The Boy Scout phrase”morally straight” does not mean heterosexual. The Boy Scout code, including that phrase, predates the use of the word”straight” to define heterosexuality. Once upon a time, teaching ignorance, bigotry and discrimination would have been in direct opposition
The Boy Scout phrase”morally straight” does not mean heterosexual. The
Boy Scout code, including that phrase, predates the use of the
word”straight” to define heterosexuality.
Once upon a time, teaching
ignorance, bigotry and discrimination would have been in direct opposition to
being”morally straight.” However, the Boy Scouts apparently believe that
maligning a group of people, misrepresenting who and what they are, slandering
them and their intentions, is part of this new morality of theirs.
Fine.
If that’s what they want, so be it. The courts have supported their right to
injustice.
The difference between the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling and
the US Supreme Court ruling is the determination whether or not the Boy Scouts
are a public or private organization. NJ ruled that they were public, the US
sees them as private. It is now up to the taxpayers and our government to make
sure that the BSA really and truly are private. No public, taxpayer funding.
No free or discounted rent for use of schools or other public buildings.
If
the BSA chooses to to teach division, discrimination and exclusion, let them do
it at the expense of those who support such un-American activities. The rest
of us should not be expected to pay for it. Bad enough we have to tolerate
such behavior in our country, but we won’t pay for it.
Ken
Scott
Honolulu
Opposed to heliport
To the Forum:
We are
opposed to the extension of Burns Field as a heliport for the following
reasons:
* The ancient native Hawaiian salt-making ponds and its’
“keepers” will be disturbed by the noise pollution; the salt pans themselves
may be polluted by the dust and debris produced by aircraft.
* The
endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals that frequent the beaches adjacent to Burns
Field may be frightened (away) by the aircraft noise.
* Salt Pond
will be spoiled by noise pollution and be less attractive to our tourists;
also, it remains one of the few safe beaches on Kaua’i, for not only our local
population, but also for our visitor population, including eco-tourists.
(Because of the state of the world, eco-tourism will continue to grow in
importance.)
* Rocky Puolo Point, makai of Burns Field, offers one
of the most breathtaking views of open space that Kaua’i has to offer,
appreciated by Hawaiians for many centuries. Aircraft hangars at Burns Field
would seriously degrade this sweeping view.
The salt pans serve as a
sanctuary for migratory bird species such as the endangered Bristle-thighed
Curlew, as well as our resident water birds (Blacknecked Stilt) and waterfowl
such as Koloa (Hawaiian Duck). This function has been, and would continue to
be, degraded with increasing aircraft activity.
The Bums Field expansion
will inherently come with noise pollution and the hype of the private
enterprise (helicopter business). We want the Salt Pond “sanctuary” and the
coastline adjacent to it preserved for humans and wildlife free from the stress
of that kind of activity.
We call on the Mayor and the planning commission
to seriously consider the environmental impact of the Burns Field expansion and
vote to relocate the heliport to Lihu’e, adjacent to the
airport.
Anita Truso, et. al
‘Ele’ele
