The GOP made Obama do it

President Barack Obama is the last one to blame for the sequestration situation we find ourselves in now.

We have to highlight the actual path that required the sequester deal.Yes, Obama proposed it, but it was House Republicans who forced the entire issue just so the U.S. would not default on its obligations. This was an artificial and unnecessary issue, solely created by Republicans.

In the previous 78 times spread over 50 years, Congress had routinely raised the debt ceiling without question because there was universal recognition that raising the debt ceiling has nothing to do with new government spending or budget deficits or funding government operations.

If they had not been holding the increase in the debt ceiling hostage to the unrelated issue of deficit reduction, there would have been no need for a sequestration deal in the first place.

Kurtis Bell
Kapolei

Fishing rules are nonsensical

Once again the federal government malihinishow they know nothing of Hawaii’s ocean culture.

If they think that the nearshore waters of the main Hawaiian islands have an abundance oftako and puhi to feedthe Hawaiian monk seals,think again. Guys are diving all year around, andmore so from April to September, for both tako bait and tako poké for wedding and graduation celebrations. Or were they planning on curtailing diving?

Remember it was these same feds who restricted the fishermen from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands — fishermen who in turn could fish down the populations of ulua and sharks that are competing with the seals there for tako and puhi.

William J. King
Hilo

Words among many influences

Your editorial hits the nail on the head in observing: "If Hanohano thinks words loaded with racism, particularly spewed by government officials, are harmless, she is wrong. They fracture and divide — and left unchallenged, can breed violence or actions that go against the very core of equality and democracy. It cannot be forgotten how racism helped fuel government actions that herded 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry behind barbed wire during World War II." ("Hold Hanohano accountable," Star-Advertiser, Our View, March 1).

An extension of the argument that words can breed violence or anti-societal actions instructs us that steeping ourselves in violent video games and dreck "reality" TV does exactly the same thing. So does exposing an entire generation to the violence of war over the past 11 years.

We need to pay attention to the quality of life and the influences that we promote in all ways, or our country will continue in a negative direction.

It will take an exceptional effort in re-education to correct the course.

Richard Stancliff
Austin, Texas

Student brought joy to many

I want to thank Michael Tsai for a beautiful article about Tiffany-Joy Nakagawa, the 15-year-old soccer player from Pearl City High School ("Pearl City mourns student’s death," Star-Advertiser, March 5).

Tiffany was a wonderful young lady who brought joy to her family and friends, and there was nothing negative about her whatsoever.

She was not only an extremely talented soccer player, but also loved to sing, which she recently discovered as she prepared for the upcoming songfestival at Pearl City High.

Athletic abilities aside, Tiffany-Joy came from a very loving and giving family, and the entire community grieves with her parents, Mark and Melba Nakagawa, her sisters and her brother. Although Tiffany was only 15 years old, she touched so many lives and we are all so blessed to have known her.

Lori Kanaeholo
Waipahu

State tough on Kaena fishers

While the City & County of Honolulu finds itself helpless to eliminate the unsightly encampments at Thomas Square, an interesting irony exist.

Recreational fishermen at Kaena Point often find themselves cited for merely attempting to provide cover for themselves and their families during the night. It is currently illegal to even possess camping paraphernalia at Kaena after sunset.

While I do realize that this recreational area is under the state’s jurisdiction, the comparison is stunning. Hawaii is a state that needs tourism to survive and its image is paramount. It is ironic that we allow these encampments to exist when state officials will cite a few fishermen for the same activity in an area that is viewed by no one.

Brian Kimata
Makiki