Letters To The Editor
March 15, 2006 - MidWeek
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Del.icio.usJoe responds
It is sad but not surprising that Bob Jones continues his practice of taking cheap shots at a long-time employee of KHON-TV who chose to remain at the station while also choosing to stand up and speak out against the new owners, who walked in the door and announced they intended to cut one-third of the work force.
Mr. Jones obviously does not understand or appreciate the principle of being true to one’s self and making a stand for what one believes in. Eight department heads and the general manager of KHON resigned rather than serve under the new owners. Many other employees of the station chose to band together and outlast the new owners. Personally, I consider both to be acts of courage, again something that Mr. Jones apparently does not understand.
Many longtime residents remember that Bob Jones was driven off local TV years ago when the newscast he anchored plummeted to last place in the ratings and stayed there. His parting shot was to criticize his fellow employees as incompetent. No station has hired him since. Hopefully, one day soon Mr. Jones will build a bridge and get over that disappointing time in his life.
Joe Moore
Honolulu
‘Fair’ to whom?
Mahalo to Bob Jones for having the courage to take a public stance against the election funding scheme called “Clean Elections” being pushed by the group Voter Owned Hawaii.
It’s not easy saying you oppose clean elections. The term tries to clinch the argument by precluding debate, exemplifies the art of political manipulation, and excludes legitimate ideas and arguments from the political arena.
So many previously unsuccessful single-issue candidates and lobbying groups want this legislation passed so badly because it will mean free money - taxpayer dollars - for them and their pet causes.
Campaign reform can be achieved by relying on complete disclosure of fund sources with almost-instant electronic disclosure. Let the voters decide. I don’t mean to sound callous, but I don’t mind when political candidates must work hard for my vote.
Politics and political campaigns belong to the people, not to lazy candidates and certainly not to the government.
Mike Peters
Waikiki
UARC for balance
The question of whether or not the University of Hawaii should establish a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) is really about academic freedom and equality for professors and students who want to do scientific and technological research for the military. If anti-military studies and research are allowed, so should pro-military studies and research. If open (unclassified) programs are allowed, so should closed (classified) programs. That’s what equal opportunity should be about. Not just what anti-military factions want.
OK, regents, do the right thing.
Russel A. Noguchi
Pearl City
Don’t blame haoles
Larry Hayashida’s letter quotes Al Rodrigues, “it’s mostly the haoles from the Mainland that grumble about the public schools” and that “it galls some of them that they are not dominating our public school system as they are now at UH.”
I find his statement as inflammatory as it is ridiculous.
The fact is that some 30,000 students attend private schools across Oahu because their parents recognize that our public school system is in distress. Furthermore, Mr. Hayashida will be surprised to learn that the majority ethnicity found within the top three private schools is Asian!
James Jones
Honolulu
Unfair sentencing
Bob Jones made a comparison in his column last week of the sentences between my brother Shaun Rodrigues and kumu hula Ray Fonseca. Mr. Fonseca took a life while under the influence of cocaine, and the prosecutors recommended six months in jail. My brother did not take a life, and the evidence showed innocence, yet he was sentenced to 20 years.
Micah White killed his mother and aunt while under the influence of crystal meth, and admitted to the drug use. Judge Virginia Crandall acquitted him by reason of insanity.
Shortly after Shaun’s nightmare began, a vacuum salesman in Waialua was murdered. The offender (another drug user) was acquitted by reason of insanity.
Who was the presiding judge? Virginia Crandall.
Judge Crandall was also the presiding judge in Shaun’s trial. I do not understand how she comes to her verdicts.
Kelly H. Higa
Honolulu
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