City can honor veterans and reclaim beach, too

A City Council hearing on the restoration of the natatorium will take place Dec. 2. Citizens of Honolulu now have an opportunity to reclaim precious beach area as well as honor our veterans. It is clear that more south shore beach is desirable, thus the city's decision to close one lane of Kalakaua Avenue in order to gain one-third acre of beach for $13.5 million.

Why the Council is willing to spend $11.5 million, plus cost over-runs, on a pool with obvious health and safety problems is unclear. Removing the pool and bleachers and leaving the memorial arch would restore the monument to its original splendor and remove a dangerous eyesore from the oceanfront; at the same time we would be gaining valuable beach area.

This is a perfect opportunity for Mayor Harris to realize his stated intention of creating more beach area in Waikiki. At $7 million this arch and beach restoration would be a bargain.

Joan Holup

Defenders of Clinton are guilty of hypocrisy

Has anyone noticed the hypocrisy of the Clinton administration? The recent Clinton crisis has prompted claims by Democrats that to impeach the president would be overturning the democratic will of the people who legally elected him. Yet, with the recent crisis in Iraq, the United States has again stepped up pressure to overthrow a sovereign nation's leader.

Then recently, at the APEC conference in Malaysia, Vice President Gore called on reformation movements to proceed with anti-government demonstrations. Does anyone see the irony in this? In Iraq's case, Saddam Hussein might have come to power through military might, but in Malaysia the prime minister was elected through a democratic process.

How can the Clinton administration call for the overthrow of a democratic leader of a foreign nation and yet the Democrats are using it as a defense to keep President Clinton in office? People are talking out of both sides of their mouths!

Han-Lee Choong
(Via the Internet)

Lingle would be a fine journalist

For former journalists (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 14) to suggest that it might be unethical for Linda Lingle to go back to that profession is ridiculous. It is an insult to Lingle's integrity to suggest that she would not be as professional simply because she has served in public office and made a run for the state's top job. I didn't hear attorneys calling foul when Governors Ariyoshi and Waihee went back to practicing law.

Lingle is an honest, well-educated and articulate speaker, a journalist who would do well in news reporting or commentary on any local TV or radio station as well as for any newspaper or magazine in Hawaii.

In editorial comment, we will expect her to be critical of the poorly run state government that she tried to displace and improve upon -- in the best interest of the people of Hawaii. Maybe that is what we need. In news reporting, we will expect her to ask the difficult questions, perhaps forcing those in office to be more responsive and responsible.

She stuck to the facts in her campaign. Why would she do anything else in a media job?

Keith Haugen
(Via the Internet)

Lingle scares 'old boys' with talk of media job

That Linda Lingle, she puts her possible plans out for a job in political commentary, and the old-boy network wants to censor her before she says anything.

She can't possibly be objective and fair to our ethical, beyond-reproach machine. Oh, Linda baby, you're no good.

Banzai to the status quo.

Shari Lee-Huntoon
Kailua
(Via the Internet)

Lament of the trustees -- money, money, money

We promise we'll be good,
We'll do everything we should.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll do anything you say,
We'll even work an hour a day!
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll cut out all our friends --
Anything to make amends.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll do our own repairs,
And stay out of school affairs.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll honor Dr. Chun,
For the splendid things he's done!
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll stand guard at the gate,
And make sure the kids aren't late.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll clean windows, mop the floors,
And do lavatory chores!
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll see that Milton's fired,
And all the lawyers we hired,
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

We'll bow and scrape and grovel,
We won't give you any trouble!
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

Please tell Margie we'll be calling,
No more fighting, no more stalling.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

Take our files, we will sing,
We ain't hidin' anything!
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

Call the Gov'nor! Call the press!
We are ready to confess.
Just let us keep our precious salaries.

And we'll RESIGN, for goodness sakes!
If that is what it takes...
Can we please keep our precious salaries?

C. Richard Fassler

Gay couple got support from heterosexuals

We applaud Trish Moore for her Nov. 14 My Turn column about "putting a human face on homosexuals." We are a gay couple from New Jersey who fought for the right to adopt our son jointly -- the same way married heterosexuals do. We were fearful about going "public" at first but took it on.

The moment we held our first press conference to announce that we, as a gay couple, were filing a class-action lawsuit against the state of New Jersey for the right to adopt our son jointly, we were shocked and surprised by the magnitude of support that came our way. We were equally shocked and surprised that it was predominantly from heterosexuals. Also shocking was the way the mainstream press covered our story with honesty, integrity, compassion and accuracy.

At first, we did not get much support from the gay and lesbian community. We think that our becoming very public scared a lot of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as well as the gay and lesbian organizations and press. It was as if these communities did not know what to do with us.

Within our own community, we felt isolated and feared. Nevertheless, our battle continued on and, eventually, we won. We had become the human face for "gay" adoption and were accepted by people everywhere. It really wasn't until we won our case that the gay and lesbian communities as a whole embraced us, which now has been tremendously rewarding.

Jon and Michael Galluccio
Maywood, N.J.
(Via the Internet)

Homosexuals will one day get equal rights they deserve

As a 16-year-old Punahou student, I found myself, among many others at my school, a strong supporter of the "no" vote for the same-sex marriage amendment. This election was about community willingness to accept gays and give them the same rights as straights. Apparently, the public is not ready to do so.

I was disappointed with the election results, but am now comforted that a large step has just been taken for the acceptance of homosexuals. Like racism is now generally regarded as wrong, I believe that discrimination against homosexuals will eventually be looked down upon as well.

I applaud Protect Our Constitution and everyone else who supported the "no" vote, and encourage them to keep fighting. The campaign has raised awareness that gays should not be discriminated against. I am confident that eventually the community as a whole will see that straights and gays alike are all God's creatures.

Laurel Turbin
(Via the Internet)

---

Write a
Letter to the Editor

Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.