INAUGURATION

SHATTERING OF BARRIERS AND A DREAM MANIFEST

The world watched an incomparable occasion. Barack Obama, an immigrant's son, became the 44th U.S. president; the first African-American president and leader of one of the world's most powerful nations.

The momentous inauguration represented triumph over suffering, battles fiercely waged, and the cruelty of hatred, discrimination and oppression. A barrier shattered. MLK's dream was made manifest.

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin stated that Obama summoned us to a larger spirit, calling for a return to the values of our core heritage. She observed that for many, the U.S. is more than a country. It is an ideal.

A brilliant man and constitutional law scholar, Obama paid tribute to the founding fathers and our Constitution, indicating we would not choose between safety and our ideals.

Obama inherits a Herculean task. He spoke honestly about the difficulties our nation faces, yet inspired hope and confidence.

Rev. Lowery's concluding prayer invoked the joy of a new beginning. Millions of smiling faces concurred.

BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS FROM OBAMA INAUGURAL

Aloha from Washington, DC.

The last several days have been filled with glorious and beautiful moments I will carry with me forever. Throughout the city, you can feel the excitement, the enthusiasm, the electricity, the jubilation, and the pure joy by people who have traveled here, far and wide.

It feels particularly special that so many people from Hawai'i have journeyed to our nation's capital to be a part of history. Earlier this week, many of us who volunteered on the campaign reunited at the Hawaii for Obama Inaugural Gala. As we ended the evening, together we sang the most emotional rendition of "Hawai'i Aloha."

Today, more than 2 million people witnessed the inauguration of Barack Obama, as he stood on the steps of a flag-draped U.S. Capitol. Though it was a cold morning, the warmth and sincerity of our new president was evident as he called on us to serve our country and help our nation move forward.

As Punahou's marching band made its appearance at the parade with its sign "ALOHA from HAWAII", President Obama exclaimed "Hey, that's my school!" With his signature smile, President Obama flashed a shaka sign. His beautiful daughters, Malia and Sasha, followed their daddy with their own shaka signs. That was my single favorite moment.

From this moment on, I hope that those who have lost faith in our country will again believe in our nation's promise. I hope that America can renew the world standing it had embraced. I hope that we will leave behind for our children a global society that values justice, compassion and peace.

CELL PHONE BAN

OFFENDERS ON THE ROAD COME IN ALL AGES

I totally agree with the Sunday writer (Letters, Jan 18) who said that limiting enforcement doesn't solve the problem. Take a look around when you are driving. The offenders come in all ages and the majority of people using phones while driving are not paying attention to the road.

The way the law is being considered is as dumb as the law written for riding in the back of a pickup truck. Neither should be limited by age when it is obvious that the violations are not limited by age.

NOMINEES

OBAMA'S CHOICES ARE FAR FROM STELLAR

Let me see if I've got this straight. Tim Geithner, Obama's choice for Treasury secretary, made some "honest" mistakes on his tax return and didn't pay more than $40,000 in self-employment taxes and he has been tapped to run the Treasury of the United States?

And Bill Richardson had to withdraw his name from nomination as the Secretary of Commerce because he was under investigation for allegations of rewarding a big campaign donor with a lucrative state contract?

Oh, and Eric Holder, the nominee for attorney general, was unaware of the details involved in granting a pardon for Marc Rich, who was indicted in l983 for evading more than $48 million in taxes as well as running illegal oil deals with Iran during the 1979-1980 hostage crisis?

Wow, what a stellar group of nominees for the big changes we are have been promised by the Obama administration.

If you had put an (R) behind the names of any of these players, the media would be howling for their heads and there would be unending stories in the mainstream media about the incompetency, illegal activities and self-serving interests of the GOP.

Sorry to burst your bubble everyone, but the change everyone was expecting is probably going more of the same. And that's really too bad, because we all need a change!

TV GUIDE

ADVERTISER DOING DISSERVICE TO READERS

I am letting you know how disgruntled and disgusted I am at the notice that The Advertiser will discontinue the printed version of the TV guide. What does going digital have to do with it? Most people aren't affected by the digital change and it doesn't make the channel 12 cable TV listing any more useful than it already isn't.

Isn't this just a ploy to decrease your costs and an attempt to increase the purchase of the daily paper for the TV listings, or an attempt to have those with computers (which is not everyone, by the way) to go to your Web site and then deal with your advertisers, etc.?

Why not tell the truth — it's to save money!

Print media is losing its readership and these kinds of dumb moves is part of the reason why. Your TV guide is already one of the worst I have seen, especially compared to other major city papers like The Washington Post. Your daily listings only print the primetime coverage. Who wants to have to get on the computer (if they have one) and have to look at the listings multiple times a day like people do with a printed TV guide. Another disservice to your dwindling readers!

EXPANDED COVERAGE NOT SEEN IN PRINT

This will probably not see print; however, I felt I had to say something. You have stopped the weekly TV listings (TV Week). This decision was tied to the startup of digital TV although I fail to see the connection.

You state that you will provide expanded listings seven days a week. You must be using new math because there is actually a reduction of 10 hours of coverage since all daily listing (up to 5 p.m.) have been eliminated. This was a poorly thought-out decision and should be reversed immediately.

'WIND DAYS'

WEATHER FORECAST DID NOT DETER BUSINESSES

"Better safe than sorry" was not, by itself, an acceptable explanation for shutting down schools and state offices last Friday because of a wind forecast. Indeed such a simplistic "better-safe-than-sorry" criterion could justify similar closures every time it threatens to drizzle.

Did anyone else notice that all private businesses and stores on O'ahu were open for business, despite getting the same weather forecast? Unlike our state government, if they closed up for all the state and federal holidays plus "wind days" and the like, they'd go out of business. But not government.

It's simply way too easy for officials to waste our tax dollars without fear of being held accountable.