Letters to the Editor
EHREN WATADA
LIEUTENANT'S COWARDICE SHOULDN'T BE REWARDED
Lieutenant Watada is nothing but a coward who forgot the oath he took when commissioned to serve and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
The fact that he refused lawful orders to deploy and serve in Iraq constitutes an act of cowardliness of the worst kind.
To call him an officer and gentleman is a gross insult to all those who so bravely served and gave their lives and limbs to defend this country against all enemies in the global war on terror.
Watada is certainly no hero for refusing to serve in this war. A court martial will rectify this situation and strip him of his commission, of which he is not deserving, and have him serve some time in Leavenworth for his despicable act of pure cowardliness.
Let's not sanction cowardice in our great military forces.
Al Eisner, U.S. Army RetiredWheaton, Silver Spring, MD
CELL PHONES
NEW BAN ON BUS SHOULD GO EVEN FURTHER
This is in response to an article pertaining to the ban of cell-phone ring tones in the bus.
Those against it can't even imagine what it's like to hear loud disgusting music on these cell phones. They ring anywhere from three to five times during a one-hour bus ride from the Alapa'i bus station to the countryside.
What makes it worse is the individuals speak loudly and have no respect for anyone who rides the bus. We have several of these individuals who don't know the meaning of the words "consideration of others."
What I wish Mayor Mufi Hannemann would do is not only ban ring tones but also limit calls to three minutes while on the bus. In other words, emergency calls only. Many of us wake up at 4 a.m., and we would like some peace and quiet at the end of a work day.
Johanna FergeWaikele
LET'S HOPE THERE'S ENFORCEMENT OF BAN
So, cell phone use is going to be banned on TheBus? I sure hope it is enforced better than the ban on the use of cell phones at gas pumps.
Every day I continue to see people talking on their cell phones while in the process of pumping gas, while a sign prohibiting their use is prominently displayed in front of them on the pump.
You are going to have the same problem on TheBus. Some people just feel that rules don't apply to them and it is their right to interfere with others' rights of safety. I can see the ACLU all over this one.
James RollerMililani
SYMPHONY
INVEST IN LOCAL ARTISTS, NOT DISNEY COMPANY
The Dec. 12 article about the Honolulu Symphony states, "The Lion King will bring about $30,000,000 into the community." A daily $33,000 sounds grand, but that money is already here and most of it will be removed from the state.
Aside from the take of the hall rental to the benefit of the city, most of the actors and most of the musicians are not residents of Hawai'i and will pay no taxes here on their incomes.
Meanwhile, the 63 musicians of the symphony will be on state-paid unemployment insurance. To assure labor peace, the Disney company has agreed to hire a token number of local union musicians, not necessarily symphony employees.
The last time the auditorium was rented for three months, the promoters found they had exhausted the audience supply and cancelled the final month of their stay. That left the hall vacant and dusty for a month right in the middle of the symphony's season.
Maybe the Disney company will convince the city to clean or replace the hall carpets and repair the balcony railing.
Robert Levy, ex-chairman, Honolulu SymphonyHonolulu
TAXES
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE CONSTANT INCREASES
Our taxes are rising at an alarming rate and the mayor, governor, tax folks and legislators do not seem to be interested in anything but spending the amount coming in.
The media talks about the state being "awash in tax money" and still the assessments go up. What the increased assessments are doing to those on fixed incomes does not seem to be a part of the decision makers' concern.
My major concerns are:
I am for the government having enough money to take care of what needs to be done, but these last few raises have been in excess of what is fair.
Gordon R. Links'Ewa Beach
RECYCLING
SOUND ADVICE WOULD MAKE A STATE A LEADER
I wonder when our legislators and governor will realize that if they move to implement all the suggestions made by Jeff Mikulina in the recycling article of Dec. 29, our recycling rate would be the highest in the country. As it should be, since we live on an island that is growing ever more crowded.
But that would take strong leadership, wouldn't it?
Sandra M. BarkerHonolulu
RECYCLERS SHOULD GET THEIR FAIR SHARE
I was glad to read about the recent increase in the recycling numbers, as reported in The Advertiser article on Dec. 29. However, I am still confused as to what happens to the value of the recycled materials.
Prior to the Bottle Law, the person recycling would receive the market cash value per pound of the aluminum, glass, etc.
Now the person recycling just receives 5 of the 6 cents that was initially deposited. Who is the beneficiary of the market price per pound of the recycled materials?
Seems that the consumer is subsidizing someone's coffers. Considering the time, gas and hassle of doing our part to keep our Islands green, it only seems fair that the consumer/recycler at least get a share of the fair market price of the the recycled materials.
Where have all the profits gone?
Banks McMillanMililani
HOUSING
THE TIME TO BRING BACK RENT CONTROL IS NOW
There's one way to solve the housing crisis. Bring back rent control. Someone has to monitor these homeowners who are charging way too much for rent. We have high housing prices and below-average wages.
B. FungHawai'i Kai
IN MEMORIAM PROFESSOR TUTTLE: A MAN 'WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME'
I mourn the death of UH Professor Daniel W. Tuttle (Dec. 23), but I celebrate his life. He was one of my role models and heroes.
Though he never sought it, Dan deserved much more recognition and gratitude, both from UH and the community, than he was accorded. He also served with distinction with the Hawai'i Education Association. He reported accurately and honestly on politics, but never played it. He was always professional, positive and helpful.
I concur with Dan Boylan who said of Tuttle, "He was just way ahead of his time" referring to Dan's pioneering efforts in political polling and analysis.
During the beginning '60s, I took more than a half dozen of Dan's UH government classes. I'll never forget, during the campaign of 1960, he invited candidates to the classroom — and they came.
I was proud to be one of Dan's "shoebox pollsters" during 1961, as retold by his wife, Elsie, in The Honolulu Advertiser obituary (12/28). He taught us about polling techniques, pivotal precincts, the honest way to ask survey questions and how to objectively analyze the results without an agenda.
Sam SlomHonolulu
