• Human rights — human dignity • Discuss bill related to charter in open session • Stay home with that attitude Human rights — human dignity During the current joint press conference of President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao,
• Human rights — human dignity •
Discuss bill related to charter in open session •
Stay home with that attitude
Human rights — human dignity
During the current joint press conference of President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, journalists questioned the Chinese president about their practice of human rights. Unfortunately they forgot to ask President Obama about the American practice of human rights.
The Declaration of Human Rights begins by laying down its basic premise that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Perhaps on paper, but not at U.S. airports.
Last week I had to fly to Honolulu. After going through the institutionalized stupidity of removing all footwear including the lightest slippers and tiny moccasins from the feet of toddlers, the passengers were instructed to remove everything from their pockets and put their contents in some plastic bowls. Extra warning was yelled over and over: “Not a single piece of paper may remain in your pocket, but you can hold your paper money in your hands when crossing through the gate detectors.”
Reluctantly though, I obeyed. Regardless of my clean passage I had to hand over my money to the TSA officer for visual inspection. In the meantime someone — either a passenger or a TSA officer — took and kept my loose change and one of my picture ID cards from the plastic bowl, which I noticed only after getting to the gate. When I went back, they did not return the change, only the picture ID.
It is not about the 2 or 3 dollars in change that someone took, but about this American nonsense. The footwear and the papers.
When coming back from China, from Australia, or from Germany I never had to take off my shoes before boarding the plane to the U.S. and I never had to remove papers or credit cards from my pocket. And the American security officials must know and have accepted it, because none of the arriving passengers were re-screened at the U.S. port of entry. And if they did not know it, their intelligence service is not worth a penny.
Don’t tell me that American scientists and inventors, who stand out in the world, could not yet invent an equipment that can scan your shoes and slippers on your feet too, like in other countries? Give me a break! And don’t tell me that removing papers from my pocket and inspecting paper money visually is for my security. If the equipment that has been used for the past 9 years suddenly can no longer “see through” a few pieces of paper in your pocket, it belongs to the junkyard.
No, it is not about your safety and security. It is about controlling you. It’s not about the TSA officers, who just follow orders. It is about their control-freak top level policy makers who enjoy subjecting you to humiliation and depriving you of your human dignity. Their place is in an asylum, not in the White House. Americans, when will you say, “It’s enough”?
János Keoni Samu, Kalaheo
Discuss bill related to charter in open session
In 2008 the voters of Kaua‘i passed a County Charter amendment to require compliance with the County General Plan in the issuance of building permits for transient vacation accommodations, and placing responsibility for permits with the County Council.
At that time Kaipo Asing was mayor and was against the measure being on the ballot.
The County Council that was elected that year did nothing for two years to implement the new charter amendment.
The last day of that council’s term, led by Kaipo Asing, Bill No. 2386, amending Chapter 8 of the County Code, was presented to the council who forwarded it to the Planning Commission for review.
This ordinance is 10 pages long, dealing with zoning permits, use permits, subdivision approvals, and variance permits. The language in the bill opens up exemptions and actions by the Planning Department which could totally violate the charter amendment that we passed in 2008.
The charter amendment states in section “C” what is required to implement it. A simple ordinance relating to Charter section 3.19 delegating responsibility back to the Planning Department, requiring compliance with the General Plan, would implement the Charter Amendment that was passed by a two-to-one margin.
The commission will meet Feb. 8 to discuss Bill 2386, and a notice is out for an “executive session” to discuss legal issues relating to implementing the charter amendment.
This should be discussed in open session, not executive session, unless of course their agenda is to find a way to circumvent the amendment as passed.
If you are concerned about lack of transparency and the effects this ordinance may have, contact your County Council members who will eventually decide how and if your County Charter is complied with.
Rich Hoeppner, Wailua
Stay home with that attitude
In response to the “I will never return to Kaua‘i” letter by Jay Roger…
You came to Kaua‘i from California to vacation, (I’m pretty sure I’m safe to say the following) to get away from heavy traffic, and to rest and relax.
Then, why were you speeding on the highway here on Kaua‘i?
I believe that anywhere you go and speed, you surely will get a ticket.
So, does that mean you won’t be returning there, too?
Gee, with that kind of attitude you have you just as well stay home.
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
