Highest law of land is the Constitution

With all due deference to the Hawaii Pastors Roundtable, I must disagree that "God’s word is the highest law in the land" ("Maintain tradition, pastors urge," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 22).

It’s thinking like this that has and continues to block social advancement in our state, our country and our world. Religion after religion around the world, and for much of history, has created chaos by declaring itself the only way to believe. They can’t all be right. Because of this attitude, religions are exclusive, not inclusive. It doesn’t seem like that’s the stated message they should be espousing.

The highest law of the land is the Constitution. The law that says you can have any religion, but that it is separate from government. I’m all for same-sex marriages. They can’t do any worse than heterosexual marriages are doing. Being inclusive is the word of our times.

Michael LaGassey Sr.
Downtown Honolulu

Religious ‘leaders’ disguise bigotry

The article, "Guardians of the Faith" (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 20) is based on the wrong basic premise: The "hard-nosed legal issue" is not "the balance between religious freedom and equal treatment." It is, rather: Does the state have the right to deprive anybody of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

As a minister since my ordination in 1966, I am shocked by the hatred and bigotry of self-styled religious "leaders" who will say anything no matter how cruel or discriminatory and use any strategy to cover up their basic hostility to anyone who is different from them, such as those who support marriage equality for all of our people.

Our community needs real religious leaders like Sister Joan Chatfield ("Golden rule should guide marriage issue," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 20) who truly understand the capacity for religion to promote the ideology that love conquers hate.

Dr. Joel Fischer
Waialae-Kahala

Same-sex couples same as you and me

Look around you. Open your eyes, if they aren’t already. We aren’t talking about strangers. We’re talking about people in your life, people you know or encounter every day.

Do you want to deny your son or daughter, brother or sister, neighbor or co-worker, or anyone just like you, to have the same right that you have to marry the person you love? Do you also want to deny the children of same-gender couples who are already being raised in a loving home the right to be raised with legally married parents and not have the second-class status they have today?

Remember, marriage equality for all loving couples and families means opening marriage to those people in your everyday life, including those you love (even though you may not know it). Open your eyes. Mine are.

Jeff Esmond
Kaneohe

Enforce law against dangerous dogs

My youngest sister was attacked by a dog that "would never bite anyone" as she sat on the ground playing with her dolls when she was 2 years old. The dog ripped off her right cheek, condemning her to be called "Scarface" for the rest of her life, and always the subject of cruel jokes.

So I was outraged when I read in Kokua Line about the woman who took six pit bulls to a park where children were playing and animals are prohibited by law, and they attacked the children after being turned loose ("Police can weigh negligence of dog owners after attack," Star-Advertiser, Kokua Line, Oct. 17).

I was further outraged that the responding police officer did not cite the woman, and even more outraged that HPD claimed its officers can choose which laws to enforce and whom to cite.

We clearly need a mayor, City Council members and a chief of police bright enough to know that the duty of a law enforcement officer is to enforce all laws without prejudice.

Rico Leffanta
Kakaako

GOP hypocritical on use of veterans

How can one not be appalled by the hypocrisy spewed by Republican politicians at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.?

At the same time they opened gates and embraced aging and disabled veterans, these politicians tried to score political points by chastising the president for using the veterans as political pawns. Playing to constituents’ fears, they engaged in outrageous political theater. They did exactly what they claim the president did that so offends them.

Do they not realize their own hypocrisy? Of course they do. Politicians know that scare tactics draw attention to their political agenda and keep their movement energized by followers who are frightened beyond reason.

How can any thoughtful, intelligent voter, regardless of party affiliation, not see through and be offended by such offensive political tactics?

Bob Kern
Lower Manoa

Get campers out of Thomas Square

Why do we pass laws and then not bother to enforce them?

Tents on the sidewalk are a safety hazard and there are now legal ways to have them removed. But just a couple of blocks away from the main police station, the city is incapable of removing the people who have moved on to the sidewalk at Thomas Square. This is not a protest. They are living on the sidewalk.

If they want to protest, then they should stand up and protest. A protest does not involve putting trash and signs on a sidewalk and then sleeping in your tent.

The city needs to take action and remove them from the spot. Also, remove the planters along King Street. They do not allow enough access for disabled people and we are going to be sued because our city leaders can’t stand up to a few people breaking the law. Enough is enough.

Tom Moody
Makiki