Roadside memorials shouldn't include beer
The Saturday front page photo of a beer placed next to a roadside memorial is an insult to the family and especially to the poor 3-year-old boy who died in the accident. Is that beer supposed to "honor" the 25-year-old drunken driver who caused the accident? That beer is the symbol of what is wrong with our society's view on drinking and driving, that "It's OK, I can handle!"
Regardless of whether the pickup truck driver was intoxicated or not, friends who wish to grieve in that manner should do so in private because it is just not appropriate when the life of a child is involved.
Roy Nakamura
Honolulu
What happened to behaving responsibly?
Ted Meeker's idea that the state should be responsible for reminding drivers to renew their licenses
(Letters, May 16) is beyond reasoning.
The only person responsible for his driver's license is himself, not the city. Nor should the taxpayer's money be wasted on an infrastructure to support drivers' lack of personal responsibility.
But then; personal responsibility, integrity, virtue?
» The school system is failing to teach, but how many parents oversee/review their child's homework? (Responsibility)
» How can a child drop out of school without the parents supporting it? (Responsibility)
» We want our correct pay each pay period, but how much of our employer's time do we steal to go online and shop or do personal e-mails? (Ethics/integrity)
» Graffiti all over the place? What was taught in the home? (Responsibility/respect)
» Vehicle homicide. (Not an accident, not an act of God or could not be prevented)
» More than 95 percent of drivers totally ignore driving laws.
» Killing, maiming, destroying -- so what? (Personal responsibility, integrity, ethics)
On second thought, we are living with all of the above and more, go on and ask the state to be responsible for your license!
Lawrence O. Wilson
Mililani
Either phone or drive, but don't do both
That was a good letter about
using turn signals by Alan Okamura (Star-Bulletin, May 15). The drivers who don't signal are probably on their cell phones. I've been behind them on the freeway as they poke along in the middle lane with cars passing them left and right. I've been behind them as a light turns green but they sit. I've watched them zig-zag in a lane before they change lanes without a signal.
When I walk I am very aware of phone users turning right without looking right. Then there was the phone user stuck in an intersection and across the crosswalk because she wasn't paying attention to traffic ahead of her.
Driving is serious. Where in the driver's manual does it say you're a qualified driver if you're on the phone? Either drive or talk on the phone -- not both.
Pat Paterson
Honolulu
Some reef fish doomed to die in aquarium
In 2001, Rep. Cynthia Thielen helped me draft House Bill 65 pertaining to the taking and sale of marine fish unsuitable for aquariums.Not all marine fish, mind you.Just those "unsuitable" for life in a tiny aquarium.
At the time, the list was discussed and even endorsed by members of the Waikiki Aquarium staff, who have, in most part unfortunately "moved on" by now.
Bill 65 unfortunately "tanked."
For the general public who may be unaware of the types fish that should not be kept as pets, I've kept the original list compiled by real experts, not just "coral huggers" like myself.
Not only would these beautiful animals have a miserably short life in an aquarium, their taking from the ocean creates negative impact upon our reefs.
Here's a quick list of the top 15 not-fit-for-an-aquarium fish:
Spotted Coral Blenny, Moorish Idol, Black Saddled Puffer, Cleaner Wrasse, Psych Head Wrasse, Red Shoulder Wrasse, Potter's Wrasse, Banded Angel, Saddle Back Butterfly-fish, Pebbled Butterfly-fish, 4-spot Butterfly-fish, Reticulated Butterfly-fish, Teardrop Butterfly-fish, Rainbow Butterfly-fish and finally, cute as they are, most Seahorses.
Good luck "Year of the Reef"!
Fred Barnett
Kailua
No one should want to repeat prison stay
The public mentality needs to be adjusted. Have drastic changes in our prisons, like no TV, no comfortable beds, just enough food to nourish the body and no comforts of home. The prisons should be far away so that prisoners' families or friends cannot easily get to meet them. In other words, prison is not where anyone wants to go. A prison on the island of Kahoolawe would be a good place.
The wardens should be innovative and have prisoners work on projects, such as planting vegetables for their food and making their own furniture, which will also teach prisoners a skill. The county can also use them to clean the roadways of trash, weeds and even cut trees that may cause a problem. Perhaps the prisoners can also keep the bathrooms in the parks clean daily. The prisoners can also fix their own buildings, roofs and do other small maintenance jobs. We should not be spending tax money for these things.
We should cut down our spending on prisons and shift it to better places. Don't reward convicts; make them not want to return to the prisons. We shouldn't feel sorry for those who are convicted. If they complain, tell them not to return!
Francis K. Ibara
Kahului, Maui