Governor redefines state Constitution

Constitution Amendment 2 on the 1998 ballot said that "the Legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples."

The governor and his legal team interpret this to mean that the Legislature shall have the power to define marriage any way they want.

This is the legal basis upon which the governor called this legislative special session to establish same-sex marriage as the law of the land in Hawaii.

Aren’t you proud of what we have done?

Toby Rushforth
Kaneohe

Voters have power, not Legislature

Many of us have the same problem in that our elected representatives are not available or responsive to our calls, emails or visits regarding same-sex marriage legislation. It is difficult for those of us who coach youth sports, manage families and work full-time to attend the special session, but it seems that attendance wouldn’t matter anyway. The legislators have made up their minds, as the Star-Advertiser noted weeks ago ("House support in flux," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 6).

The citizens of Hawaii have given the Legislature the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples, and that marriage is defined as being between one man and one woman. If our legislators do not want that power any longer, then give it back to the voters, but please don’t assume authority that has not been granted and is opposed to our state Constitution.

Matt Hilpert
Kaneohe

Love is the basis for marriage

If I hear one more person say the purpose of marriage is for procreation, I will explode. This is an insult to myself and my husband. We will be married 20 years in November and have no children.

We married because we love each other and wanted to show that commitment in a legally binding ceremony that gave us equal rights and benefits. I think that option should be open to any consenting adult of legal age regardless of sex, race, religion and whether or not they want children.

Kathleen M. Pahinui
Waialua

Souki was correct in backing Thielen

Mahalo nui loa to Speaker Joe Souki ("Souki rejects GOP move to cut Thielen from panel," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 28). He made a sane and sensible decision not to accede to the Republican leadership’s demand that he remove Rep. Cynthia Thielen from the House Judiciary Committee merely because her views on same-sex marriage do not agree with theirs.

Good job, sir!

As for the Republican leadership — auwe. Bullying one of their own members because she has a different opinion is narrow-minded and arrogant.

In Hawaii, Republicans depend on votes from independents and Democrats to win elections. As long as ideological purity tests remain the party’s order of the day, Republican candidates aren’t likely to get them.

Becky Tyksinski
Kailua

Leave marriages to religious groups

With the special session in full swing, I am reminded about a proposal that I think would satisfy most people on either side. I agree with Christian author and pastor Tony Campolo in his book, "Letters to a Young Evangelical," when he says: "I propose that the government should get out of the marrying business completely … Marriage is religiously ordained and belongs solely in the hands of religious institutions … Marriage, I believe, has been instituted by God."

Essentially, let the state give all couples (homosexual and heterosexual) the same legal rights, but don’t call it "marriage" as we know it. Maybe "civil marriages" or "unions" instead. Religious couples can go to a church or religious institution and have their unions blessed as a marriage. For same-sex couples who are religious, they can go to a church that believes in blessing their kind of union.

Jeremy Ramos
Kalihi

ILH follows rules set by HHSAA

I want to clarify the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s protocols in terms of concussions, physical exams and safety ("ILH should adopt HHSAA rules," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 12). The safety of our student athletes is always our first priority.

The ILH has always complied with all Hawaii High School Athletic Association participation requirements that include concussion baseline testing, concussion protocol, physical examination, coaches certification and out-of-season restrictions.

The ILH also requires that all student athletes have basic medical insurance coverage (other leagues do not) and that a doctor is present at all football games.

As for physical clearance and medical forms, the HHSAA does not have a universal form for all athletes. Public schools are required by the state of Hawaii and Department of Education to use the physical forms in question. The ILH is comprised of independent schools that are entitled to use their own physical clearance and medical forms.

Suzy Travis
Chairwoman, Interscholastic League of Honolulu

Off-grid biodiesel an absurd idea

While I’m all for getting off the Hawaiian Electric Co. grid, Crispin’s letter suggesting that homeowners back up their solar photovoltaic systems with biodiesel generators is absurd ("Work to get off HECO’s grid," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 30).

The last thing Oahu’s densely populated and overly crowded neighborhoods need is even more sources of noise pollution. Can you imagine the disturbing cacophony of noise from thousands of generators that we’d all have to endure on a cloudy or rainy day? Auwe!

Stephen T. Molnar
Kailua