There has been much discussion lately about shortening the rail line, perhaps ending it near Middle Street.

While I have been a stark critic of rail in the past, I believe this would most certainly be the worst possible decision. Who would want to ride to the station, get off at Middle Street and catch a bus to the final destination, then reverse the process at night?

No one would live in a house that was only half-constructed; likewise, they wouldn’t ride a rail transit system that ended at Middle Street. Rail needs to be fast, convenient and effective. And since traffic is noticeably improved when the University of Hawaii is not in session, it should finish at the final destination that make the most sense — UH. Then, encourage ridership by giving students discounted passes.

We are now committed. Maintain the 0.5 percent general excise tax increase until the job is completed.

Joseph W. Turban

Makakilo

Rail costs will drive up property taxes

The greatest concern for funding rail shouldn’t be the 0.5 percent general excise tax increase that comes from all transactions on Oahu, including local residents and millions of tourists. It should be how rail operation and maintenance will be paid.

City Council member Ann Kobayashi stated what everyone needs to know: “They (city taxpayers) want assurance that their property taxes won’t go up so high that they’ll have to give up their properties” (“Revenue cap could foil rail bill,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 10).

When rail begins operation, costs range from a low of $100 million to as much as $200 million per year, paid for by property taxes.

It’s a question of pay me now and pay me later. Pay for construction and then pay for operation and maintenance.

To answer Kobayashi, once rail begins operating, costs will hit property taxpayers and many people will have to give up their homes and rents will skyrocket.

Garry P. Smith

Ewa Beach

Courage also among life’s many lessons

I would like to share my perspective concerning Jose Bulatao Jr.’s commentary (“Consider shifting priority of schooling to ‘life’s lessons’,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 7).

I believe life’s lessons should include the courage to stand up for our values and beliefs and to admit our mistakes by apologizing and correcting our mistakes.

Learning from our mistakes and failures and not giving up is a very critical life lesson.

Surrounding ourselves with others who may not share our perspectives and taking reasonable risks will also require courage.

I also believe life’s lessons should include problem-solving and critical thinking to solve complex problems. Solving complex problems requires collaboration, teamwork and effective communication and leadership.

Helping others and showing compassion and empathy are also important life lessons.

George Tsuchida

Mililani

Officer was callous with pepper spray

Police recruits should be sprayed with pepper spray to see what it feels like so they don’t get trigger-happy as Officer Ming Wang did with Jamie Kalani Rice (“Video of police beating gets replay,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 10).

The photo clearly shows Rice walking away from the monk seal, and yet the officer still pepper-sprayed him and pummeled him with a baton.

Rice was mentally ill. Otherwise, why send him to the Hawaii State Hospital for three months? And if he was mentally ill, the waivers Rice signed should be invalid, making the deputy prosecutor’s flimsy excuses for not prosecuting Wang sound specious.

Also specious is the prosecutor’s statement that it’s not known what words were exchanged between the two men. The video alone would be enough to put any person who was not a police officer behind bars. But obviously police officers are treated differently in Hawaii.

David Yasuo Henna

McCully

Being American is a matter of heart

Thank you for the article, “Isle Muslim harassed in public after comments by Trump” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 10).

I wanted immediately to call her to tell her I loved her, but her number was not in the phone book. I want her to know my parents were from Hiroshima.

I was 10 years old when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. My two brothers were in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team that fought in Europe. One brother was part of the U.S. Occupation Army in Japan, and my husband served in the U.S. Military Intelligence Service in Japan during Korean Era.

Doggone it! When will we learn what it is to be an American? A true American is not a color, race or religion — it is in your brain and heart.

If we don’t learn to live together, we’ll surely all die together.

Yoshie Ishiguro Tanabe

Kalama Valley

Let St. Francis nuns stay in Manoa

Let us all hope that the living arrangements of these nuns be resolved so that they might remain in their present home: St. Francis Convent in Manoa (“Nuns none too pleased at being forced to move,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4).

When discussing healthy aging, one of the aspects mentioned is “aging in place.” Most seniors prefer remaining in their homes where they can enjoy the remainder of their golden years.

Perhaps I am not aware of the entire situation. But then again, these nuns broadened our minds and hearts in the spirit of love, compassion and forgiveness.

They taught us how to be sophisticated and professional young women in whatever or wherever we chose to be.

Those days at St. Francis Convent School can never reappear again, but we who were educated there can never forget our roots.

The sisters who are now elderly and ill were once our teachers and mentors.

Devera Rita Maneja Chun

St. Francis Class of 1965

Waialae-Kahala