Letters To The Editor
February 04, 2009 - MidWeek
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Del.icio.usGrateful for Bush
After reading the letter about President Bush and Jerry Coffee, I was so angry that I had to respond. What a despicable, disgraceful person this James Watanabe must be to say Bush should end his own life. After reading his terrible letter, had he been near me, I would have used one of his samurai swords on him. I think all the men and women who have sacrificed and suffered so that people like James Watanabe can say and write things like this would feel the same way.
If my memory serves me correctly, there was a disloyal coward Army officer named Watanabe who refused to go to Iraq after he had taken an oath of allegiance to our country and probably received money from our government to pay for his education so that he could receive a commission.
What a sorry, sordid bunch of people they must be. I would also bet they are Democrats.
I want this sorry individual to know that I thank God every day that George W. Bush was our president.
Gene Tress, Korean and Vietnam War Veteran
Honolulu
Editor’s note: The soldier in question was Ehren Watada.
Jones and torture
I just read Bob Jones’ latest column, “Is Torture Ever Warranted? Maybe.”
While I usually enjoy reading and often agree with his thoughts and opinions, today I was shocked at the legal and moral bankruptcy of his arguments. Mr. Jones, please reconsider your justifications and conclusions, and the negative impact that they may have on the body politic.
I consider you an intelligent and normally thoughtful person. I find it difficult to believe that you do not know that torture has many negative, unintended consequences, not the least of which are the unreliability of the information obtained, the breakdown of the rule of law and the weakening of the protections that citizens need in order to live free from the tyranny of their own government. That last point extends especially to high-profile persons such as yourself, who as you know are often a thorn in the side of those in power.
I feel it is time that we as a society step back from the moral brink caused by the ideas of “might makes right” and “pragmatism trumps rule of law,” and return to our ideals. I would like to think that Mr. Jones would be for that also.
Rick Olson
Honolulu
Absolute truths
One line in Bob Jones’ column on torture says everything you need to know about the man: “Always leave some wiggle room in your moral judgments.”
To follow the logic that torture is bad most of the time, but not all of the time, it could be argued that while rape, murder and child abuse are bad, there are occasions when they are sort of OK, and justified.
He follows that line with this one: “Very little in this world is absolute.”
Sorry, Mr. Jones, but some things are - and ought to be - absolute. No torture, period.
Gwen Murata
Honolulu
Effects of torture
Normally, I very much appreciate Bob Jones’ MidWeek column, but not his comments condoning torture, the most un-American practice I can imagine.
1) The information gained by torture is dubious.
2) The practice must be “crippling” to the mind and spirit of the person who inflicts the torture.
3) I believe when we torture, it makes it “reasonable” for other countries’ military to torture our men and women - it cannot be a one-way-street.
Wishing you a new day filled with love, laughter and aloha.
Rev. Toni Baran
Kaneohe
Obama and Reagan
I hope all the conservatives who predicted an end to America if Barack Obama were elected president saw Patrick Buchanan’s column, “Obama, The Neo-Reaganite.” Based on his inaugural talk, and everything he’s done since, including addressing Arabs and Muslims directly on Al-Jazeerah TV, he has been positive and made America stronger.
Dale Wilson
Honolulu
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