• Help suffering patients by allowing a painless death • Hunting for an ‘island beater’ that still works • Driving is a privilege, but speeding is not a right • No excuse for Kaumakani church break-in Help suffering patients by
• Help suffering patients by allowing a painless death
• Hunting for an ‘island beater’ that still works
• Driving is a privilege, but speeding is not a right
• No excuse for Kaumakani church break-in
Help suffering patients by allowing a painless death
The letter of Dr. Bentz on physician-assisted death (“Say no to assisted suicide,” Letters, Feb. 3) fails to emphasize the most important point in the whole issue: The patient got what he wanted, a painless death.
The doctor did not get what he (the doctor) wanted, to keep his patient alive. If the purpose of the Oregon law is to help suffering patients, it obviously worked perfectly, as it has for the many years it has been in effect.
I am 88 years old and wish I could look forward to a painless death, physician-assisted if necessary.
I strongly support physician-
assisted death.
• Eleanora K. Dalton, Lihu‘e
Hunting for an ‘island beater’ that still works
I have been scanning The Garden Island and Internet classifieds for a used vehicle the last six months. With a limited budget of under $900, there are many vehicles that come up under the term “island beater.”
What is an “island beater?” When a seller says they owned the car seven years and has never had a problem, I think the odds are about prime for a major problem since the car has over 175,000 miles on it, usually the radio and A.C. do not work, a window or two is off track, some of the doors will not open from the outside, a seatbelt or two is missing, and there is a screeching sound, but they say don’t worry.
There is a lot of rust and usually not very cosmetically maintained. They will say you can see fine through the crack in the windshield. They will say my mechanic will get it through the inspection, don’t worry; that the brakes are pumped full of air and the speedometer and gas gauge are not working along with a “check engine” light that is covered with a bandage.
Does one really want to invest, or should I say gamble, $900 into an island beater? Sure you may find one that runs and gives you little or no problems, but your odds of winning the jackpot in Las Vegas are just as good as finding a decent, reliable island beater.
Besides, gambling is illegal in Hawai‘i anyway.
•James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Driving is a privilege, but speeding is not a right
When one receives a driver’s license, they need to remember that it is a given privilege to drive on our state highway and county streets. We have far too many speeders on our highway and streets driving like maniacs.
The other day, while driving through Kalaheo heading west on Kaumualii Highway, I came to a stop at the traffic lights near the Kujo’s Minimart.
Myself and everyone who was waiting for our turn all saw and heard a pickup truck coming out of the street behind the now-out-of-business Camphouse Grill, rev his engine and burn rubber out of that intersection.
The vehicle went out of control and barely hit a Dodge Neon in the turning lane of Kaumualii Highway waiting to make a left turn there.
People who get caught driving speedy and reckless should have their license suspended, pay a steep fine, and spend some time in jail on their first offense.
Maybe once is enough to teach these speeders and idiots that their driving privilege can be taken away in a heartbeat.
I know this has been said over many times. Let this be another reminder: Speeding and racing on our highway and streets is like carrying a loaded gun. It will someday take your and someone’s life. Don’t let it end with you!
• Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
No excuse for Kaumakani church break-in
It is quite disturbing to read that some person(s) are capable of breaking in and stealing from a church (“Kauamakani church suffers third break-in,” The Garden Island, Feb. 8).
I’m assuming that those responsible are on drugs, because what other excuse would they have for breaking into places that serves no other purpose but to serve the community by helping others?
Thieves breaking in to the Kaua‘i Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Island School and now Kaumakani Church just goes to prove that whoever is doing this has no conscience and would not hesitate to commit even bigger crimes.
Kaua‘i is a small island and I’m sure someone knows who is doing this. So now would be the time to step up and help the community by identifying these criminals and help make Kaua‘i a safer place.
And to whoever is doing this, I hope you realize that God doesn’t sleep. Remember, what goes around comes around.
•Francine M. Grace, Hilo
