We in Hawaii, especially in the smaller communities, have a close bond with family, friends and neighbors. Our doors are open. We accept each other as people who matter, and most would stop to help anyone who asks for help.

Who among us would not feel for a friend or family member who falls on hard times, loss of a job or breadwinner, destruction of a home by fire or other misfortune?

And yet we as citizens act as though no one should be a burden on society (unless they are family or friends). We look at people we do not know — someone else’s child, father, brother, sister, daughter, son, uncle or auntie, or mom — who are homeless and poor, and we close our eyes to their lives and struggles.

Now our government will change tax laws to lift up those already at the top with little regard for those struggling at the bottom — a shameful display of greed and arrogance perpetrated for the so-called common good.

We, the people of Hawaii who live with aloha, should not let this happen. Our country deserves better.

Douglas Schott

Waianae

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City should get out of running golf courses

It is a bad idea for the city to try to increase the waning use of the Ala Wai Golf Course.

First, the city wants to enter into a partnership with a private firm. That might be a problem because the city doesn’t own the land; the state does. The state granted the city temporary use of the property as a golf course by executive order. Those 267 acres are probably among the most valuable pieces of undeveloped land in the U.S. The state is going to want it back someday to pay for things like its public employees’ pensions.

Second and more important, why is the city in the business of running six golf courses? The government should be providing essential things like sewers, water, schools, roads and transportation, not competing with dozens of private golf courses.

The city is correct to want to rethink its failing enterprise, but among the options, it is time to consider eliminating the municipal golf courses altogether. The land could be repurposed or sold to pay for things like rail.

Richard Manetta

Wilhelmina Rise

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Stop wasting money on Deedy retrials

In response to another political effort to waste money for a third trial of Christopher Deedy (“Years of appeals possible before third trial for Deedy,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 15): Justice has been served — twice. City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro might as well have said he would keep trials going until Deedy is found guilty.

That is not justice.

Ginger Kolonick

Hawaii Kai

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U.S. needs to realize we are all the world

America used to have a broad view on life on Earth and a strong commitment to its survival and betterment. Today, our president and political party in power believe that America can afford to focus only on its own goals and has to limit the scope of its ideals and missions.

However, a large number of Americans believe that because of the world’s interrelatedness, we must extend our concerns, ideals, missions and commitments to the limit. That’s what’s necessary to become human and responsible to mankind and its home.

Richard Y. Will

Waikiki

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Constitution misread on church-state split

I am continually amazed by how many people believe that the Constitution requires the separation of church and state. The First Amendment states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

This First Amendment was added to address the policies of England from which the colonists fled and fought to gain independence. England’s rulers had established a specific church (the Church of England) for the country that prohibited the practice of many other religions, specifically the Catholic church.

My own ancestors were driven from England and Scotland because they were practicing Quakers. The founding leaders of our new nation were intent that these restrictions were not repeated.

The Constitution does not require the separation of church and state to the extent of blocking the display of religious themes on government property.

Len Hammond

Ewa Beach

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Crazy speed limits need to change

Driving slow in the left lane is one thing, but just think if everyone followed the speed limit. There would be a standstill.

Try driving the speed limit. It’s crazy. The state Department of Transportation has to change speed limits. Driving eastbound near Koko Head on the freeway, the limit is 50 mph. That’s nuts — it’s a freeway. The Ala Wai Boulevard speed limit is 35 mph, but everyone is going 25 mph. Nuts. We have bad drivers.

Patrick Carvalho

Moiliili

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Legislators should see UH athletic vision

If someone approached your school’s fundraising program and offered you the following challenge, “If you come up with $4,000, I’ll match it with $36,000 for a total of $40,000,” wouldn’t you jump at the deal?

Well, the University of Hawaii is saying to the Legislature, “If you give us $4 million, we will come up with $36 million through ticket sales, donations and other sources to fund the $40 million athletic program, which benefits the university, its student-athletes and the general public and business community.”

The Legislature should realize what a great deal this is.

Dennis Kohara

Manoa