Letter from an enraged librarian I read and watch television coverage of the police expulsion of protesters from Zuccotti Park in New York City. Hearing that most of the books in the Occupy Wall Street library in that park that
Letter from an
enraged librarian
I read and watch television coverage of the police expulsion of protesters from Zuccotti Park in New York City. Hearing that most of the books in the Occupy Wall Street library in that park that were confiscated by the NYPD in their expulsion of protesters had been trashed made this librarian very angry.
Throwing books in the garbage — really? Do the agents of the ruling class believe that destroying the printed documents that gave intellectual support to the people speaking out for the rights and needs of the not 1 percent will squelch their desire to transform the economic and political system that keeps them down? They are wrong in this estimation. The ideas and inspiration in these books cannot be destroyed by brutal, destructive police suppression, violation of citizens’ rights and illegal theft of citizens’ property.
Note to the ruling class: Your fascist efforts to repress the expression of the cries of the common people are not going to work this time. We are hip to your treacherous tricks and we are networked. We will not stop until your strangle hold on the American Dream (and the human dream for freedom and real opportunity for a decent life) and on the vast majority of us is broken. We will claim our fair share of our commonwealth and demand that you pay your fair share in taxes to fund the common good.
Don’t mess with librarians.
David Thorp, Kalaheo
The return of
the ‘aha moku’
There is an ongoing shift by the U.S. Federal Government to establish what is called National Ocean Policy. This concerted effort involves only high-level government representatives, who are tasked to create a regulatory review and statutory process to govern our ocean and great lakes surrounding this nation.
We, as a community, including stakeholders, have a responsibility to take a proactive approach in this process. On Nov. 2 to 4, a puwalu (meeting) sponsored by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council had convened.
From this meeting, segments were video taped to be later processed and shown on Ho‘ike television in the coming weeks. I strongly suggest to Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau residents who enjoy Ho‘ike to spend time viewing the video. It is vital and imperative that you become informed and involved.
Think of it this way: The State of Hawai‘i controls ocean water up to three miles out. The Federal Government controls the next three to 200 miles out. Because the National Planning Council is top heavy with government agency representatives, Hawai‘i’s ocean could become federally regulated and enforced laws by federal statutory rules. In other words, future ocean uses to Hawai‘i’s waterways will fall under federal oversight.
You remember what happened to Kilauea lighthouse? First, they came for the land with promises to continued access; then, the fence; now, “keep out!” Same thing could potentially happen to our beaches and water when the monk seal comes. Auwe! Attend or watch the meetings, learn from them and get involved.
Jimmy Torio, Anahola
Pill mill on Kaua‘i
Wow, of all the articles ever written at The Garden Island, this is one that is truly courageous and a service to us the people of Kaua‘i. No one is standing up for us, challenging the abuse by so-called professionals. Money is their bottom line, our welfare means nothing to them. They hide behind a veil (a license) and when people die, they are never named as the killers. Truth is they are professional killers, protected by a system that is just plain lazy. Politicians could get off their okoles and pass bills that would put in action a monitoring and a cross-check system to shut down this kind of abuse.
We all know of one Westside doctor who ran his own pill mill for years. Everyone knew it: the police, the pharmacies, as well as every drug addict on the island. He was in practice for years and nothing was ever done. God only know how many people lost their lives to this abuse.
People don’t realize what these drugs are worth on the street. A bottle of oxycodone can fetch up to $3,000. People will be lining up at such clinics, not just for their own personal use, but to sell them on the street to our children. Do some doctor shopping and you can fetch up to $10,000 a month. Kaua‘i should be up in arms.
Again, mahalo TGI for taking this on. Let’s all of us keep fighting.
T. McCall, Anahola
