Burch, Vizzone are real heroes

A salute in tribute to champions of freedom, Merritt Burch and Anthony Vizzone, the two University of Hawaii-Hilo students who sued university administrators who stopped them from gifting U.S. pocket Constitutions to other students on the campus mall ("Lawsuit prompts UH policy changes," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3).

The students challenged the administration on grounds that their First Amendment rights of free speech were being violated, and they prevailed.

Administrators had told the students that they must voice their grievances in a designated "free speech zone" on campus, as if free speech was prohibited in all other zones on campus.

The students knew that the "free-speech zone" in Hawaii extends from Naalehu to Hanalei and includes all points in between; and that the Constitution trumps any university regulations that infringe upon it.

Their resounding victory sets a precedent for several universities across the nation, which have also instituted the free-speech-zone policy. So Burch and Vizzone are truly national heroes.

Cycle track likely to cause accident

It is almost unbelievable that our city leaders will not admit that the King Street cycle track endangers passengers directly exiting onto a live traffic lane on this major, busy crosstown thoroughfare.

The cycle track will be removed once the city receives the first multimillion-dollar judgment for a tragic and unnecessary fatal accident that could easily involve one or more persons on this now very compressed roadway.

I am all for bicyclists, but not at the expense of tragic fatal accidents bound to happen on King Street. Let’s hope the city removes the track, and soon.

I drove the length of it yesterday at peak afternoon traffic and saw one bike riding in it next to hundreds of cars. Go figure.

‘Stupidity’ claim is easily proven

What’s all the fuss about Jonathan Gruber’s statement about the "stupidity" of the American voter?

The truth of this could not be more aptly demonstrated than by Maui County’s anti-GMO vote. Unlike Gruber’s poor choice of words, this went far beyond simple ignorance.

In my humble opinion, the defeat of overwhelming scientific fact by looney emotionalism may accurately be described as stupidity.

Endure flags or leave Kailua

I had a feeling of great sadness when I finally figured out what was missing in Kailua town, high upon the hilltop.

Not only is the American flag and POW flag missing from its perch over Kailua town, but the entire flagpole is gone as well.

It seemed like years since I sat on the Kailua Neighborhood Board and listened to the complaints about the flags not being "legal."

If people do not want to see the American and POW flags being flown over their town, then they should get out.

Aid to homeless encourages them

How many years ago was it that President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Education? Has that fixed our education system?

Can a department of the homeless solve anything?

We are aware of some who would rather survive on government handouts rather than work. When we take good care of them, all we will accomplish is increasing their population, not reducing it.

Any solution would be considered inhumane by many.