• Kapa‘a High concert exhilarating • Respecting other religions • Bless the Blaich family • Separation of church and state is key Kapa‘a High concert exhilarating Once again the holidays are here and concerts are resounding all over Kaua‘i. We
• Kapa‘a High concert exhilarating • Respecting other religions
• Bless the Blaich family • Separation of church and state is
key
Kapa‘a High concert exhilarating
Once again the holidays are here and concerts are resounding all over Kaua‘i. We are so fortunate to live on this beautiful isle.
I recently attended the Kapa‘a High School’s Christmas concert. Congratulations to Ms. Paleka and all the fine young men and women of the music program. A perfect evening. Wide selection of pieces done with cheerful hearts.
Please support the school music programs of all our schools. It is cut short too many times. I played music all through school and it still brings me joy.
Happy Holidays to one and all.
Mary Genegabuas, Kapa‘a
Respecting other religions
This time of the year I believe we should all heed the advice of 13-year-old Alexander KB Bill, writing in Friday’s Letters when he says “we should respect the religious freedom of others.”
At his age, I was trying to figure out ways for the many different Christian churches to be more cooperative with one another. As he calls himself a “Neo-Pagan” I can see that he would expand my group to include all of the world religions. At 90 years of age, after more than 60 years of ordained ministry I applaud his convictions and recommendations.
In many years of ministry as a volunteer hospital chaplain I have worked successfully with other Christian ministers and priests as well as with rabbis and Buddhist members of the clergy — as brothers and sisters, seeking to do God’s will in visiting and praying for the sick.
As a young man I was unaware of the spiritual teachings of Hawaiian Kahunas who taught of “aloha” as a loving way of interaction with other human beings. These teachings echoed the teaching of Jesus, who also taught us to love one another.
As I read of “the eightfold path” taught by Gautama Buddha- many years before Christ I heard very similar teachings to those I had learned in my Christian Sunday School as a child. Remember that Jesus first learned of love from his Jewish mother and father. The Bahai religious group teaches that there have been many sent by God to teach his word.
I am happy with my own church. I accept Jesus as my Lord and try to follow him the best I can. Yet I believe that there are other paths to God. The ethical teachings of Jesus are rooted in the Jewish faith. There are very similar teachings in Islam, a religion which accepts much of the teachings of Judism and Christianity. I have already mentioned the good teachings found among the Hawaiians of the pre-Christian Hawaiians.
Yes, Alexander, you have spoken well. You have obviously spent time thinking about these issues. And indeed the world would be a much better place if human beings respected the rights of others.
The Rev Malcolm Miner, St. Michael & and All Angels Episcopal Church
Bless the Blaich family
Kaua‘i has lost another “Island Treasure,” Gary Blaich, M.D.
Many friends and relatives gathered Saturday for a final farewell to a very gentle and giving person. Someone who always listened and always had a smile.
You can bet he is amid the angels and saints and is comfortable in his mansion laid in gold, silver and precious jewels. He’ll await there in paradise for his family, friends and those of us who will also exemplify a humble and caring heart.
Much blessings to his ‘ohana.
Marie Torio, Anahola
Separation of church and state is key
I told myself I wouldn’t bite, but here I go.
Mr. Mann, apparently I need to make myself more clear for you. You
say my response was “disingenuous” (not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does).
Sir, I do not believe any church — the one down the road, the one over the hill, the one down town, the one across the water — should be given the power of who should wed and who should not.
I do not belong to any group, church, organization and I am not trying to back any agenda. I believe in the separation of church and state fully. This was and is my opinion and mine alone.
So do not assume that I am no being sincere. I do have family members who are gay and lesbian. I do have friends who are also. Do I love them any less because of it? Of course, I love them.
And sir, your response still did not address my response, just seems like it was a bit ‘disingenuous” and tried to address your agenda again. We all understand you are for civil unions. OK, we get it.
Now please try and have a “open mind” and go back and re-read my original letter that was about “separationism” and “separation of church and state” and loving our friends and family. And again these are my opinions.
Ken Herman, Kapa‘a
