DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HURTS EVERYONE

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a heartbreaking reality that domestic terrorism continues to take place within our neighbor’s homes. Domestic crimes result in devastating consequences, including long-term suffering, hospitalization, permanent injury and death, making household violence everybody’s problem.

Thinking of assaults as “family spats” or “a private matter” is mistaken and trivializing. Our community must not tolerate domestic abuse.

If you’re in an abusive relationship, or know someone who is, don’t stand by silently. Speak up about it and get help. Abusers must be held accountable for their behavior, and mandated to receive anger management and domestic violence treatment.

Children need to grow up with good fathers and mothers — nonviolent role models who teach by example that love is not abusive.

Dating or domestic violence is good reason for ending a relationship. Bullying and verbal attacks are warning signs you must take seriously. Healthy relationships resolve conflict in ways that leave both parties feeling good about themselves, and never at the expense of one person’s feelings, safety and well-being.

If what’s coming at you from your date or mate hurts physically, psychologically, emotionally or sexually, no matter how hard they try to convince you otherwise, it isn’t love. It’s abuse.

DR. MICHAEL RA BOUCHARD, Hilo

ROAD CLEANER IS A ROLE MODEL

There is a man who cleans the highway every morning from Honokowai market to the airport light. He is an honorable citizen. He deserves the title.

I would like to thank him for such a wonderful gesture and hard work. We should take the example and join him. Thank you very much!

ANGELICA ISOLA

KEEP CATS INDOORS

The letter from Kathleen Sera in the Oct. 1 issue posed more questions than answers for me. First and foremost, when did the Maui Humane Society authorize its Animal Control Officers to deliver pets back to their owners? Not to mention, apparently, sharing with Mrs. Sera information about the circumstances and location where they picked up the cat. 

Any animal picked up, regardless of tattoos, chips or other identifying information, should be taken to the Humane Society offices, so that a record of the incident is made. While the owner should be contacted if the information is known, that owner should have to make the trip to retrieve their animal and pay a fine for the time and effort of the Humane Society personnel. There is no lesson learned when there is no consequence for the owner.

As a fellow pet owner and also a seven-year resident of the same community in which Mrs. Sera resides, I’m as familiar with the daily community activities as she is. However, my viewpoint is completely different. 

There are any number of cats roaming the neighborhood day and night, and all of their owners are in violation of the leash law. Responsible pet owners understand that they are not only responsible FOR, but responsible TO, their pets for their safety. Any animal off its owners’ property is an accident waiting to happen. Any pet owner who is comfortable letting his or her animal roam is not a responsible pet owner.

Instead of trying to tell the rest of us the humane way to repel cats, how about all the cat owners take responsibility for keeping their cats indoors where they belong, or on a leash when they’re outside? The rules/laws apply to you as well as me.

NELL WOODS

STATE BEING SUED OVER FLOODING TRAGEDY

I’ve been thinking about that lawsuit against the state by the tourist family who lost a loved one because of “no signs” at the stream they were swimming at.

I understand their grief but don’t understand the greed involved here. Question is, who suggested that they go there in the first place? Was it those tourist books that give all the scoops about where to go while on Maui? Shouldn’t they be in the lawsuit instead of the state? This has to be how these tourists found out about this stream in the first place.

This is ignorance personified! How old were you when you were told about the possibility of “big water” coming down without warning? I’m so old now that I forget when I got that piece of information, and have since listened for that sound while playing in the stream.  

I suppose now the state should have a “No Trespassing” sign posted, and no one is allowed to go there. Or maybe a signed “release form” must be in their possession. I don’t know what the answer is, but “no can like this.”  

GORDON C. COCKETT, Lahaina

BNI WANTS TO HELP PARENTS

Business Networking International (BNI) members of the Lahaina and Wailuku chapters are looking for volunteers to help the children and parents affected by the school furloughs.

We need drivers to cultural and learning events to shuttle the children to designated locations.

We also need mentors and materials for all age school children for arts, crafts, wood skills, etc.

Your support and kokua is crucial to keep these children active and safe during these tight times.

Please e-mail christina at ccryder50505070@yahoo.com or leave a message at 661-4660, or e-mail Dano & Bernie at Bernie@BernieDelosSantos.com.

Or attend the Visitors’ Day BNI meeting at Pioneer Inn on Oct. 20 at 8:30 a.m. in the Snug Harbor Room.

CHRISTINA CURRIE, Education Coordinator, Business Networking International, Lahaina Chapter

‘SAFE AND WELL’ A RESOURCE DURING DISASTERS

One of the most vital services the American Red Cross provides to families during a disaster is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that friends and family are safe and well.  The “Safe and Well” website is an easy to use Internet tool that individuals affected by a disaster can use to let their families and friends know that they are safe.

Log on to the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org and choose “List Myself as Safe and Well.” You will be asked for your pre-disaster address and phone number. You can select from a menu of pre-scripted messages that will be viewed by your loved ones, such as “I am safe and well” or “Currently at a shelter” or “Will make phone calls when available.” If you are outside the disaster affected area and you hear from a loved one without access to a computer, you can register them yourself through the Safe and Well site. That way, other loved ones can be reassured as well. You can actually play a part in the disaster relief effort right from your own home.

If you are concerned about a loved one, visit the “Search” page, enter the person’s name and pre-disaster phone number OR address. If your loved one has registered, you will be able to view the messages that they posted. It’s that simple.

The Safe and Well site safeguards the privacy of the disaster victim. Although the safe and well messages will be viewable by friends or family members, the site does not reveal a specific location or contact information. It is up to the disaster victim to choose who will know his or her whereabouts and how best to communicate that information.

Help people affected by disaster, like the recent tsunami, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.  On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). 

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the Hawaii State Chapter at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816, or to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. 

Internet users can make a secure online donation by visiting www.redcross.org. If you would like to donate specifically to the American Samoa relief effort, please indicate so on your check or when you call, and your donor intent will be honored.

AMERICAN RED CROSS HAWAII STATE CHAPTER, Honolulu