• The sky is not falling
• A word to clarify
• Vote for wind power
• Take it to the polls
The sky is not falling
The front page article in The Garden Island on March 24 entitled “Hundreds rally against civil unions” is a stinging and sad statement on where we are, or are not, as a people.
For parents to “use” their children as pawns to hide behind their own ignorance or bolster their own lack of understanding for tolerance and equal rights for all citizens is ridiculous.
Unless we are careful to teach acceptance of everyone and to educate our children with facts instead of fear, we will continue the “tradition” of institutionalizing prejudice towards anyone or any class of people that are deemed “not like us.”
Further, the group spokesman quoted in the article goes on say he fears the state Board of Education will be forced to add same-sex education to its curriculum. I am not sure what he fears or what the real concern is.
It seems that this is simply another area of ignorance fueled by misinformation and a general misunderstanding of the nature of human development and gender issues. No one ever asked to be brought into this world, straight or gay; no one ever decides to be so either. It is the way it is.
Look honestly at your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors and accept that we are all different and yet we are all the same, human beings. This is a fact of life and not a matter of choice.
Any time in our history that we have faced righting the wrongs of civil rights inequalities (and yes, this is a civil rights issue), either the “vocal” majority, their moral issues, religious beliefs or hysteria have fueled panic, misunderstanding, discrimination, bigotry and hatred for what is different from “me.”
The best antidote to prejudice is reality. The sky is not falling, our keiki will not be “recruited” and traditional marriages will not be undermined. All people will simply be legally accepted and provided equal treatment under the law.
Recently, I read with stunning clarity, a position by the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court on another legislative issue (stating applicable constitutional principles) that speaks volumes on this issue as well — “That our Constitution prohibits laws which provide disparate treatment intended to favor a specific individual, class or entity or to discriminate against a specific individual, class or entity is a fundamental principle of the democratic nature of government; equal rights and treatment for all persons under the law.”
Jeff Demma, Wailua Homesteads
A word to clarify
In her letter of March 12, Hanaleiwahine wrote, “The part I find so interesting about public versus private is that all the teachers in public schools have background checks, but in private schools the lack of background checks is a luxury.”
This simply is not the case. Just as is done in the DOE, at Island School every teacher’s educational training and experience related to the position for which each applied are examined with great care. Further, references are called and checks for criminal records are made on each applicant who is offered a position.
The result is that we have teachers who are highly qualified for the positions they hold, and once aboard these professionals are held accountable for the services they provide.
Robert Springer, Head of Island School
Vote for wind power
Before you vote for the KIUC board members, find out which candidate is for wind power and I don’t mean these little wind mills in peoples’ backyards.
I am talking about the big ones that range for 1 to 3 megawatts and up per unit. Power that is from the free wind 24 hours a day, no trees, no fossil fuels required.
Solar is good during the day and if you are going to back it up with batteries at home. If you will be using KIUC at night as a battery then you will be saving very little money in your private residence. You will still be billed for your power usage.
Unless you are in the 3.5 percent of members that got in early with solar and that includes some of our present board members where KIUC buys surplus power from them and they have no KIUC bills.
If everyone were to try to sell surplus back to KIUC who is going to pay for the wires to your house and the power plant that feeds the wires at night? The poor people and renters, of course, and that’s not fair, is it?
So let’s see which one of the board members running believes in wind power, then maybe make your choices and we might have a chance at progress.
As it stands now, KIUC is too slow in acting on our behalf. Now they even want a rate hike.
Hans Hellriegel, Kapa’a
Take it to the polls
Sen. Hooser’s opinion and the survey on civil unions in this past Saturday’s front page story entitled “Hooser to move civil union bill forward” is one of the worst misrepresentations of the people of Kaua‘i I have seen.
The majority of the people of Kaua‘i do not favor civil unions. Just check the last formal vote when over 70 percent of the people of Hawai‘i said “no” to civil unions and “yes” to keeping traditional marriages between a man and a woman as our way of life.
Let’s be realistic and fair to all involved and take it to the polls again.
Matt Higa, Kapa‘a
