Fear not, Warrior fans, here comes Tyler

You University of Hawaii Warrior fans, you sports writers, most of you have been remiss. Why haven't you shown some appreciation for backup quarterback Tyler Graunke? He has done very well whenever he has had a chance to play. Despite having had to sit on the bench for three years, a very hurtful situation, he has been admirably sporting and good natured about it.

We haven't run out of good quarterbacks yet. I expect great performance from Tyler next year. Let's do our part and show appreciation for this fine young man. Go, Tyler!

Better stay healthy on the Big Island

We had a semi-emergency a few days ago that required us to get to a doctor in a hurry. My wife had a bronchial infection and she needed some antibiotics. So we drove to Urgent Care in Hilo, since no doctor's office on the Big Island will see anyone without an appointment, especially on a weekend.

Guess what? They were closed. Never heard of an urgent care facility that didn't have some sort of weekend hours! So we went to the only other Urgent Care facility here (they were at least open) ... but they didn't accept our Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Hawaii coverage (we're both retired state employees).

So we then had to reluctantly go to the emergency room. Took about four hours to see the doctor just to get some antibiotics, but they wanted to do a CAT scan just to make sure there wasn't anything else going on ($1,000). Two days later (with the antibiotics kicking in) my wife was fine.

I talked briefly about it with the ER doctor and he said it really doesn't matter how great your insurance is or how much money you have. The Big Island is severely understaffed of doctors and that translates to limited hours to the public, no new patients and limited insurance options.

Welcome to paradise. (Just don't get sick.)

Mahalo from one 'island' to another

I am writing to express my deepest appreciation to our Sugar Bowl visitors from Hawaii.

In close to 20 years as a shopkeeper in the French Quarter, I cannot recall a more friendly and fun-loving group of visitors. I especially adored that so many of you brought your kids for the cultural experience.

After the "thing" (Hurricane Katrina), so many of you offered, sent and spoke in the Senate in our support. We forged bonds of friendship then, and hope we were acceptable hosts.

Since we now feel like we also live in an island, we pray our similarities maintain our newly formed friendships for many generations to come.

Thank you for coming. We enjoyed your visit, as brief as it was.

DNA collection would save innocent lives

In response to "Limit DNA sampling to convicted felons" (Our Opinion, Star-Bulletin, Jan. 21): This was an extreme case, but there are several similar examples: A man in California was arrested 21 times before he was formally convicted of a crime. Six years ago he was convicted of rape and when his DNA was analyzed, it matched 12 other unsolved rape and murder cases! The first victim had been killed 15 years previously. Had his DNA been taken upon his first felony arrest (assault with a deadly weapon), it might have saved 11 lives.

In Chicago, a study of serial killers and rapists showed that 60 violent crimes, including 53 murders and rapes, might have been prevented had DNA been taken upon arrest.

Katie Sepich was 22 when she was raped, strangled and her body set on fire. In 2006 the New Mexico DNA database matched the unknown DNA found under Katie's fingernails to a man recently arrested. He was finally convicted of her murder in 2007.

The proposed bill to collect DNA from those arrested and charged with felonies is named after Katie. The Women's Caucus has introduced this measure for discussion. A few years ago, the caucus supported and the Hawaii Legislature enacted a measure requiring that all felons submit DNA for the database.

Although there is a backlog and the counties might complain about the costs of analysis, the collection consists of a simple buccal swab. DNA can be stored until analysis. It is no longer invasive -- more like swiping a Q-Tip in the mouth. It does not invade one's privacy; analysis is limited to a few DNA features in order to determine identity. It is similar to fingerprinting, but far more accurate. A person's health cannot be determined from forensic DNA testing.

Law enforcement needs all the tools and technology available to prevent and solve crimes. We should at least discuss Katie's Law.

Democrats have really let down isle residents

I strongly agree with John Pritchett's letter ("In Hawaii, we build it, but we don't fix it," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 21). Taking it one step forward, where has all the money been going for the past 40 years under Democratic rule? A Republican is better than a Democrat at this point.

Marijuana crackdown boosted 'ice' craze

That poor kid getting tossed off the H-1 overpass has caused a big commotion in Hawaii, hasn't it? And it's all because of "ice," everyone's saying.

I tend to agree, since ice is a real nasty drug that can make people do nasty, insane things.

But while these do-gooders are advocating for stronger drug laws and more intervention, all I can think of is what government intervention did to bring on this state's ice epidemic.

Remember Green Harvest? Remember how easy it was to get pot in Hawaii? Remember why druggies turned to meth in droves?

Meth did this to that boy. I don't think marijuana would even bother getting off the couch, let alone walking all the way to H-1 with a squalling child in its arms.

'Eye for an eye' justice might be needed

Why do we put up with all these criminals who break our laws? When they commit a crime, they know that they only have to serve time (minimal in most cases) and are released back into our communities. This does no justice to the victims at all. When these criminals are released, the victims are once again looking over their shoulders in fear.

The answer for this is simple, it is called "an eye for an eye" justice. You steal, cut your hand off and mark your forehead with a "T"! You rape someone, well, you know what we are going to cut off next, and so on. Criminals would think twice before committing their next crime.

But lo and behold, someone from the ACLU would fight this, so here comes my second answer: Ship the criminals off to live with the lawyers who defend them and save my tax dollars to fix the roads and pay for upgrades to the University of Hawaii.

That's just my opinion, however small it is.

Let's all pledge to end the violence

In addition to expressions of love and grief over the killing of baby Cyrus and lamentation over the deaths of two more women victims of male anger, let us all pledge to work together for a just, killing-free Hawaii in which everyone has the right not to be killed and the responsibility not to kill others.

It's not mother's fault her child was killed

I am sickened at the reports on the tragic death of little Cyrus Belt. The mother put the child in the hands of two adults (her father and her boyfriend), one or both of whom failed to supervise the child in her absence. SHE did not leave the child alone. I have neither the right nor reason to read her history with Child Protective Services. The newspaper should be ashamed of its Enquirer-style reporting on this tragedy.

Why isn't the story about Matthew Higa, who was allegedly seen throwing the baby off the overpass?

May God and the community comfort little Cyrus' family in their loss, and support Chanco in her efforts to rehabilitate her life.

Learn to recognize signs of mental illness

No one can bring that beautiful baby Cyrus back, but maybe we can learn, recognize and treat the sick around us and ensure that the holes in the social safety nets are mended. We can never again allow such a preventable horror to happen again.

The suspect, Matthew Higa, was sick; the symptoms of mental illness mirror the symptoms of drug abuse. Educate and explain the symptoms so more people can get help for their loved ones before the community cries over another dead angel. Pacing, walking up and down stairs at all hours, screaming and yelling, and destroying your home are symptoms of a serious mental illness. With the right doctor and the right medication, the illness can be controlled.

The safety nets for the protection of Cyrus failed miserably. Had Child Protective Services taken Cyrus away at birth when it knew his mother had problems, he might be alive today. Nothing can console this family or this community.

Everyone let this baby down. Don't let this happen to another family.

Don't have a child if you're not sober

Nancy Asiata Chanco had a turbulent life with her other children before Cyrus was born. Why would she bring another child into this world? Why not be responsible and get yourself clean and sober before having another child? Best yet, clean and sober and take care of her other two children. I pondered how much taxpayer money has gone to help this woman.

Abuse came in all sorts of forms; one of them is neglect!