Letters to the Editor
POSTED: Sunday, January 17, 2010
We must rethink crosswalk safety
Until our state and city change the way pedestrians are accommodated, more tragedies will occur such as Tuesday's pedestrian fatality, which occurred in a marked crosswalk.
Why would any traffic engineer think it is safe to cross more than three, four or even five lanes of traffic without a stoplight? A crosswalk isn't a magic barrier. We need systems that provide protection for, and separation of, drivers and pedestrians.
A green light that allows drivers to turn shouldn't also allow pedestrians to cross. This is a situation designed with a high chance of collision. I guarantee that if traffic engineers had their grandparents or children test each crosswalk that's painted down, our roads would be much safer.
A.K. Carroll
Kailua
Political office must be earned
All this talk about how John Mink was somehow entitled to his wife's congressional seat is very disturbing (”;Case called disrespectful over use of Mink's photo,”; Star-Bulletin, Jan. 13). We have a democratic system in this country where the people select their representatives at the ballot box. They don't inherit them from their deceased spouses.
I had a very high regard for John Mink, and he would have made an excellent representative. But if he had really wanted the office, he should have run against Ed Case in a fair contest. He had no special right to his wife's seat in the House, any more than Daniel Inouye's wife has a special right to succeed her husband in the Senate.
Linda Paul
Kailua
Anti-gay rhetoric sounds familiar
The left-hand column of Page 3 on Jan. 12 had a letter supporting action on civil unions on the top (”;Do not ignore civil union issue,”; Star-Bulletin), while the last item at the bottom was that on that date in 1915, the U.S. House failed to pass the women's suffrage amendment.
Ironic.
At the turn of the century many of the same arguments were used against giving the vote to women: sin against God, destroy the sanctity of marriage, harm children, accelerate moral decay, etc.
It seems these same and similar types of arguments get dragged out by conservatives every time this country wants to advance the civil rights of any group and end discrimination.
Lance Robinson
Honolulu
Gay marriage won't get my vote
I disagree with your editorial on same-sex marriage (”;Put same-sex civil unions on the table,”; Star-Bulletin, Jan. 11).
The teachings in the holy scriptures of various religions teach that man (meaning male and female) should strive to obtain high morals; that sexual activity with another of the same sex is immoral. If a person desires to be closer to God, be in oneness with all things, in this life and the next, he/she would condemn homosexuality and would be against same-sex marriage.
Those elected officials who are for same-sex marriage should be voted out of office and not voted for re-election in the future to any other position, as they contribute toward the moral decay, the fall, of our great nation, which was founded on Christian principles.
Wilbert W. W. Wong Sr.
Kaneohe
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