• Ric Cox impacted many lives for the better • Domestic terrorism is a problem Ric Cox impacted many lives for the better I write today with a heavy heart, to share the news that Ric Cox of Aloha Angels
• Ric Cox impacted many lives for the better • Domestic terrorism is a problem
Ric Cox impacted many lives for the better
I write today with a heavy heart, to share the news that Ric Cox of Aloha Angels unexpectedly passed away last Thursday night.
Many of you know Ric because of his good work at Aloha Angels and for his passionate dedication to our keiki here on Kauai. Others may simply recognize him as the upbeat guy who always donned a halo and wings at Chamber events — a sure sign of his focus and creativity where Aloha Angels was concerned, as well as his good-natured sense of humor.
The impact Ric has had on our community, especially our students and teachers, is enormous. Since the founding of Aloha Angels in April 2015, Ric helped to raise over $1 million for Kauai teachers and students. According to its Facebook page, “those funds have been used to: buy computers, train teachers in technology, buy a new reading curriculum and classroom supplies, and pay for field trips.”
Ric once shared with me that he never received a salary for his more-than-full-time effort at Aloha Angels. Instead, he was motivated by his desire to improve the educational experience for our keiki and to help provide teachers with the tools and supplies they needed to succeed at their jobs. He wanted to ensure that every dollar raised went directly to support teachers and their students.
Ric will be missed by everyone who knew him and by those whose lives he impacted for the better.
Please join me in offering up your thoughts and prayers to Ric’s family and friends.
With sincere condolences to the family.
Mark Perriello, president, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce
Domestic terrorism is a problem
Mr. Yoder, you’re still wrong (TGI, March 29, letter to the editor). Terrorism isn’t defined as an act against a government. TheRepublican Party needs to limit it to some “anti-government” act is a transparent expedient — you need Islam to be theboogeyman. Thus, you have to focus on something that people claiming to be Islamic are doing, to the exclusion ofeverything else. It isn’t right. The incidents you mentioned, and the many other acts of a similar nature, are acts of domesticterrorism. Call it what it is!
On the same day that the recent London attack took place, a white supremacist from Baltimore took a bus to New York Citywith the express intent to kill black men. He killed one, who did absolutely nothing to him. This was an act of domesticterrorism.
Your argument about such acts not being “terrorism” because they aren’t “anti-government” isn’t even correct. Public safety isa primary function of our government, regardless of what the NRA tells you. If people commit acts of this nature, which shakethe public’s trust in maintaining a safe society, it’s most certainly a direct attack on the government. So even by yourdefinition, it’s terrorism.
It’s obvious why people don’t want to refer to domestic terrorism as such. Just look at the people who routinely carry out suchacts. In the last eight years, there was no radical Islamic terrorist attack on U.S. soil. None. Osama bin Laden was also broughtto justice. We’ve had numerous acts of domestic terrorism, however. Priorities?
Michael Mann, Lihue
