America has bigger problems than this

It is a sad day when someone cannot use the phone without being taped, such as the uproar over "Dog" Chapman using the "N-word." But what about the F-word that he uses?

Black people can use the "N-word," but oh my goodness ... if someone else should say it, it becomes a crime.

There are slang words for all races. It does not make it right to say, but you never hear anyone say anything about these words except if it is the "N-word." What about the slang that is used for "half-breed" in Hawaii? I never was insulted, nor were my stepchildren.

There is so much more to worry about in the lives of we Americans, like sexual predators, the cost of living, hungry and homeless families and our soldiers overseas. Color does not play a part in these issues.

'Dog' spoke what was really in his heart

People shouldn't get mad about Duane "Dog" Chapman using this word. I am a transplant from Waipahu and now live on the mainland. I had never experienced any kind of racial prejudice until I moved to Seattle. We (me, my husband and kids) live in Ohio now and experience prejudice almost daily. My husband is black, making our children biracial. My son has been called the N-word several times in school and we have attended many school meetings addressing this issue. The only thing I can tell my kids is that you cannot change the way a person feels or thinks because whatever is in their heart is how they really feel.

So, people of Hawaii, just be glad Dog has finally shown what is in his heart. Dog said it was said out of anger but don't be fooled, he has used this word so many times in one conversation it has to be an every day word for him, it's just that he got caught using it this time. To add insult to injury, Dog says he would never welcome "a N-word" into his family. It's a good thing that the people of Hawaii (we people of color who welcomed Dog and his family to the islands) don't feel the same as he does, after all, he is not one of us!

He also wants us to believe the word was taken out of context, so how did he really mean to use the word?

We can forgive him if he can forgive his son

I propose a benchmark to gauge our forgiveness of Duane Chapman. It's how quickly he forgives his son Tucker for selling the "N-tape." Then again, would I believe him if he said he did?

Maui patients might rely on Superferry

Not everyone on Maui is against the Superferry. On an island with one government hospital with no specialty services, we are fairly dependent on transportation to Oahu.

If our old hospital burns down due to its faulty wiring, how are we going to ship large amounts of patients to Oahu? We have one transport team. What do we do in the meantime while they take 231 patients one at a time to Oahu?

If we have a plane crash, we have no way to take care of the mass casualties or transport them to Oahu. If our hospital is closed down due to the bird flu, what are we going to do with so many sick and injured patients?

As usual, the large silent majority who want the Superferry are getting run over by the loud minority. Most of us on Maui welcome our Oahu ohana. Come to Maui, visit our beautiful island! We welcome you.

Who is really behind this? Aloha and Hawaiian airlines? If they get rid of go! Airlines and the Superferry, they can raise rates to $150 round-trip again. Is Young Bros. against this? We can shop and bring our purchases back in our trunk.

Gov. Linda Lingle, we are glad you are strong and stand up for our rights to have access to the shopping, tourism and alternative transportation.

Warriors shouldn't get ahead of themselves

Why do people feel so passionate about the University of Hawaii football program and talk about a Bowl Championship Series buster when they have the "meat" of the schedule to deal with? Boise State and the University of Washington are still right there and even if UW is not highly ranked in their own conference, they can bring some hurting to UH. The only way UH will handle UW is ... UW got selected to a bowl game, accepted and the coach doesn't want his guys to get hurt so he plays secondary teams.

Don't get me wrong. I think UH is good, but to be ranked higher than Florida and still say they aren't getting respect? Uhm ... sure. They lucky Notre Dame ain't ranked higher considering strength of schedule. If UH fans get mad reading this, go after your athletic director for scheduling teams, or lack thereof. But he might be too busy talking about his Olympic moments.