• Spirit of Kaua‘i alive • Kaua‘i, what is going on? • Dissidents protect freedom of speech • Airline realities Spirit of Kaua‘i alive On Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m., a handicapped person was attempting to cross the street
• Spirit of Kaua‘i alive
• Kaua‘i, what is going on?
• Dissidents protect freedom of speech
• Airline realities
Spirit of Kaua‘i alive
On Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m., a handicapped person was attempting to cross the street between Wilcox Memorial Hospital and the Fish Express. Cars were dodging her as she was having difficulty walking with a cane and her bag of groceries to move it to the other side.
A concernedfemale motorist heading southbound stopped her gray Jeep, put on her flashers, and ran to assist the handicapped person.
The traffic stopped to let them safely cross the road. Although the handicapped person was not in the crosswalk, it was evident that she could have been seriously hurt or even worse.
Too often we hear of terrible accidents but what about the concerned motorist (guardian angel) who took the time to show that the spirit of aloha still exists on Kaua‘i?
Mahalo to the concerned motorist.
Russell Onuma
Lihu‘e
Kaua‘i, what is going on?
To the County Council, Mayor Bryan Baptiste, Chief Darryl Perry and the Kaua‘i Police Department:
While this island is still considered a part of America, we citizens have the right to freedom of speech, to peaceably gather and air our grievances.
During the August Superferry protests, there was not one act of violence by the citizens gathered nor any weapons found on the citizens. The only weapons and aggression was found on police, U.S. Coast Guard and SWAT teams. Now they want more weapons to put down the “violent” people of Kaua‘i.
I witnessed two vehicles — a police car and a ferry passenger car — try to run over people in the crowd. The citizens banged on the car with their hands and let air out of the tires to try to get the driver to stop, as the crowd was too dense for people to get out of the way. The media spun this five-minute event over and over as evidence of the “violence” of the crowd.
The only violence I witnessed was from the Coast Guard, police and SWAT teams as they proceeded to “protect” not the citizens but yet another big corporation that wants to come here and wreck this island for the almighty bottom line.
We do not need Tasers on Kaua‘i. And if the police need to “protect” themselves from the shouts of the people, they only need earplugs, not shields.
There are no bombs or bullets here, only unhappy people who are tired of being lied to and not listened to. Money for Tasers and for our “brave” officers or money to fix the roads. I ask you, Kaua‘i, what is going on?
Elizabeth Diamond
Wailua
Dissidents protect freedom of speech
If Bob Yount (“Teens fight wars,” Letters, April 6) and his allies are committed to free speech, I ask that they support the efforts of those of us who are working to gain equal access to the public schools to present students with an alternate view of war and militarism.
The military recruiters have access.
We would like equal access. That way, students — no matter what their ages — can weigh both points of view and make informed decisions about their futures.
Yount credits the military with the protection of our freedom of speech in the United States. I have heard this argument ad nauseum since the beginning of the war in Iraq, most often from pro-war passersby while I engage in anti-war activities. The argument seems to suggest “the war is being fought to protect your freedom of speech, so shut up.”
Let’s be clear: Freedom of speech is strengthened and protected by outspoken dissidents. Every time a citizen stands up and hollers about the problems facing society, be it war and militarism, low wages, lack of health care, racism, sexism or anything else that has a boot heel on the necks of the powerless, free speech is protected.
Every time a citizen risks getting clubbed in the head by putting her body on the line in an act of civil disobedience, the fight for freedom moves forward.
The United States, and indeed the world, is fortunate to have people who are willing to protect our freedoms everyday by saying the unpopular things that challenge the status quo and the interests of the rich and powerful.
Katy Rose
Hanalei
Airline realities
Replying to Howard Tolbe’s letter to the editor (“Why the jobs were lost,” Letters, April 6) expressing his pleasure that go! has replaced Aloha:
As he and his fellow passengers are searching for an alternate flight after his go! flight has been cancelled, Tolbe might reflect on the following: In Hawaiian Airlines’ successful lawsuit against go!’s parent Mesa Air Group for predatory pricing, Mesa revealed its intent to drive Aloha from the market, then raise fares to 105 percent of pre-go! entry to the market. Mesa has been losing about $1,000 per flight. Because of that and an abortive attempt to start up Kunpeng Airlines in China, shares of its stock dropped from $14 to $2.
In 2007 Mesa’s pilots bought billboard space in Phoenix, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., to make known Mesa’s near-worst-in-the-industry pay and benifits, low morale and poor maintenance. Almost 50 percent of their pilots quit Mesa last year.
And why must Tolbe contend with a cancellation of his go! flight? Because at Mesa’s regional carrier airlines for Delta, United and US Airways, underbooked flights are cancelled as policy. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Mesa cancels the second highest percentage of its flights among all U.S. carriers.
In its best year, 1999, Aloha earned a 4 percent net profit. Aloha was proud to have one of the highest customer service ratings in the industry.
Kip Goodwin
Kapa‘a
