Letters for Thursday, February 26, 2009

• Prevent future mistakes

• Another side to the story

• Fight discrimination

• Cock-a-doodle-doo

Prevent future mistakes

I want to commend the Carvalho administration and the County Council for their attention to the flooding of the Po‘ipu Beach parking lot.

I have been complaining about this problem for the last four years and nothing was ever done. The recent prompt and concerned response was very refreshing.

I do not know the answer to this costly problem. However, I would encourage the mayor and the council to find out why someone was allowed to build a parking lot with no means of draining on that site. It won’t solve the problem but, hopefully, it will prevent the county from having to deal with the same expensive mistake in the future.

Linda Estes, Koloa

Another side to the story

In response to the “Shame the Vandals” letter Feb. 19, the point on seeking attention is true. But graffiti to some people is a form of art.

Should those people have done what they have done, no. But why isn’t there some alternative for them, instead having only having punishment?

Graffiti will always be here no matter what you think. In Venice Beach there is a wall that people are allowed to graffiti without prosecution from the law and harassment from the law.

Our society has  turned to law and punishment instead of alternatives to letting people express themselves. Open up your mind and look at alternatives before trying to “shame” people.

And you want to hold the family financially responsible. What if they have to work two or three jobs to support their children and can’t always be there to supervise?

There is always another side to a story.

Kyle Swigart, Kapa‘a

Fight discrimination

This year, the Oscars sent a very clear message: that the era of playing it safe politically is over.

As we looked at awards going to subject matters, people, directors and actors of persuasions other than the status quo, we were uplifted.

What was the theme of the Oscars this year? If you didn’t catch it, it was in a word “discrimination.”

In all of its forms and manifestations. Were people rewarded for presenting discrimination in all of its shades of white and black, gray and shadow? Yes. Did the show itself reflect this theme? Most definitely.

From the remarkable acceptance speeches daring America to stop thinking in archaic, discriminatory manners, to the lively dances of India and Bollywood, the drums of Africa, and British accents threaded throughout our American Academy Awards, with many other documentary and short films winning for similar subject matter.

Was I moved? Certainly. Do I believe for one minute that discrimination is over now that we have celebrated our triumph over it in the movies? Certainly not.

We have come a long way, but the road still has some major potholes in it. So, like the Oscar winners, I will state that now maybe we can prevent discrimination from occurring in our towns and islands and our beloved state, since we are able to accept it when we go to the movies we should be able to accept it within our laws.

Anne Punohu, Kalaheo

Cock-a-doodle-doo

I believe it was Hamlet who speaketh “To eradicate the chicken or not to eradicate the chicken, that is the question.”

(Perhaps he did not.) Anyway, isn’t it a valid question, worthy of debate?

There are piecemeal solutions: with a humane rooster trap, an area can eventually be cleared of chickens (if emptying your trap of doves and java sparrows doesn’t wear you down).

But once a void in a biosphere occurs, roosters and their harems would consider such an area as prime real estate and migrate to it. There are businesses that have come into being to rid us of noisy, disease carrying, environmentally degrading, noisy, noisy roosters. But unless the county organizes an island-wide eradication program, the rooster will rule.

Now I realize there are some rooster positives as well: fertilized, free-range, organic eggs without growth hormones and other potentially harmful chemicals; a source of organic meat without much fat (a bit thinner than the Costco chicken-on-a-spit); a natural and, for some, a pleasant wake-up call; and for those who are inclined, an outlet to satisfy one’s bloodlust and betting on the outcome of the illicit cockfight.

Most people would not much mind if the roosters disappeared; as a matter of fact, block parties would erupt in celebration. Stamp out the tyrannical rooster! Perhaps then we can enjoy a good night’s sleep.

But the other day, coming home from Big Save, I stopped in time — as did the large-tired truck coming toward me — to allow a clucking hen and a dozen chicks to pass.

Charles Cushman, Koloa