• Not critical of American Christians • Professional search a waste of money • Got to be a better way • A communal education effort Not critical of American Christians Mr. Mark Beeksma (“Understanding Christian beliefs,” Letters, Nov. 28) seems
• Not critical of American Christians • Professional search a
waste of money • Got to be a better way • A communal education
effort
Not critical of American Christians
Mr. Mark Beeksma (“Understanding Christian beliefs,” Letters, Nov. 28) seems to have completely misunderstood my letter.
He says I “should be a bit more understanding of why Christian leaders would not want to sponsor a prayer and worship event that includes the worship of other gods.”
I fully support “Christian leaders” (pastors, priests, ministers) sponsoring prayer and worship events. They are more than welcome to pray all they want, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, if by “Christian leaders,” Mr. Beeksma actually means senators, representatives and the president, then I object. The elected leaders in government are required by the First Amendment to be neutral in religious matters.
The current law (recently declared unconstitutional by a federal court) actually requires the president to proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year. And, as I showed in my previous letter, the NDP is a Christian event that excludes other Americans based purely on religion. That is why it is divisive.
One more thing, Mr. Beeksma, I was not “critical of American Christians.” Regarding your suggestion that I “be a little more appreciative of the fact that the vast majority of those who gave us our freedom of religion were Christians”… you might want to check out the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers.
Brian Christensen, United States Army, Retired, Lihu‘e
Professional search a waste of money
It is my opinion that the use of professional search firms for bureaucratic positions is usually a waste of time and money. They are often proposed when people want to avoid the responsibility of making a controversial decision. If there are four votes there, the Council should dismiss the county clerk, Peter Nakamura, and conduct the search themselves. If not, Mr. Nakamura should be allowed to continue in his employment.
The claim that Mr. Nakamura could apply for the job he now holds if a search firm was retained is an insult not only to him but to the rest of us who see through the subterfuge.
Linda Estes, Koloa
Got to be a better way
After reading this year’s Humane Society stats regarding euthanasia of the greater majority of the island’s animals that end up there, it is evident that a better way needs to be found.
I live in a small, poor county in Northern California, yet we have a no-kill shelter. We have a thrift store that supports trap-neuter-release programs, discounts for low income to get their pets neutered, and feral cat colonies that are fed and medically taken care of through funds from donations, fundraisers, and the thrift store.
I am sure there are many, as in my town, that would donate time and effort to take care of the animals. Trap-neuter-release does work to control over population. Euthanasia is a short term, poor fix for a problem that will keep coming back.
Please go to www.alleycat.org to learn the facts about solutions to this problem that are working in other communities.
In such a beautiful place where whales, birds, and other wildlife are held in high regard, I feel that the time has come for all animals on the island to be taken care of in a more positive way.
Denese Welch, Mt. Shasta, Calif.
A communal education effort
This past weekend, I took a group of 11th grade Kaua‘i High School AVID students to the North Shore in hopes of giving the students a learning experience that extended beyond the classroom.
My students are predominantly college bound after high school but many of them are not set on a college major. As it turns out, this “culture” camp excursion was an amazing way to open the students’ eyes to other forms of professional learning and job opportunities that are relevant to living and working on Kaua‘i.
Our first stop was the Waipa Restoration Project, where Director Stacy Sproat gave the students a tour and brief history of Waipa as well as an overview of the obstacles farmers face with sustainability and combating invasive species.
The students were able to clean and prepare taro, plant taro, and hunt for invasive snails.
We then camped on the Waipa property fronting Hanalei Bay. The next morning, the students engaged in a four-hour Adult CPR Certification Course taught by Aquatic Safety Management trainer Patrick Durkin.
For all 14 students, this was the first time they had ever learned CPR. The final stop was at the Hanalei Lifeguard Tower where lifeguard Chris Pico briefed the students on water safety and common ocean hazards. The students learned how to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur. Thank you community of Kaua‘i for embracing and educating our youth — it really is a communal effort.
Taharaa Stein, Kapa‘a
