It takes courage to run for any office

I'd like to give a heartfelt mahalo to all those who choose to run for elected office. It is never easy to submit oneself to constant scrutiny or unfair criticisms, but to do so in the name of public service is admirable to say the least. Congratulations to those who have made it through and good luck to those who ran their campaigns honorably.

Now that the election is behind us, it is time for those elected to put their mettle to the test as we head in to new dilemmas such as the global and national economic crisis and Hawaii's role in it, Kahana Valley, invasive species, energy security and public education, just to name a few. Let us pull together to enable the right kind of change for our state and our nation.

The unborn deserve benefits of change, too

First of all, congratulations to Barack Obama on his historic win. While I did not support him, I recognize the significance of his victory and wish him the best of luck. However, his message of change is inconsistent with the results of two ballot initiatives that were voted down in Colorado and South Dakota.

The people of Colorado decided that conception is not a defining point of life, which is ludicrous if anyone would look at a sonogram of a pregnant woman. That is a baby, a living human being, not an indistinguishable organism. The people of South Dakota continue to hold on to the belief that it is right to abort all babies regardless of circumstance. America will never live up to its potential as long as we continue to slaughter millions of unborn human beings each year.

Who will stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves? Will it be Obama? If he and his supporters believe that this is a time for change and equality, then it must start with the treatment of unborn children. Otherwise, his words are hollow. I pray that as a country we come together and right this injustice. God bless our new president-elect, and God bless America.

Obama gets people to work together

This is such a historic day for the American people and the rest of the world and for all of us in Hawaii. Barack Obama is an amazing person and I am so proud of him for a tremendous job and perseverance throughout his campaign. He has brought so many people together with the common goal of accomplishing what needs to be done to make this a better world. Obama's goal as president is one that will benefit everyone in different ways and help people to see that there can be change for the better if we work together.

To Obama and his family, our condolences for the loss of his grandmother. Seeing Obama throughout this campaign showed what a kind, caring person he is and what good values have been taught to him by his mother and grandparents. May God keep you and your family safe and guide you as president of the United States of America.

Italian PM’s remarks were crude, insensitive

Dear President-elect Obama,

I was dismayed when I learned of the idiotic and insensitive remarks made by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (who referred to Barack Obama as “;young, handsome and suntanned”;).

When I immigrated to the United States from Italy many years ago, I was warmly embraced by this nation and its citizens. I was given opportunities equal to any of its native sons. For that, I will be forever grateful, and to this land I pledge my undying loyalty.

I am sure that Berlusconi's remarks came just from infantile ignorance and a misplaced sense of pathetic humor. But they were nevertheless insensitive and embarrassing to all Italians. From me personally and on their behalf, I feel compelled to publicly apologize, while wishing you the greatest of success in guiding our great nation, the United States of America.

HPD should ticket obnoxious bikers

Obnoxiously loud motorcycles have always bugged me. I could never understand why these motorcyclists find it so necessary—or acceptable—to drive around spewing 130 decibels of unnecessary nuisance. It could be they think they need it to stay safe on the roads (I doubt that, as I ride my bicycle all over the island with nothing more than a whisper of my tires), but then again, it doesn't matter why. The fact is, it's illegal and the Honolulu Police Department should be ticketing these bikers.

Of course, HPD doesn't like ticketing these folks. The ostensible reason HPD gives when I call them up (with an address at which to find the offending party) is that they don't have enough noise meters to give to every cop. And I could buy this excuse—that the cop on the beat needs to know exactly how loud a motorcycle is to tag it. I could buy that until I was up on Waahila Ridge the other day, almost to the top of the Koolaus, and heard a motorcycle farting around Manoa Valley.

It's one thing to disturb my peace while I'm watching TV in my apartment. It's quite another to do so when I'm an hour's hike above Honolulu.

When is the HPD going to start doing its job and ticket these noise polluters?

If DOE has to cut, then everyone should

The Department of Education has made four proposals to reduce costs (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 7). We are all concerned that revenues will not cover expenses during these difficult financial times. However, if the DOE must cut programs or reduce teacher work days, will other state departments do the same, and does this include the governor's staff? Fair is fair and everyone must share this reduction equally.