• Conscience, courage and community • Mahalo for volunteering • State lottery, yes; casino gambling, no. Conscience, courage and community “We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but
• Conscience, courage and community • Mahalo for volunteering • State lottery, yes; casino gambling, no.
Conscience, courage and community
“We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.” Thoughtful words for tough times and words we can and should take to heart.
In revisiting the words of Abraham Lincoln and recalling the efforts of previous Presidents from both parties to make healthcare available to all, President Obama’s address Saturday morning to the Democratic caucus of Congress was an eloquent call to conscience. I felt as if he were talking to us Democrats here in Hawai‘i. This President understands what it means to win but he is not willing to sacrifice integrity to “success.” He believes, as we all should, that good policy ultimately makes good politics though it might call for tough choices in the near term.
We are far removed from the nation’s capital, but never closer to the Presidency with a Hawaii-born President who reflects by instinct, by faith and by practice, the early shaping of his character and values here in Hawai‘i.
The President was talking specifically about the historic healthcare bill. But he might just as well have been talking about all the challenges we are facing here in Hawai‘i. We, more than any other place in the country, should be able to address those challenges in a just and effective way by drawing on the strengths of the host culture that have helped shape us and produced the kind of community we are privileged to have.
People are hurting more than ever. Our children who need all the education and training they can get to prepare them for the future are shamefully being kept out of school because we cannot seem to rise above our immediate self-interest to serve the interests of those who elected us. A major public works project-rail-that brings with it the promise of thousands of jobs and a boost to the economy like no other project on the horizon does-is being hobbled by last minute second-guessing and the paralysis of perpetual skepticism from some quarters. Equal rights for all-a concept so fundamentally American and that we try to export to the world-is being jeopardized by religious zealotry and needless fear of the gay community on the grounds of their sexuality. In the name of so-called debate, the airwaves are filled too often with the mindless repetition of lies about public policy advanced by those who would fight reform at any cost, even at the cost of their own integrity and service to their constituents.
With Sunday’s vote, 32 million more Americans will get what all Americans deserve: long overdue basic healthcare services that should be their right in a society as developed as ours. But in the days that follow, what is equally urgent is that we continue to follow the call of conscience and place being true above “winning.” In so doing, in making the greater good more important than individual interest, in being one of the voices that make the difference, we as a community stand our best chance of truly succeeding.
State Sen. Gary Hooser, Lieutenant governor candidate
Mahalo for volunteering
I would like to thank The Garden Island Publisher Randy Kozerski for volunteering, at the paper’s expense, to carry on their Web site streaming video of the Kaua‘i County Council’s departmental budget review sessions next month. This is generous and commendable.
Apparently the County Council is having trouble approving the $17,000 to pay Ho‘ike to do this. I know where they can find it, though, “The mayor and his 30 department heads and top deputies — scheduled pay raises for Dec. 1, 2010, which was tentatively approved last fall by the council.” Just one or two of those “automatic” pay raises, in a time of falling property values, will cover this — right on the money.
It is also commendable that a council member would be concerned about the county’s fiscal situation to say, “I am trying to run a fiscally responsible and efficient government operation here on Kaua‘i.” So… what do the mayor, all of his staff, and the rest of the council do?
I was dismayed, though, that a council member would berate a magnanimous local newspaper because council has never seen fit to have video coverage of these types of departmental budget review proceedings in the past. There’s always a first, you know.
Well, anyway, I for one would like to thank the local newspaper for doing a great and generous job. From Mr. Kozerski to Nathan Eagle’s editing, to Michael Levine’s detailed and pain-stakingly accurate reporting, to Coco Zickos’ fearless reporting, and whoever else keeps them running. They put out a product every bit equal to any other paper in the land.
Brad Parsons, Hanalei
State lottery, yes; casino gambling, no.
A state lottery instead of additional taxes would give us a little fun for our money. The amount wagered could be limited to five dollars per purchase. Nobody would get hurt. It would be available to residents and visitors alike so there would be no law enforcement problem to deal with.
The infrastructure changes required for casino gambling would drastically change the culture of the islands. This is change that I don’t believe most of us want.. For most of us, getting off the islands with a trip to Las Vegas is a lot of fun. There is good food, exciting shows and attractions like Hoover Dam to be experienced. You don’t have to gamble to enjoy the mainland experience of Los Vegas.
Let’s keep Hawai‘i the unique experience that it is for our visitors.
There is no place like Hawai‘i, that’s the secret of our success.
Let’s keep it that way for as long as we can.
Harry Boranian, Lihu‘e
