Whose side is he on?

The rise of Donald Trump is working out rather nicely for ISIS. His policies, actions, unscripted utterances and tweets are doing what the terrorists themselves were unable to accomplish: weakening the premiere western superpower.

In response to religious extremism, western nations experienced a sharp rise in nationalism. In the U.S. this came in the form of a President Trump. Now terrorist groups need only sit back and watch their dreams slowly come true.

Travel bans, border walls and the retweeting of hateful anti-Islam videos don’t hurt our enemies, but they do drive a wedge between us and our friends.

In addition, picking at the scab of racial tensions, pushing the public school system to the back burner, threatening our health care, forsaking environmental protections, rising isolationism sentiment and the escalating potential for war with North Korea surely must make our enemies smile.

Kurt Lemon

Kailua

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Bombard N. Korea with PR of escape

Instead of a missile attack on North Korea, bombard them with a public relations campaign focusing on the North Korean soldier who was shot five times and still escaped across the border into South Korea. North Korean citizens need to see reports of that brave and heroic escape. Rather that a missile, a drone would drop pamphlets or videos of the escape and how his life is improving already and theirs could, too.

North Koreans would be reminded that dream of freedom is achievable and how much better their lives would be if they could band together to overthrow Kim Jong-un or escape.

Explain how North Koreans can enjoy the kind of lifestyle enjoyed by South Korea, with jobs in a thriving economy, instead of being the target of retaliatory nuclear attack.

We need to do this now, before any missiles are launched into an occupied city.

Ed Burns

Mililani

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Prosecute to end rentals’ tax evasion

Randolph Moore makes an unassailable point in advocating taxing vacation rentals in his article (“Need housing? Tax vacation rentals,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 29). The county governments have had scant success in policing violations of zoning laws by operators of these units. Tax collections are something else.

Clearly many millions of dollars in taxes owed by these illegal enterprises — the transient accommodations tax and general excise tax — are going uncollected. A few prosecutions for tax evasion would convince these people that their free ride is over and they better pay up.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

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Kindness can bring magical responses

Let’s give out kindness this holiday season. We all possess it, but seldom use it. Kindness is one of man’s greatest virtues, but it has no power until it is used. When released, it brings out magical responses.

Kindness does not threaten or provoke, which makes it a perfect gesture between people in any situation. Kindness touches both the giver and the recipient.

Kindness comes in many forms, and its primary trait is simply being nice to someone. Friend, foe or stranger, it doesn’t matter. A simple greeting like, “good morning” will do. It’s a start.

Today, many of us are so busy and grumpy that we’ve forgotten how to be friendly. We have lost that feeling of being warm-hearted and caring toward others. Kindness can change that. Use it.

Clarence Chun

Kalihi

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Homeless need hubs to take care of basics

There are many letters criticizing the homeless, but few offering any solutions. They have to be somewhere. In spite of low unemployment, there are many reasons why they can’t qualify.

Government people think that if they get a few into some kind of housing, they are doing their job. Meanwhile, the homeless are growing way faster than the housing of them.

The simplest, cheapest, temporary solution (besides prison) is a legal place with showers, toilets, laundry machines.

That would cost way less than the multi-thousands we pay for chasing them out of everywhere they go, and cleaning up after them. Why are government people so clueless on this?

Bert West

Kalihi

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Hawaii Kai tree lights bring out Grinches

The City Council members who approved the tree lights in Hawaii Kai can hold their heads high, not cower when confronted by the Grinch/Grinches complaining about the beautiful (and temporary) lights displayed on a tree in Hawaii Kai.

Good grief, that’s not who we are, as Hawaii residents, to complain and gripe about such things. People in their opposition to the gift of the tree lights, are Scrooge and Grinch rolled into one. I’d bet the complainers are the same batch that caterwauled about the (again, temporary) carnival held in Hawaii Kai.

Puhlease, take a chill pill, guys, and enjoy the season.

Faith Burns

Aina Haina