• Don’t put up another public roadblock • We are better than this • Kilauea Cafeteria Christianity Don’t put up another public roadblock The letter of Alfred Laureta (“Let the people decide intelligently,” Letters, Feb. 3) is critical of my appeal for our
• Don’t put up another public roadblock • We are better than this • Kilauea Cafeteria Christianity
Don’t put up another public roadblock
The letter of Alfred Laureta (“Let the people decide intelligently,” Letters, Feb. 3) is critical of my appeal for our Charter Review Commission to place the county-manager option before the voters in the 2010 election.
Laureta states, “The fallacy of the argument lies in the fact that no poll has been taken supporting her conclusion that ‘the will of the people’ is what she says it is.” I never said what “the will of the people” was. That is what the vote on the issue will determine. I made no pseudo or false claims.
He is asserting it is a fallacy to place a question on the 2010 ballot without conducting a poll first. A privately conducted poll is not required for a question to be placed on the public ballot. Allowing the voters to choose yes or no on a ballot question is, in actuality, a poll that occurs using the public polling booth. Unlike the usual scientific poll, the majority vote has the force of law.
Laureta is selectively calling for conducting a poll before placing the question on the ballot only for the specific issue of whether a county manager form of government is worthy of consideration.
Should his new “poll barrier” be erected for all ballot questions, or just those that certain people do not like? For instance, the question to extend our council members’ two-year to a four-year term has been placed on the public ballot multiple times without a prior poll each time. Questions have been placed upon the ballot for years without requiring a scientific, statistically reliable poll.
Conducting a reliable poll before a question can be placed on the ballot for a vote would be expensive, time consuming, and obstructionist. The public needs less, not more, roadblocks to participation in deciding how they are governed.
I am not advocating whether I am for or against a mayor versus council manager government for our county. Let voters decide in the 2010 election. Put the question on the ballot.
Carol Bain, Puhi
We are better than this
It is rather shocking to me that there were 20,000-plus demonstrators against the civil unions bill at our state’s capitol and very few demonstrating against the furloughs that prevent our children from getting a proper education.
It is repulsive that the Catholic bishop of Hawai‘i (who is supposed to be a model of Christian love) and many Catholics support discrimination against gays (“Bishop: OK to discriminate against gays,” The Garden Island, Jan. 14) even when Catholic church teaching is against prejudice of gay people: “Mindful of the inherent and abiding dignity of every human person.”
The Catholic bishops reaffirm that “homosexual persons, like everyone else, should not suffer from prejudice … They have a right to respect, friendship and justice.” (Human Sexuality, #55; To Live in Christ Jesus, #52). The catechism of the Catholic church goes on to state: “Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard (homosexuals) should be avoided” (#2358).
It is jaw-dropping that our House representatives decided to not vote on the civil unions bill even in light of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address where he challenged our elected officials to be instruments of change and not just worry about being re-elected. It is frustrating that so many people erroneously and ignorantly use the Bible to promote their own agendas of hate, prejudice and condemning people when it is a book about faith and love and forgiveness.
We are better than this!
There are so many other issues we should be concerned about and addressing rather than focusing on denying certain people their equal rights that are afforded to all from the U.S. Constitution and the Hawai‘i Constitution.
Michael Kline
Kilauea Cafeteria Christianity
An unfortunate but not new trend is occurring in Christianity and those who claim to represent it.
The Rev. Rudinoff is participating in cafeteria Christianity. Picking what she/he likes in the Holy scriptures and disregarding what she/he doesn’t. Particularly regarding homosexuality and HB444.
The Bible is very clear homosexuality is sinful in God’s eyes, period. The reverend seems to claim that scripture is outdated and in need of “new revelations.” That is far from the truth. Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The scriptures have always had it right. Those who hold to your idea that the church should change with the culture are itchy ear preachers. Saying what pleases man and not God. The word of God has never condoned oppressing women or black people — that was man in his foolishness and his claim to so-called new revelations. Now man wants to do it again and ignore what is spelled out clearly.
To be proud of your denomination’s decision to ordain a gay man is a shameful thing that has done harm to the body of Christ.
Some will incorrectly call this hate speech or intolerance. I just love God and His word more than popularity or compromise.
Pastor Davone Florence Sr., New Beginning Christian Center, Hanama‘ulu
