Men can learn from Shoji’s experience

The column by Dave Reardon was especially informative and valuable (“For Shoji, his next win will be his most important,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 13).

I was encouraged by the candor and openness of Dave Shoji when he announced his prostate cancer diagnosis. We wish him all the best in his treatment.

The acknowledgment of the disease by a local sports icon may provide incentive for other men in this state to monitor their own condition. The news should spur men to seek regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) monitoring (especially post-40 years of age), the best medical counsel, and information about the options if there are suspicious high values or progressive increases in the numbers.

They should also pay heed to the experience of other survivors who have gone through the trek toward an acceptable treatment or non-treatment. In this regard, the Us TOO support groups are valued local resources at Kuakini and Pali Momi hospitals.

They can be located at www.hawaiiprostatecancer.org.

Paul Mizue

President, Hawaii Prostate Cancer Coalition

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Don’t ignore Japan’s imperialist past

A number of recent articles have decried the unfortunate internment of Japanese-Americans by the U.S. government during World War II. But they fail to mention what the Japanese government and military did: Estimates between 1937 and 1945 reveal that the Japanese military murdered between 3 million and 10 million people, most likely 6 million Chinese, Koreans, Malaysians, Indonesians, Filipinos and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war.

Taking actions out of their historical context is a biased form of revisionism that distorts truth.

Mark Slovak

Manoa

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Court undermined democracy in U.S.

Ben Shapiro’s column (“Desire for power undermines foundation of republicanism,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 8), contains a great many flawed statements ending with, “But so long as both sides (the right and the left) are prepared to blow up democracy in order to save it, we’re at the risk of an explosion.”

It seems to me that three decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in the past decade have done much more damage to the concept of democracy.

Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission stated that corporations and unions were people who, under the First Amendment, could make unlimited political contributions; McCutcheon v. FEC allowed an individual to give unlimited cumulative political donations to several candidates.

Finally, in Shelby County v. Holder, the court excised from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 the requirement that states with a history of voter suppression submit all changes to their voting laws to the Justice Department for review.

Ed Sullam

Aina Haina

Do something to stop crosswalk fatalities

What is a crosswalk? Just some lines on a roadway or highway, as on Kalanianaole Highway.

Being in a crosswalk is no guarantee you will cross safely — as on the evening of Dec. 5, when a family crossing the street was hit by a white truck driven by a woman who fled the scene (“Baby dies after Waimanalo hit-and-run,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Dec. 6).

The stretch of Kalanianaole through Waimanalo from Bellows to Makapuu is like a race track. Drivers speed. I see it every day.

Maybe it’s time to lower the speed limit and replace the dim street lights. Drivers need to be more responsible. The state Department of Transportation has got to make changes. Install a stoplight at that crosswalk. Do something.

Our residents are dying.

Lynn Kanani Mattson

Waimanalo

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Beware of runner’s dangerous regimen

While we want to congratulate Lindsey Scherf on winning second place in the women’s division of the Honolulu Marathon, recognizing the unhealthy and downright dangerous methods she used — avoiding water and food for the first 80 minutes of the race — would show a lack of awareness for our island female youth athletes (“Scherf carries American hopes and does it her own unique way,” Star-Advertiser, Dave Reardon, Dec. 12).

While it may work for Scherf, girls who try to follow in her footsteps by incorporating her practices are in danger of physical and mental damage, eating disorders and even death.

Especially now with a virulent social media, we must protect and remain vigilant for our daughters. Providing information that borderlines on praise for self-harm is not helping them.

Ingrid Middleton

Kahala Kua

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Thomas Square just needs maintenance

As I write this, city crews are tearing up Thomas Square for Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s latest project. Fencing surrounds several trees that are slated to be cut down, the mock orange hedge is being removed and plans are going forward for a concession stand (“Thomas Square will close for 6 months of city upkeep,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 10).

Has it ever occurred to the mayor that simply maintaining the existing park, keeping the lawn mowed, the bathrooms clean and actually dealing with the homeless problem, might be a better use of the millions he’s spending on this ego boost?

The city has serious problems that are getting worse by the day and he’s done little more than take stabs at them. We need more in this city than multimillion-dollar condos and rising property taxes. We need leadership that actually improves the quality of life for local people. This does not.

Kaui Philpotts

Downtown Honolulu

Random Acts of Kindness

In the spirit of this holiday season, readers are invited to write in about random acts of kindness — something that is so unexpected but special and touching that it should be shared with our community.

Send a 150-word letter, or a commentary at 500-600 words, to letters@staradvertiser.com by Dec. 21. A collection of them will run on Christmas Day.