Castle’s influence taints BOE search

What an embarrassment to public education in Hawaii (“Search on for new schools chief back on after Galera withdraws,” Star-Advertiser, March 14)!

The Castle Foundation wanted to appear to take the high road in suspecting that the Board of Education favored retired principal Darrel Galera. As soon as Galera exited the contest, Castle greenlighted its $50,000 grant.

In doing so, it added another telling vignette to the checkered history of private investment in public education. For has it not created the “unfair advantage” it was protesting by suggesting that it desires a replacement cut from the same corporate mold as Kathryn Matayoshi, rather than a qualified educator such as Galera?

None of the world’s strongest educational systems rely heavily on private monies from foundations such as Castle. Galera’s substantial track record suggests that he would have worked hard to reverse recent trends and to serve the interests of students and their teachers rather than the needs of educational corporations and district bureaucrats.

Andy Jones

Language arts teacher

McCully-Moiliili

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AG should focus on civil rights here

State Attorney General Douglas Chin said that President Donald Trump’s travel ban violates the Constitution and the Immigration and Nationality Act by denying people “their right to associate with family members overseas on the basis of their religion and national origin. And it results in their having to live in a country and in a State where there is the perception that the Government has established a disfavored religion.”

Does he forget how the state mistreated Hawaiians standing up for their own religious and national-origin protections against the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea?

I’m sure those arrested and removed by state officers have not. I believe Chin is a hypocrite: With close ties to large corporate entities, he has created a climate in Hawaii that disfavors Native Hawaiians’ religious, cultural and traditional practices by denying access to these resources and showing grave disrespect to our people and to what we call sacred.

He needs to look closely at his own civil rights issues here at home before he looks abroad.

Shana Logan

Hilo

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Think of victims of U.S. warfare

I’m sure we all shed a tear for the Navy SEAL who lost his life in the Yemen raid and the emotional moment with his lovely widow during President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress.

However, the honorable moment should have included a silent prayer for the nine children reportedly killed in that raid.

We call that “collateral” damage. World War I was the last conflict in which the soldiers were the majority of killed or wounded. Since that time, civilians have died at the ratio of up to 20 to 1.

A reputable international survey taken asked the question: “What country is the greatest threat to peace?” The result? 24 percent said the good old U.S.A.; no other country was over 10 percent. Very little or no mention of this in the media.

Fred K. Gamble

Ala Wai

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Spiritual views deserve respect

Kenneth F. Nelson appears to believe in scientism, the faith that science has an exclusive monopoly on knowledge, understanding, truth and reality (“Science should prevail in the end,” Star-Advertiser, Letters March 8).

This summarily dismisses the religions of 84 percent of humanity; humanities and much of social sciences; and many scientists who are religious or spiritual.

Nancy K. Frankenberry’s book, “The Faith of Scientists: In Their Own Words,” has chapters on Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Carl Sagan, Jane Goodall and Stephen Hawking. Astronomy is among the scientific pursuits of the Vatican. The Dalai Lama and neuroscientists at MIT and elsewhere collaborate in research on meditation.

However, I agree that, in Nelson’s words, “fervidly held, passionately believed, sincerely promoted, and strongly felt belief” can be problematic. That includes scientism. Understanding, respect, appreciation and sensitivity for the beliefs of others can contribute to a better world. The opposite degrades society for everyone.

Leslie E. Sponsel

Hawaii Kai

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Don’t interfere with right to die

John Dellera’s life work to advocate for the less fortunate and his personal commitment to serve as a caregiver himself is admirable (“‘Death with dignity’ bill has few safeguards for abuse,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 2). He is truly a rare “angel.”

However, his “voice” is based on anecdotal and circumstantial evidence. I am sure nefarious and unscrupulous individuals would try to take advantage of the law, but language can be added to the death-with-dignity bill to prevent this as much as possible.

Painkillers are almost impossible to get now and proper end-of-life care can be afforded only by the few. Ending my life is a very personal act and I resent the interference of Dellera and the Legislature.

Guy Benjamin

Ewa Beach