Bravo to David Shapiro for clearly stating the actions needed to ensure a safer vaccinated Hawaii (“End the vaccine fight: Get the shot, get tested or stay home,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Aug. 15).

Let’s do the math, folks. Averaging 700 new infections daily, multiplied by 365 days in the year, works out to 225,000 residents who might contract or die from COVID-19.

The media, doctors, nurses and government leaders have done an outstanding job educating us about the risks. Still there is resistance among our citizens.

If you think, “It cannot happen to me,” think again. Because of privacy laws, the media cannot show the faces of those who suffer and die quickly from this horrifying disease. So from the very bottom of my heart, I beg you to get the vaccination.

Why am I so invested in your health, you may ask? I watched my father die in four days in May 2020.

Do not let your ohana suffer.

Kathryn Stark Henski

Waikiki

We must unite to win war against delta variant

The COVID-19 delta variant is deadly. It is also like Pearl Harbor 1941.

Every man, woman and family did their part to defeat our enemies in World War II. Men volunteered for military service and many were drafted. Women served in the U.S. armed forces and worked in the defense industries.

The federal government can draft men and women to fight our wars. Maybe it could declare a national emergency and require vaccinations for everyone with few exclusions. How to enforce the order? Require proof of vaccination or exemption from everyone for everything.

Certainly all federal, state and city employees should be vaccinated. Restaurants and retail stores require that employees and customers wear face masks now. Why not also require proof of vaccination? Other private companies do the same.

We can win this war if everyone acts like they want to win.

James Arcate

Manoa

Provide vaccinations at COVID-19 testing sites

The long lines for COVID-19 testing are the perfect places for vaccinations.

People who already are vaccinated should be able to go to the front of the line for testing. People who are willing to get vaccinated right then and there should be pulled out of the line, vaccinated, and then put behind the fully vaxxed for priority testing. Two weeks later when they return for testing, they get their second shot, priority tested, and will likely never have to return for testing.

Long lines go down, vaccinations go up, and real progress to stop COVID-19 is made.

Makana Risser Chai

Aiea

Afghan women, children will suffer as U.S. leaves

The U.S. was in Afghanistan for two decades. Now the Taliban are free to execute their genocide on the people of Afghanistan, especially against women and girls. So much for the fight against sexism, discrimination and misogyny in that region of the world.

In five years, the U.S. will be back in Afghanistan, similar to after the withdrawal from Iraq in 2011.

The U.S. regularly fails to do the cost-benefit analysis on the situation, whether we remain in Afghanistan or leave. Where were all the policymakers in the Pentagon, Congress and executive branch who pushed back against President Donald Trump’s withdrawal plan? They were MIA when President Joe Biden executed his withdrawal.

It’s a depressing situation for the U.S. and the people of Afghanistan. Pray for the women and girls of Afghanistan; they will need it now that the Taliban has captured the country.

David Biacan

Wahiawa

Thiessen celebrates inspiring U.S. Olympians

Thank you for publishing Marc Thiessen’s column (“Celebrate Olympians who are proud to represent U.S.A.,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 6).

Amidst a country full of anger, animosity and divisiveness, Thiessen’s column celebrated athletes who grew up poor, or were lucky enough to come to America from Third World and war-torn countries like Ghana and Cuba to pursue a new life and in turn represent the country which gave them so much: the U.S.A.

“We should spend more time celebrating these patriots,” he said.

We Americans who have so very much. We should step back and feel more gratitude for what we have, and redirect our energy away from what we want.

I immediately had my young son read the column so he could take a moment to grasp the struggles that so many people of the world deal with, and the select few who finally find their dreams. Hopefully he and you can, too.

Mark Ayers

Kailua

George Will a better choice than Cal Thomas

Hank Chapin criticized Cal Thomas as having “joined the ranks of the conspiratorial, uninformed and ignorant hordes” for his defense of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (“Thomas’ praise for DeSantis beyond pale,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 12). But, as to why Thomas has long appeared in the Star-Advertiser, Chapin claimed he understands the need for a conservative voice.

Unlike Chapin, however, I personally don’t “get” why Thomas must or should play this role.

George Will, for example, who used to appear in the paper, might not satisfy everyone, but he provides something that Thomas will never achieve — intellectual integrity, a logically coherent and reasoned argument, and an historical awareness and depth that is something more than a bow to dress up his point of view.

Mark Helbling

Manoa

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter