kaneohe
Ancients show the way even from the grave
Regarding "State urges developer to redesign Ward Project,"
Star-Bulletin, June 28: Funny how life works. Here we have Oahu bending, some would say breaking, with unchecked development, the subsequent overpopulation and an almost imperceptable urban blueprint. Too short-sighted to plan for future generations, we continue the mass degradation of Oahu, complete with an eroding quality of life.
Lo and behold, who should rise up and save us from ourselves? The ancients whose bones and spirits will no longer tolerate the blight of rampant development on the lands they once wandered.
Pat Kelly
Honolulu
Please be humane -- even to invading rats
Regarding the Kokua Line question about how to address rat issues (
Star-Bulletin, June 28): The Hawaiian Humane Society believes that there are humane and effective ways to prevent and/or remove rodents.
The Humane Society teaches and promotes humane treatment for every living creature -- including rodents, so we are strongly opposed to the use of sticky traps to catch rats and mice. Glue traps can cause a long and painful death resulting from suffocation or even dismemberment as the snared try to free themselves.
In addition, other types of animals such as kittens or birds could also become entrapped. Humane rat and mouse traps, such as "live traps," can be found at most hardware stores. Rodents can be released or brought to the Humane Society.
Preventing the problem is always preferable. Rodents do not particularly want to live with you, they are simply opportunistic feeders. They thrive according to the available food, water and shelter, so keep food and trash in sturdy sealed containers, including the outside garbage can. Don't leave food for your companion animals outside. Keep stacked items away from the house and seal up holes and cracks in walls.
Pamela Burns
President & CEO
Hawaiian Humane Society
Don't broaden power to prescribe drugs
We have lived for many years now with mental illness in our family. We have gained first-hand experience by being involved in the local mental health community, and we have for years dedicated ourselves to mental health causes.
This letter is wholeheartedly in support of Gov. Linda Lingle's apparent intention to veto SB 1004.
If passed, SB 1004 would allow psychologists, who do not have medical education and training, to prescribe psychotropic medications without a deep knowledge of their chemical effects. This must be avoided, as it has been in 47 other states. We encourage the governor to veto this bad measure.
Helen G. Chapin
Henry B. Chapin, Ph. D.
Honolulu
President, Congress haven't kept their word
Recently, Congress again sent a bill on embryonic stem cell research to President Bush, and again he vetoed it! Why waste the time? Instead of playing politics, Congress should impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
This would kill two birds with one stone. Lawmakers could move to stop this war in Iraq as they promised. Their reputation is bad and getting worse. Promises made to get elected are to be kept. Now we can't believe a word they say.
That especially applies to President Bush, who said that he will allow billions of dollars to secure the border. If you noticed, he said "secure" the border and not stop the illegal immigrants completely from crossing the border. We have been "securing" the borders for many years and still the illegal immigrants are coming in. Don't believe anything President Bush says and does. Talk is cheap but keeping a promise is priceless!
Francis K. Ibara
Kahului