Politician's signs are within the law
In his letter to the editor (Star-Bulletin, July 11
), Phil Klein says that the Ron Paul signs posted all over the island are illegal. This is untrue. In fact, the signs in question are in direct accordance with Honolulu City & County statutes regarding political signs, which read: "There are no regulations at present prohibiting the use of political campaign signs fixed to the ground or to a structure."
Klein goes on to say that "If this is what Ron Paul stands for, he's already lost my vote." The signs were erected by Paul's many enthusiastic supporters who wanted to raise the level of awareness of him, which was apparently successful. Paul stands for a government that follows the Constitution (unlike the current or prior administrations), a smaller federal government, fewer taxes and more civil liberties (also afforded us under the Constitution).
I invite anyone who is tired of the "business as usual" political structure in our federal government to please go to RonPaul2008.com for more information about what he stands for.
Paul earns plenty of grass-roots support
Please let me first say that we are sorry if we have been disobedient to the law of the land
as we now know it. I am in a grass-roots group for Ron Paul, but he had no knowledge of our actions.
Having said that ... know that for the first time in my life, I find myself with a real choice as to who should be our next commander in chief. I am sick and tired of everyone telling me that they voted for so and so because he was the lesser of the two evils. Well, here is your chance to vote good over evil. Get involved. Look up Ron Paul on the net and listen to him on YouTube. I believe you will want to join us and take back our government, which is by the people, of the people and for the people. Register now so your vote will count in the primary. We need men and women in Washington, D.C., who still believe in the Constitution.
The most vulnerable should be more careful
In response to Ken Chang's letter "Fault lies with drivers, drivers and drivers" (Star-Bulletin, July 10
): You can't fault the driver for every pedestrian being hit. Like Chang says, there are careless and stupid pedestrians out there who don't look before crossing the road because they feel they have the right of way so being cautious is out of the question. Too many pedestrians crossing when they're not suppose to is what is causing all these accidents.
Drivers are not God; they don't see everything. The bottom line is, who is going to hurt more when hit? The driver in a car or the pedestrian? That's the one who should be more careful, not who has the right of way.
College students are diligent volunteers
In light of the article "Honolulu rates low in volunteering" (Star-Bulletin, July 9
), we thought we would share a reality that is contrary to what has been reported. During the past 12 years, the University of Hawaii-Manoa Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society has been awarded the highest level of distinction among 300-plus chapters in the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates for stellar service to the community.
Golden Key is composed of higher education juniors and seniors from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, who are dedicated to altruism and making the world a better place through community service. The students of the UHM chapter are academically gifted; work full- or part-time; balance family and school responsibilities; and are deeply committed to improving the community at large.
In August, our chapter will be traveling to the Golden Key international convention in Atlanta, Ga., to receive yet another Gold Status distinction for logging hundreds of hours of service to the community during the past year. Thus, there are people in our community, college students in particular, who are shining examples of altruistic and servant leadership. We are incredibly proud of them and their accomplishments.
Lori M. Ideta
University of Hawaii-Manoa
Golden Key advising team
It's a good thing he respected the jury
In regard to the trial and conviction of White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, President Bush first says that "I respect the jury's verdict," and then commutes his jail-term sentence. His reason being, "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive." I wonder what his "spin" would be if he didn't respect the verdict.
Gee, maybe Bill O'Reilly knows!
Victor C. Librizzi
Country should care for disabled veterans
On June 29, I caught a national news report about the case of a grievously maimed American soldier who was wounded in Iraq.
This Army sergeant is a young married father who had served faithfully while able, then was discarded by the military after he had served its purpose. Luckily, his devoted father stepped to his side to fight the red tape to get his son's rehabilitation paid for.
Eventually, the rehab bill was covered by the military, and the veteran -- no longer able to walk or talk -- has to find a new path in life. Eventually he hopes to open a bait and tackle shop and once again fish with father.
It infuriates me that there are many disabled American veterans who do not have such a father or other scrappy advocate to see that the vet does not fall through the cracks of military bureaucracy and gets proper medical/psychological treatment and rehabilitation for their wartime injuries.
Yes, it will be costly, but our nation's moral imperative is to zealously mend our impaired service members as if they were sons and daughters -- because that is what they are.
Stuart N. Taba
Remember those who fought for S. Korea
We, the high school students of the class of 1953, will not forget the veterans of the Korean War as the 54th anniversary of the cease-fire of July 27, 1953, approaches. A belated "thanks" to all of you.
Roy E. Shigemura