Tiger column
unleashes emotionsIn a year that celebrated the breaking of the color barrier in baseball, it is sad that the accomplishments of a minority athlete would be diminished by writers such as Diane Chang, who wish to view their successes in a strictly "American" light ("Minorities aren't out of the Woods yet," May 2). Tiger Woods is a hero
in fight against racismTo ignore that Woods is a minority who has struggled against prejudice and discrimination in a sport rife with white elitism denies him recognition for perhaps his greatest accomplishment.
Private country clubs have battled hard to cling to "traditions" of discrimination, and still Woods has excelled. He has become the hero of many, destroying stereotypes of what a "golfer" really is.
Chang is right that Woods' accomplishments do not signify the end of the road for minority groups' struggle for equality. But his victory represents what can sometimes be achieved when we actively work to defeat discrimination.
Trever Asam
New Haven, Conn.
Not only does Diane Chang consistently engage in ethnic whining, but she continues to speak insensitively about white people, something too many "locals" in Hawaii are guilty of. Caucasians DO come in
more than one varietyHow is it that Chang misses her own double standards? She complains about some "Caucasian" woman in Missouri lumping all Changs together, then turns around and makes the remarkably ignorant statement, "It's why what we call the 'haole' in Hawaii never differentiate themselves as Irish Americans or German Americans when introducing themselves..."
"Haole" is a clearly derogatory label, one akin to "nigger" or "gook," so I wish intelligent and responsible people would stop using it. Of course, Chang has never been in my shoes, never been at the end of an angry fist smashing you just because you were a "f--ing haole."
And don't be so sure that white Americans don't use the labels Chang says have vanished. My grandparents are still alive and they could tell you a bit about "Irish (Catholic) Americans." Does Chang think no one comments on my clearly Irish background upon meeting me? Maybe she should go to "America" and find out some time.
In any case, if Chang can become a little more shrill in her ethnic/gender whining, I'm sure she'll find a place to teach up at the University of Hawaii, home of some of the more vocal ethnic/gender cheerleaders in the state.
Patrick G. O'Brien
American Studies
University of Hawaii
Tiger Woods deserves the same credit (and more) as a young Jack Nicklaus or a young Arnold Palmer or a young Bobby Jones. In fact, I wish the news media would focus on what Jack Nicklaus said about Tiger. His remarks have noted the kind of talent he believes that Woods has, and at a very young age. Golfer is inspiring example
of fine athlete, individualI, too, like the way Woods has handled himself regarding his relationship with his family and the role model he has been to the youth of the world.
Tom Papandrew
The headline in your May 2 edition, "Abercrombie is top isle lawmaker when it come to junkets," did a disservice to U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and the truth. Neil Abercrombie is not
king of the political junketsA "junket" is a pleasure trip at public expense. Abercrombie's trip to India with his wife, his four trips to speak at various labor union gatherings in Hawaii and on the continent, and the two other trips mentioned were NOT at public expense.
They were paid for by unions and other groups involved, and the India trip (which involved three other congressional representatives) was an annual event paid for by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
You should apologize and print a retraction or correction.
John Witeck
Only God can make a tree. Only developers can cut them down! Development is felling
beautiful banyan treesAs I look from my window, I must remember the beautiful green canopy of the banyan tree near the old Beretania police station site, because it won't be there in another month. It is fast becoming an endangered species. Sadly, the residents who buy into the "affordable" units being developed on the lot will not enjoy it, nor will future generations know its beauty.
About a year or so ago, I called the Outdoor Circle. Its members had been given assurances by the developers that the tree would stay. But the developers went ahead with their plans to build a four-story parking garage where the banyan now stands and the city gave them a permit.
Now the city is looking into the costs of trimming, uprooting and moving it vs. cutting it down. (Either way it won't survive.) And the city will give it "due process" -- which only means a lot of talk prior to taking it out.
That's why Honolulu is looking worse, getting warmer and becoming noisier every month. One by one, these beauties are eliminated. No palm trees around a building can replace the majesty of a lovely banyan tree.
Bah humbug to developers!
Suzanne Teller
Same-sex archive
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