WHY SHOULD TEACHERS WORK FOR FREE?

I can’t understand how our great governor could ask the teachers, whom she gave Furlough Fridays without pay, to work the balance of the furlough days without pay.  

They, of course, refused, and I take my hat off to all of them.  

Did our governor offer to take a pay cut and work for free? Not that I’ve heard. Nor did she take furlough days without pay herself (that I’ve heard of anyway). But she could force the teachers to do so? Now, isn’t that just great!!

GORDON C. COCKETT, Lahaina

BILL WOULD ENSURE LOCAL WORKERS GET JOBS

Many times in the past few years, I have testified against local construction unions. Not because I don’t want them to work, but because I oppose the project that they are in favor of.  

I am happy today to say that I am able to support Hawaii construction workers 100 percent with no reservations when it comes to Senate Bill 2840. If there are government contracts being issued in Hawaii, it only makes sense to require at least 80 percent of workers be Hawaii residents — keep our people employed! Hawaii workers care about Hawaii projects; they pay taxes here and need jobs.  

The House passed this bill unanimously, and the Senate had an overwhelming majority. Why would Gov. Linda Lingle veto this bill? Doesn’t she care about Hawaii construction workers?  

How would allowing imported Mainland labor make projects faster and cheaper? We owe it to local workers to override this veto. Let the politicians know you support this bill by writing reps@capitol.hawaii.gov, and sens@capitol.hawaii.gov.

MANUEL IGNACIO, Kihei

LAWS GOVERN MARRIAGE

The claim that not passing House Bill 444 violates the fundamental civil right of individuals to marry whoever they wish is not valid. If it is, how do we say “no” to a woman who wants to become the second wife of a polygamist?   

Inherent in marriage are limitations — limits on who can marry (no relatives, no minors, only two people, etc.).   Without laws to control what people do, without rules and regulations to live by, this would be a chaotic world with everyone doing their own thing, and nobody in control.     

This is still a Christian nation, based upon Christian principles and upon laws and rules and regulations. What people do in the privacy of their own home should be private; to insist that a law must be created to make what they do in private acceptable in public, is not right. There is much opposition from Hawaii residents to passage of this legislation. Options are available to receive benefits for people living together and not married. This is a choice they make knowing that the current state laws do not recognize this type of relationship. 

I object to these same people, deciding that because of their decision to ignore state laws, the rest of the citizens of Hawaii must give them preferential treatment. Hawaii has a law that limits marriage to “a man and a woman.” Passage of H.B. 444 would circumvent that law. The majority need to let their voices be heard. 

BARBARA J FERRARO, Hawaii State Director, Concerned Women for America

MAHALO FOR BEAUTIFYING HONOLUA BAY

Mahalo to the community who came out last Saturday, April 24, to malama Honolua. This cleanup is not for the faint — we filled up two 20-foot rollout dumpsters and then some. It was great to see so many people who love Honolua step up and take care of the ‘aina. 

Also, thank you to the many businesses that supported the community in our efforts: The Coffee Store (the coffee woke us up and kept us going), Aloha Mixed Plate (the chili/rice bowls hit the spot after hours of hard labor), Aloha Waste (the rollout dumpsters were filled to the brim),  Community Work Day, Maui Land & Pineapple Co. (water, pineapple and logistical support). Special thanks to Les Potts for his expert guidance and organization. 

We will be collaborating on at least two more community cleanups for Honolua this year in June and September, so if you were out of town or had other commitments, don’t worry — there will be more opportunities to Malama Honolua.

TAMARA PALTIN, President, Save Honolua Coalition

TRY EATING HEALTHY

I just read Ron Boudreaux’ letter concerning vegans in the Vol. 30, Issue 13 edition and must say that he’d do himself a favor by keeping his carnivorous views in check. I’ve met Mr. Boudreaux once or twice, and he seems like a nice enough guy, but his colon must be really toxic from all those “rare prime porterhouse steaks” to the point that he’s now heaping scorn on those who opt for a decidedly healthier diet.

I was brought up eating beef and chicken, but in my early twenties decided to try going without meat for awhile. I must say that those eight years of excluding chicken and beef from my diet were the healthiest of my life. I then decided to resume eating beef, chicken and pork in moderation for a few years for comparison and concluded that, at least for me, a pseudo-vegetarian diet is the way to go. As of last year, I’ve excluded beef and chicken from my diet and am enjoying a renewed sense of vitality once again.

I have friends in both camps and can honestly say that the ones that choose to consume meat are the most vocal and even derisive toward vegetarians than the other way around.

From a physiological standpoint, had God designed us to be carnivorous, he would have given us fangs and sharp teeth — not flat, rounded-edges designed for fruits, veggies, grains, etc. (Please, let’s not get into a Creationist vs. Evolutionist debate here. Whatever your views on that, our teeth are all pretty much the same!)

From a health-wise point-of-view, it’s not so much that meat itself is unhealthy for human consumption — it’s all the antibiotics and growth hormones that are routinely injected into cows and chickens that are poisoning those that eat them. This is fact and not speculation. Another problem with raising cattle and chickens for consumption is that the fecal matter of all those animals has in many instances caused outbreaks of E. Coli and other pathogens that filter into runoff water and contaminate food crops like lettuce and tomatoes. 

Ironically, meat-eaters get a big kick when food-poisoning is attributed to a “bad crop” of veggies. As far as i know, vegetables don’t produce excrement, thus E. Coli and the like are from animal sources. Ron would be well-advised to watch a film titled “Food, Inc.” I suspect it would quite possibly attenuate his dislike of vegans and vegetarians.

The reality is that if the world’s legions of meat eaters were forced to go out and slaughter the animals they consume, there would undoubtedly be far fewer meat-eaters on the planet.

Lastly, Mr. Boudreaux’ attempt at sarcasm about how he’s doing vegans a favor by consuming methane-producing animals is exactly the paradoxical mentality that meat-eaters partake in: We will never attain reduced levels of methane because the more meat they consume, the more cows and chickens need to be raised for consumption by those that seem to enjoy their own foul-smelling emissions of secondhand methane.

FROZA KALUHIOKALANI, Napili

REMOVE THE WRECKED SAILBOAT!

Does anyone else find it completely offensive that neither the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, county, state or LahainaTown Action Committee will do anything to remove the eyesore of the wrecked sailboat off of Front Street? It’s been about five years now that we’ve have had a good look at it.

I’m asked by a lot of tourists, “What’s up with the shipwrecked boat?” Guess what… most of the tourists don’t like it either.

And, to make matters worse, someone swam out and hung a dummy by its neck, and it’s still swaying out there. Can you imagine how offensive that is for someone whose family member committed suicide? To come on vacation and see that hunting reminder?

I understand that the boat cannot be removed at this point because it will damage the coral, but why can’t it just be cut down to reef level, and the coral can continue to grow over the remainder of the boat? 

NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST