• Buckle up • Consider yourself lucky • God help us • Bring on da lotto • Creating a kinder, gentler nation Buckle up Next year our son should complete his studies and receive a doctorate degree. What do you
• Buckle up • Consider yourself lucky • God help us • Bring on
da lotto • Creating a kinder, gentler nation
Buckle up
Next year our son should complete his studies and receive a doctorate degree. What do you think is the most important life lesson we taught him as a child? Do you think it was to brush his teeth, do his homework or be courteous to others? All important traits to acquire as a young person. No, we honestly believe it was… buckle his seat belt.
Our vehicles never moved until all three of our children were buckled up. Never. The kids knew that. Several years ago our son called his mother at 10 in the morning saying he had rolled his car and totaled it earlier that morning after falling asleep at the wheel while foolishly driving back from an out of town visit to his girlfriend for Valentines Day. Thankfully, no one else was involved. We were all very fortunate that call did not come 6 hours earlier from a hospital administrator informing us of his death. He was buckled up.
Within the last two years we have read about two young men having lost their lives in automobile crashes in Waimea; both victims being ejected from their vehicles. What a tragedy for them and their families. These tragedies could have possibly been avoided if they had been buckled up. We can not emphasis how important as young parents it is to have your children buckle up. Please, if you love your kids and haven’t started this habit today then do so. It might save you from that devastating early morning phone call.
Dale Gearhart, Kalaheo
Consider yourself lucky
“I stand by my artistic expression” letter author Denise Dion- Scoyni, are you listening to yourself?
I quote you, “I recognize that I did not have permission to do so.” Although you meant well with your art work on the public property, without permission it would be the same as a graffiti or tagging.
If you really want to display your expression of grief for our surf champion (Andy Irons), why not build a wooden or cement wall on your front lawn and paint your mural? Then everyone who drives by your house can see and appreciate your art work.
Painting on public property is a crime punishable by law. Consider yourself lucky that you are not serving any jail time.
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
God help us
Another one of our precious children died on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. Another young life cut short, another nail in the heart of our parents and ‘ohana on Kaua‘i.
Friends and family gathered at the site of his passing on Sunday night, and prayers and tears were shared by all.
Many in the gathering had suffered the early losses of their own children and family members. Tears fell on the earth as balloons of love were released to the heavens. We held each other and prayed to God that the senseless passing of our loved ones would end.
We prayed for our children to embrace wise choices in life, to encourage each other in love, and to come together as a community.
We have seen too many of our loved ones pass away before their time. Dear God, please help us to survive another death. Please help us all to make better decisions as we live our lives; and help us to cling to our loved one’s memories — until we meet again.
Aloha ‘oe, aloha ‘oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace,
A ho‘i a‘e au
Until we meet again
Denice Sheffer, Kalaheo
Bring on da lotto
There are currently seven states without a lottery. Those states are Wyoming, Utah, Mississippi, Alaska, Alabama, Hawai‘i and believe it or not Nevada.
With the “Aloha State” on the verge of financial collapse and the newly elected governor finding himself for a lack of funds for everything, why not start a lottery!?
The first recession may be over, but a new one is upon us. A lottery would solve quite a few financial problems.
Of course there are pros and cons to everything, but why not let the people dream of being rich? Every week someone will have the chance of financial freedom, many others will never win, however, giving the people something to dream about while helping the state’s financial crisis seems better than cutting funds to Medicaid, Medicare and taxing everything from soda pop to bubble gum.
I believe everyone would buy lotto tickets, visitors and kama‘aina alike.
It’s time to bring on da lotto!
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Creating a kinder, gentler nation
Civility in politics is the new slogan. It is heard to argue about polite discussion.
The tragedy in Tucson can hardly be blamed of radio commentators. Nobody said “grab a gun and head for the mall.”
Many of the complainers about the lack of civility are the same ones who mercilessly pound President George W. Bush. Everybody should be included in the drove for a kinder and gentler nation.
Suzanne Woodruff, Kapa‘a
