Watson, state leaders did Hawaii proud

I just want to personally thank Judge Derrick Watson for thoughtfully and boldly carrying out his duty in blocking the Trump anti-Muslim travel ban, and Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin for persuasively pleading the case (“Blocked,” Star-Advertiser, March 16).

I am so proud of all our state officials, including Gov. David Ige and all of our sitting congressional representatives, in backing up Watson’s ruling.

Our state now leads the way in assuring our nation of a strong defense of our rights. Well done!

Linda Umstead

Mililani

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Hawaii too risky for vacationers

I have been to your beautiful state, and I love it and its beautiful people. I also love my country.

I am saddened that the government of the great state of Hawaii is disrespecting the president of the United States. My ex-wife and I visited Hawaii in 1972 and I finally found the right woman to visit again. We have been saving for three months to go there next year. Well, I’m certainly changing plans now.

If you don’t care enough about my security to at least be cautious enough to hold off allowing people in from known areas of terrorism, then I am not going to your dangerous state.

I can’t believe that state officials think Hawaii’s economy will not be negatively impacted from a temporary travel ban of 90 or 180 days.

How about the impact from millions of Americans from the mainland when they don’t visit?

Do they think this president was elected on a whim? He is doing what we the people want!

Larry Bodine

Rahway, N.J.

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Obamacare saved lives, despite GOP

Obamacare has saved many lives. This is a fact, not an opinion. Thanks to Obamacare, 20 million people now have health insurance. That, too, is a fact that Republicans avoid mentioning at all costs.

Under Obamacare, the travesty of “pre-existing conditions” coverage denial has been stopped. That, too, is a fact. Preventive care in the form of flu shots and immunizations are now available without co-pays. That, too, is a fact.

For Republicans to repeatedly claim that Obamacare is a disaster is ridiculous and an outright lie. President Barack Obama accomplished bringing affordable health care to this country after 70 years of Republican opposition. The Party of No tried its level best to stop it, and after it became a reality, it continued its denial in every form possible.

Now after eight years of opposition, the Republican “plan” would actually result in 24 million Americans losing their health insurance (“24 million would lose coverage under GOP health bill, CBO says,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, March 13). Really?

Marilyn Kennedy

Manoa

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Love, not money, should unite couples

It’s hard to know why you chose the Shorensteins as a feature couple for the article in your Sunday Magazine about why young adults today are postponing marriage (“No rush,” Star-Advertiser, March 12).

The Shorensteins didn’t wait, but realized as students that they wanted to spend life together. More power to them for acting on values of love and mutual support that enable cooperation rather than impersonal considerations of money and job satisfaction.

Finances and work life are important, but why should they prevent people from caring about each other?

It sounds Victorian.

Mary Bell Weiner

Manoa