The headline, “Bill would let lifeguards’ liability protection lapse” (Star-Advertiser, April 13), had me gasping for air.

Politicians supporting Senate Bill 562 SD 1 HD1 would like to see the liability shield for lifeguards end, opening the door for possible expensive lawsuits to be paid for by us, the taxpayers. This would be a windfall gain for personal injury attorneys at the expense of public safety.

Lifeguards risk their lives to rescue people who often ignore their preventive warnings. Hawaiian waters can be dangerous, but our lifeguards make them an invaluable selling point to our tourist industry. Having a lifeguard question his or her split-second decision to put their life on the line to save another person is a recipe for disaster.

Every lifeguard I have ever known takes great pride in their ability to help others. They have got our backs. It is only appropriate that politicians follow the same creed and support our brave public servants.

Bruce Black

Diamond Head

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U.S. should stop meddling overseas

America’s meddling in foreign governments categorically tops Russia’s alleged attacks on our election. Worse than hacking, we overthrow governments, including through assassination. We indoctrinated and armed fascists, drug lords and terrorists. We went to war (Vietnam, Laos, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Yugoslavia) to overthrow governments. We killed Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi.

American-caused civilian deaths greatly outnumber civilians allegedly killed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad. They’re not nice men, but neither are they America’s business.

If our media-propaganda-machine stops saber-rattling and dwelling on Putin, Assad and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and publicizes America’s bombing, meddling and regime-changing, maybe our Legislature and the masses would demand an end to that foreign policy.

Maybe they don’t know America’s meddling is what drives anti-American terrorism and the arms race. Terrorists and others will force accountability on America if we don’t self-examine and stop doing what they hate so much.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is right.

Caroll Han

Makiki

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Gabbard’s lobbying not good for Hawaii

Why is it that we have a congressional representative who sounds more like a lobbyist for a foreign power than a person who is paid to cover the interests of the state of Hawaii?

I am talking, of course, about U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. All of us, including her, would be much happier if she decided to do her lobbying full time. She has, to date, questioned the actions of two presidents, thereby building little support for any issues that need to be resolved for Hawaii.

It just seems that there is some major personal conflict there that can hopefully be resolved soon by a resignation no later than the 2018 congressional election.

Paul Tyksinski

Kailua

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Autistic children need more support

Parents of autistic and other special-needs children should be aware of a Hawaii law that allows the police and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to take your child without a court order and without your consent: the Child Protective Act (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Sect. 587).

If a police officer or social worker is not properly trained or educated in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), they will not know the extreme challenges we face as parents dealing with the social and behavioral issues these children present. Removing a child like this could put them in more risk in the system. As a parent of an autistic child, I am dealing with DHS right now, and I say this from experience.

Support for families and better training for government employees who work with children, along with repealing unconstitutional and discriminatory laws, would be a good start, as the number of children diagnosed with ASD is expected to rise by 10 percent to 17 percent a year.

Shana Logan

Hilo

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Watch pedestrians with red-light cams

Cameras to record red-light violators is a great idea, but will they capture the entire movement of pedestrians and cars at the intersection?

Because pedestrians have the right of way, there are often delays in turning when people continue to cross when they shouldn’t be crossing. Vehicles often are in the intersection when the traffic light turns red because of these delay.

Will this judgement be made before a citation is mailed, or will traffic court be flooded with those who elect to contest their citation?

Will justice be served when a driver is fined for waiting for a pedestrian who is committing a violation?

Leonard Leong

Manoa

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Recycling in Korea a model to follow

The recycling program in South Korea deserves a look by our mayor.

In a recent 10-day tour that included large and small cities and Jeju Island, one is impressed with the cleanliness of the streets. Recycling bins were used and were not overflowing, indicating a timely schedule to empty them. At Kimpo airport, some areas had large catch-all trash cans, but a worker manually separated the waste and recyclables into different compartments on her cart.

Also, we saw no smoking on the streets. Instead, smokers stopped in a defined smoking area along the street. If a metropolis like Seoul can do it, why not Honolulu or even just Waikiki?

Ronald Wong

Salt Lake