• Atheism in action • Dangerous
situation • More development doesn’t make it
better • Pollution
Atheism in action
The state Senate recently voted to stop having prayers at their sessions. This is the first time in the history of the United States that any state or federal legislative body has officially decided to stop having prayers at their sessions. They have officially proclaimed that they do not need any help from God.
By the most straightforward definition, this action is atheistic. Amoral means “without morals.” Agnostic means “without knowledge.” Atheist means “without God” or “without belief in God.”
While not all Democratic senators agreed, the Democratic Party must take responsibility for its unprecedented atheistic action. The party has more power here in Hawai‘i than anywhere else, and it is here that they have introduced the first atheistic legislative body in America. The Democratic Party has now boldly become the Party of Atheism.
Some have tried to hide behind legal briefs, but it is sheer nonsense. There is no law against prayer for legislatures. Laws come from legislatures. Until now, all legislatures in U.S. made a practice of opening in prayer. It is not unconstitutional, since the group that wrote the Constitution also made sure to open with prayer over their meetings. Ben Franklin’s words at the Constitutional Convention are very appropriate today:
“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? . . .
I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.”
I believe that God gives us a free choice. If we decide we don’t need his help, he will oblige and give us less of his help. We have many problems in our society. We desperately need more of God’s help and grace, not less of it.
Like it or not, the Hawai‘i State Senate does represent all of us. Like it or not, we will all share in the loss that comes from their foolish course of action. God help us all.
Mark Beeksma, Koloa
Dangerous situation
I encountered a very dangerous and dumb situation today on my way to work.
While driving up hill on Waha Road, Kalaheo, I noticed a truck stopped right in the middle of the two-lane road and another truck had pulled over and one of the drivers had gotten out and was just standing there talking to the other guy with the truck in the middle of the road.
There were two cars ahead of me and we were all waiting at first, thinking well, this guy is going to move now that he’s seen us all sitting in our cars pointing uphill waiting.
He just glanced over at all of us and kept right on talking without making one move back to his car. And the truck that was blocking us all made no moves either. They couldn’t care less about all of us waiting.
Terrible, rude, dangerous, we all honked at them and then only did the truck move on. The man however, did not and started making rude and immature gestures to those of us as we finally were able to continue on up the street, when I looked in my rear view mirror.
If I ever see him again I will take down his license and call the police on him.
Sheila Young, Kalaheo
More development doesn’t make it better
Kaua‘i Lagoons developer seeks OK on plan to “protect endangered birds”. Isn’t that an oxymoron or just moronistic?
Never has development done a thing to protect animals, birds, land or sea. How can you destroy habitat and then say you want to make it better or protect it?
Anyone who thinks Kaua‘i is as much a paradise as it was 30, 40 or 50 years ago, or that nature is better now than it was then, has a warped sense of reality.
More development/population has never made it better. The number one problem in the world is over population; and the ecosystem of Kaua‘i is more vulnerable to the destruction brought about by development than any place else in the U.S.
David Cooper, Lihu‘e
Pollution
I would like to comment on Ali‘ilani Kanui‘s letter of Jan. 24, as I feel there’s a good point.
Have you driven by Wailua shops and smelled the stench coming from the area of Coco Palms? What about trying to enjoy a day at Lydgate Park when the wind is against you? Not to mention the various sewage spills in Kalapaki Bay, Lydgate Park, and elsewhere?
What about the river in Hanalei being so polluted it is dangerous for people to swim in because of all the cesspools leaching untreated waste into it?
We have a serious problem here, and we have a need to know how serious before we turn our island paradise into something tourists would refuse to visit.
After all, that is what our economy has been turned to since the loss of agriculture and the lack of anything else.
Kit Ellison, Kapa‘a
