Baby's airport death was easily avoidable

It was very sad to hear the story of Michael Tony Futi ("Baby's death blamed on delay," Feb. 13). From the news, it appears that all the documentation needed was in order, so the delay should have been avoided. I agree that customs needs to be thorough and if there are any questions they need to investigate, but they should have allowed the nurse and baby to leave.

This shows how terrorism has affected us -- generalized rules are being made to protect us, which causes delays because people to not know what to do when there are special circumstances.

Obama is embodiment of King's dream

I was watching primary election returns from Maryland, Virginia and D.C. MSNBC was giving us exit polls where they break us into every conceivable category. Barack Obama was winning in all categories. It suddenly struck me like a ton of bricks ... Obama is being judged, not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. Shout it from the rooftops! We've lived to see Martin Luther King's dream realized.

Legislature should target real problems

The Hawaii Legislature is misguided; maybe more than ever this year. There is crime in the streets, there are issues with affordable housing and of course there are problems with education. Yet while these grave issues continue to dwell in this great state, the Legislature seems to want to deal with every other so-called "problem."

Currently, there are bills that deal with clotheslines, honey and how many fish can be caught. There are also numerous bills that are redundant with laws already on the books. Many of these issues are being dealt with. This is unfortunate for the people of Hawaii; they deserve a Legislature that knows how to focus on the pressing issues that make up their daily lives.

Inouye wrongly voted to protect Bush

Sen. Daniel Inouye must explain to Hawaii's people why he voted to allow the telecom industry to have retroactive immunity from lawsuits related to their assisting the U.S. government to illegally spy on U.S. citizens.

The telecoms claim they have broken no laws. If true, they need no immunity; if false, they deserve no immunity.

Immunity, in fact, primarily serves to hide what the Bush administration has been doing by keeping sworn testimony of telecom executives and employees from being revealed in courtrooms.

The so-called "Protect America Act" is meant to protect George Bush and Dick Cheney at the expense of America.

Just as Bush, by pardoning Scooter Libby, declared that members of his administration may safely violate the law and citizens' rights; in voting to protect Bush by protecting those who could expose him, Inouye has become an accessory to Bush's criminal actions and declared that corporations may safely violate the law and citizens' rights.

North Shore benefits from double standard

The governor's proposal to intervene and stop development of the Turtle Bay Resort and surrounding acreage makes no sense when compared to our plight along the Leeward Coast. The governor has stated that the North Shore does not have the infrastructure to accommodate an influx of 3,500 units.

Let's put that into perspective. On my side of town, we are getting 60,000 more units, a slew of commercial and industrial parks, a new university and everything else in between.

When the Estate of James Campbell put some 1,600 acres of prime agricultural land on the selling block in Ewa, where was the governor to make the same plea on our behalf? When the Navy sold 499 acres in Kalaeloa at only $60,000 per acre recently, where was the governor on that deal?

No new expressways are being planned for us along the Leeward Coast. If the governor wants to be consistent, then absolutely no further development should transpire on the Leeward Coast until the carrying capacity of our roads has been substantially increased. Why the double standard?

Valentine will be cherished forever

A Valentine's love is the warmth of the Hawaiian sun.
Valentine's Day brings the brilliance of autumn leaves.
The love you feel is peacefulness of a gentle rainfall
and the first flowers of spring.
I'm thankful for the times we shared
and the priceless memories too
But your time on earth was very brief
in our hearts I know that you are at peace.
Your last Valentine is a comfort now when we truly remember you.
In Loving Memory of Quintin R. Pelayo, 1958-2008.