• Respect da stop sign • What’s really bringing America down? • ‘The Trumpet Man’ graduates college • Fireplace smoke does cause health problems Respect da stop sign I watch daily as many persons pay little or no attention to
• Respect da stop sign • What’s really bringing America down? • ‘The Trumpet Man’ graduates college • Fireplace smoke does cause health problems
Respect da stop sign
I watch daily as many persons pay little or no attention to the stop signs in Koloa and generally on Kaua‘i; it is as if there is a sense of entitlement for locals to ignore the signs, and pass right through them without stopping or even slowing down.
I watched Saturday morning as a pickup truck ran the stop sign on Koloa as a car pulled onto Koloa from Weliweli. That near-miss would have been extremely damaging to the driver of the car as they would have been broadsided.
While we may want independence from the Mainland, the island laws apply to everyone. As Iz said in his song, respect for one another — especially how we want others to look at us.
Skip Wilson, Koloa
What’s really bringing America down?
As usual, some of the “haves” can’t comprehend the ongoing struggle the “have nots” deal with 24/7/365. On May 20, Steve Schibye complained same-sex marriage issues were stealing our attention away from addressing our lousy economy, lack of jobs, etc., etc. To quote him, “Addressing same-sex marriage as an issue, rather than dealing with what is really bringing our country down, is an insult to the American citizen.”
Which American citizen? Steve’s kind of American citizen? Most American citizens? Aren’t equal rights for all what’s really at stake here? If we all can’t get a fair shake, then what’s the point of trying to accomplish the American dream? Or is it only a dream?
I doubt Steve, or people who think like him, appreciate what it’s like to be a woman, a black person, a gay person or an immigrant in Sheriff Arpaio’s Arizona. Except for women, most people like Steve don’t personally know a soul he’s complaining about. But I bet people like Steve know what America should look like. One nation, (all Christian of course) under God, etc., etc.
What’s really bringing down America are some of its wealthiest hypocrites who identify themselves as Christians, using people up then spiting them out and calling it American capitalism. Until we get our house in order, we can’t really begin to resolve the issues that are stifling our country’s future.
Then we had our daily dose of “Kimo” who thinks Obama went too far by announcing his empathy for gays wishing to wed. He thinks Obama will surely lose the election because most Americans don’t feel as he does about our gay people. Don’t worry, Kimo. Some Republicans won’t need another excuse. They’re going to continue being disrespectful obstructionists while Democrats eventually find their backbone to fight back. So will some Republicans and Independents too.
I believe America will instinctively vote for the right person and party. A majority will vote for the person who shares their vision of equal rights for all Americans, not just a chosen few. Most of the gay community and women of America are smart enough to figure out who it is before it’s too late. All they’ll need to learn is who will set them back at least 70 years. They’ll find out who’s behind all these new laws to obliterate women’s health services and facilities, discard gays like the plague and pee on the poor. Yup, they’ll figure out it’s a few of those darn Republican Christians, not the other Christians.
Vince Cosner, Lihu‘e
‘The Trumpet Man’ graduates college
Kaua‘i born and 2009 Kaua‘i High School graduate Donny “the Trumpet Man” Albrecht graduated in three years from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., on Saturday, May 12, with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. This fall, he will attend the University of North Texas outside of Dallas, Texas, for his master’s degree in Jazz Studies.
Mahalo to our Kaua‘i ‘ohana for the love and support!
Donald “Donny” Albrecht, Bellville, Texas
Fireplace smoke does cause health problems
This letter is in regard to Russell Boyer dated May 23. Wood-burning fireplaces in subdivisions do cause health risks! Our grandson was sent to Kapiolani twice by air ambulance and had chest surgery due partially to wood- burning fireplaces. My husband and I have been to the ER 5 times since November 2011 for breathing problems due to wood-burning fireplaces.
We live in a subdivision in which the fireplace next door to us burns into our house even with our windows and doors all closed and two air purifiers on. Plus our other neighbor, who is expecting a baby, had positive carbon monoxide levels in her bloodstream, as well as myself.
Neighborhoods in which houses are so close together should have wood-burning fireplaces banned! There are alternatives such as a gas fireplace that doesn’t emit so much stink.
How would you like living next door to a place that smells like a beach barbecue 24-7? I don’t think you would be very happy or physically well!
Lori MacDonald, Kapa‘a
