New ‘recognition’ law is racially divisive

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Collette Machado is right about one thing: We should all, regardless of our race, reflect on the Native Hawaiian Recognition bill signed by the governor on July 6 (“New state law sends clear message to Congress …,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 31).

The new law calls for a roll of “eligible Native Hawaiians” to “re-establish” a Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Only Native Hawaiians, defined by racial ancestry, and certified to have maintained a cultural, social or civic connection to the Native Hawaiian community, are eligible.

Machado cites Rice v. Cayetano striking down OHA’s race-restricted elections under the 15th Amendment; but she does not connect the dots to see that using the roll of “eligible Native Hawaiians” to “re-establish” a Native Hawaiian government, will also be stricken down under the 15th Amendment.

Dividing up the citizens of Hawaii by race for special benefits to some is hardly something Abercrombie should be proud of.

Social studies classes good for democracy

Over the years there has been an attack on social studies in the classroom.

With the emphasis on math and English on the Hawaii State Assessment test, many elementary schools have already cut back on social studies in order to help students pass the HSA.

Are we surprised then that of all the National Assessment of Educational Progress testing, students did the worst in social studies, with only 13 percent of seniors passing?

This trend needs to stop now.

What further angers me is the proposal to eliminate Participation in Democracy as a requirement. The new, appointed state Board of Education was created in part because half of the electorate in some counties left the ballot blank when voting on the proposal to create it. Hawaii’s 18-25 year olds have the lowest turnout of any voters in the nation, and now we want to cut the one class that teaches them how to be citizens of their country.

Best wishes go out to ‘Pitching Princess’

It seems as though most of the daily news is depressing for too many reasons, whether international, national or local. So I was delighted to learn about “diminutive” Eri Yoshida (“Pitching Princess,” Star-Advertiser, Sports, Aug. 8).

As a loyal Red Sox fan for 83 years, in my book she already is a star. She will indeed show her stuff and also be an inspiration to young and old.

With a tip of my hat to you, Eri, go girl, go!

Have APEC meetings in Hawaii more often

We need more Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences — if that’s what it takes to get things done in improving the appearance of Honolulu.

Congress overlooking obvious places to cut

Our Congress defies logic and morality. Representatives shun basic precepts of accountability by raising the debt ceiling, while ignoring the right alternatives:
» Eliminating expensive, self-serving programs, including lifetime benefits for themselves;
» Cutting back the bloated military;
» Eliminating massive subsidies to militant Israel in support of its criminal occupation of Palestine.

Funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, 81 congressmen will visit Israel over the next few weeks to be pressured by officials into keeping America’s promise to give Israel $30 billion through 2018.

Those taxes should be spent productively here at home.

Re-appropriate the money for domestic education, housing and health care.

Send empty envelopes back to junk mailers

All that junk mail we get to sign up for credit cards, insurance, etc., includes a postage paid return envelope.

Send back the envelope empty.

If everyone does this, maybe those companies will take the hint: Stop wasting paper and filling our mailboxes with junk mail we don’t need.

Call centers in U.S. will be great for economy

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced that over the next two years, call center companies will create 100,000 new jobs in the U.S.

This is exciting news, as it will create job opportunities for unemployed Americans stuck in this stagnant economy.

Bringing those outsourced jobs back from India and the Philippines can boost the downward economy in the U.S. It will help American companies maintain their credibility by easing the frustration of customers who have difficultly understanding the accents of foreign employees.

We can expect improvement in service for American customers, while countries like India and the Philippines will gain motivation to compete with the U.S.

Overall, the quality of the jobs will improve, which businesses should focus on since the economy is tight and customers are looking for services that are worth their money.