Fleeing children could use love

Wednesday’s newspaper contained two articles about the refugee children entering this country illegally while fleeing poverty, rape and violent death.

One article spoke about the views of a community in Arizona, with some of its citizens vehemently attempting to stop the children’s escape from catastrophe. The other showed a community in Virginia taking conscientious steps to come to the aid of these children.

Have people really become so heartless and selfish that they do not see the horrific ordeal these children are encountering daily? Where is the compassion and charity?

Which of these communities is following the Bible’s example of the good Samaritan? To which of these communities would Jesus say, "Well done. You are displaying my teaching to ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’"?

James A. Hildenbrand
Waialae Iki

Stadium seating should be 50,000

When Hawaii was debating the size of the Stan Sheriff Center, some people wanted to limit it to seat 6,000 people.

Stan Sheriff, then University of Hawaii athletic director, wanted a 12,000-seat arena. He said, "If you can’t build it bigger than 6,000 seats, then don’t build it!"

The same with Aloha Stadium. If you can’t build at least a 50,000-seat stadium, then don’t build it.

The new stadium will serve Hawaii for the next 40 or so years. We need it to be big enough to accommodate all events in the future. Don’t go backwards.

Fred Martinez
Manoa

Judge King was proved correct

The cover of the Sunday Insight section featured three articles — by Colette Machado; Ilima Long, Jon Osorio and Andre Perez; and Williamson Chang on Hawaiian sovereignty — plus a Richard Borreca column discussing the 1993 congressional apology and subsequent efforts to achieve sovereignty.

None of these writers have anything like the stature of the late Samuel P. King, one of the most distinguished jurists and leadersof Hawaii and himself part-Hawaiian.

In 1998, King wrote in The Honolulu Advertiser that the apology resolution was "essentially a cynical action by an uninterested Congress, equivalent to apologizing to George III for the American Revolution."

King added: "The mischief caused by this ill-considered resolution, basedin large part on the flawed Blount Report, will plague us for many more years."

Although Hawaii’s U.S. Sens. Dan Akaka and Dan Inouye assured their colleagues that the resolution was purely symbolic and would have no practical effects, it is Judge King who has been proved right.

Carl H. Zimmerman
Salt Lake

Proposed bans about arrogance

The imperialism of the Honolulu City Council is getting out of hand.

On Wednesday, its Committee onPublic Works and Sustainabilitywill hear testimony regarding Bill 38, which seeks to ban even biodegradable plastic bags, and Bill 40, which would ban foam food containers.

If enacted into law, these two bills will have a dramatic impact on ordinary Honolulu citizens, whose lifestyles will be altered through bans in the guise of environmental protection.

The City Council also is threatening to stop bulky item pickup and charge extra for our trash pickup already paid for by property taxes. What it refuses to tell us ishow it will pay for rail operation and maintenance beginning in 2017.

The Council members have to remember that they work for us, not the other way around.

Earl Arakaki
Ewa Beach

Rachel’s suitor is inconsiderate

Over the weekend, a small yellow single-engine aircraft pulled a banner around Diamond Head and the immediate neighborhoods. The banner read, "Will You Marry Me Rachel?"

My answer to the man asking this question is: Why are you paying a mainland company to violate our local laws to ask someone to marry you?

And Rachel, do you want to marry a man who clearly violates the local laws and pays a company to pollute our airspace with a selfish wish? Think about it. How many more airplanes are going to buzz our neighborhoods with any message they want? Let one do it, how many will follow?

Rachel, this guy who wants to marry you is a seriously inconsiderate person when it comes to everyone else who lives here. Good luck.

Lucas Noll
Diamond Head

Public opposes aerial billboards

I would like to see Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. Neil Abercrombie put their heads together for a few minutes to do whatever is necessary to ground the advertising plane that is currently polluting our skies.

On July 18, it buzzed the Sans Souci-Kaimana area low, and loud, and repeatedly. It was a most unwelcome guest at the many gatherings that local families and social groups had been enjoying prior to its arrival. This operation appears to be designed to irritate, which it does all too well. It also appears to be dangerous.

I assure our elected executives that many of their constituents will appreciate their successful efforts to eliminate this nuisance from our neighborhoods.

Still, in answer to the "Will You Marry Me Rachel?" question, I hope Rachel said "Yes."

Hank Trapido-Rosenthal
Manoa

Political signs littering island

Every day I read about illegal airborne banners on the North Shore and billboards in Kakaako.

I am wondering where the line gets drawn? Wouldn’t a group of people holding large billboards with a candidate’s name qualify as billboards? There is no safety message involved, and can actually be considered a traffic-safety issue.

When drivers brake to read the signs, they are taking their eyes off the road. This is no less dangerous than texting and driving.

Why don’t candidates keep their candidacy on TV where their message can be safely sent?

Billboards are billboards no matter what the message, and they are littering the island.

Jeffery Edlund
Ewa Beach

UH mission isn’t to fund football

On Sunday, columnist Ferd Lewis wrote that University of Hawaii Athletic Director Ben Jay asks if UH is committed enough to compete in Division I football.

A serious question, especially with impending budget cuts and projected deficits.

But UH athletics is often run like a Mickey Mouse operation, e.g., buying out contracts of mediocre coaches and the "Wonder Blunder" fiasco.

The answer to Jay’s question is a great big "No!"

The UH mission is to provide an outstanding education for its students and not to sustain a Division l football program.

Isthe priority to build an excellent institution for the future of Hawaii’s children, or to support a football program with a growing deficit for entertainment of the fans?

Tony Locascio
Waikiki