• Gift of renewed hope • Soldiers here wanted change • Put away fears and mistrust • Yes, we can • Lost hope Gift of renewed hope Unlike Gordon Smith (“Glad I’m old,” Letters, Nov. 6), I’m glad to be
• Gift of renewed hope
• Soldiers here wanted change
• Put away fears and mistrust
• Yes, we can
• Lost hope
Gift of renewed hope
Unlike Gordon Smith (“Glad I’m old,” Letters, Nov. 6), I’m glad to be alive to see my nation, which had lost its way under the Bush administration, start to find its way back to hope from fear, and to see a nation which had largely lost respect in the world start to regain its status as a leader. Having started that process by electing a vibrant young man with the ability to communicate, inspire and lead, and who happens to be of African-American heritage, speaks volumes to the world, and gives this 60-year-old American the best, and most unexpected, birthday present ever.
President-elect Obama is facing a multitude of difficult tasks. I feel confident that he is the best man for the job, and will do his best for our country and our planet.
Congratulations and best wishes to Barack Obama and to the American electorate. And thanks for the gift of renewed hope, for myself, my family, and my many young and old friends alike.
• Bruce Fehring, Kilauea
Soldiers here wanted change
I have to say old, tired, “Doc” Smith has to stop being so negative (“Glad I’m old,” Letters, Nov. 6).
Today’s young people did not elect Barack Obama, a majority of Americans did. People were afraid of desegregation, womens rights. and interacial marriage, yet the world is still here spinning along.
We voted for change.
I am here in Iraq, with the 25th Infantry; we stayed up late to watch even though it was a long day. We cheered and were glad to see Obama win. The majority of soldiers here have seen enough greed, mismanagement and double-talk to know change is needed to keep America strong. So Doc stop being so negative, maybe go talk to a Hawaiian, they’ve seen some changes and learned to deal with it. As for our young people, especially my daughters, nieces, nephews and ‘ohana, I wish them the best future possible. That’s why we voted Obama.
Oh, and we have nothing but great hopes for Mr. Carvahlo and the new council to bring change at the county level.
Lower land taxes, bettter parks, schools ….
Just a few suggestions. With aloha from the desert.
• David Denson, Hanalei
Put away fears and mistrust
On election night, I was very excited to see how many people supported our new President-elect Barack Obama. Not only were his supporters from the United States but from around the world. I am excited to have such an intelligent and energetic man lead us. I believe that he will make wise and thoughtful decisions. Decisions that will benefit us all. I was very sad today when I saw a new text message that is being forwarded to people. The message states “All white people must report to the cotton fields at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning for orientation.”
I want to respond to everyone forwarding this message. If we have learned anything from history, it needs to be that we cannot afford to spread hate and fear. Now is the time to unite not separate. This country has many problems and it is going to take each of us, working together, to solve them.
The spreading of racist messages will not improve anyone’s life. I hope that we can all put aside the fears and mistrust we may have learned and support the man who we, as a country, elected to lead us into a new and better future.
• Giugi Quinn, Lihu‘e
Yes, we can
I am so glad I’m 78 years young. I suffer from glowing good health, have no chronic aches or pains or ailments, take no drugs.
Am I bragging? Perhaps.
But the point is: I’m looking forward to staying that way and helping this incredible bunch of brilliant Americans … young humans, old humans, rich humans, poor humans, brown humans, black humans, white humans, all humans … work to get this country and the world back on track. Back on the path to peace. We can do it.
• Bettejo Dux, Kalaheo
Lost hope
In my humble opinion, this is a sad day for our country. In his acceptance speech before hundreds of thousands of “worshippers” President Obama felt the need to state the obvious — that he was everybody’s president — even those who voted against him as if that were some sort of crime. He spent much time talking about the civil rights movement and how much the blacks have suffered in America. No doubt we can expect much more affirmative action initiatives.
I wonder if his wife, Michelle, will now say that for the second time she is proud to be an American — since she stated that his nomination was the first time. Pride in America, for some, seems to be racist. This whole election seems to have been about a politically correct national guilt trip atoning for slavery that ended well before any of the current claimants were born. I sure wish that all the ensuing media coverage had not stressed the race issue so much and spent more time talking about what a great president he will make. I hate to think about the racist overtones if McCain had won.
On the local scene, the election of Derek Kawakami of the Big Save markets to the council will ensure that there will never be any more competition for their hoped for monopoly. Big Save was the prime mover behind the so-called big-box law which blocked Wal-Mart from opening a discount food department. Now, all the council needs to do is find a way to get rid of the rest of the interlopers such as Costco, Star, Safeway and Foodland. Oh, and sink the Superferry, of course.
And secrecy remains supreme in our county government. The Kauai County Charter had stricter sunshine rules than the state Sunshine Law. It has now been dumped in favor of the laxer state law. Soon the council meetings are apt to be in closed session with occasional open session periods to announce their decisions.
Our country and our county will survive. I do have some concern for my grandchildren and great grandchildren (if and when).
• Stan Godes, Hanalei
