‘Ohana banned from graduation

Dear Editor,

I want to go to my son’s graduation. BUT, ‘SORRY NOT ALLOWED’.

My son is graduating from Konawaena middle school. The students, teachers, principal and staff are going to a hotel banquet room for a “celebration”. The teachers I asked said this is the Graduation for Students they will receive their certificate of Graduation and Special Merit Awards at a presentation. There is also a talent show put on by the students--”FAMILY STAY AWAY.”

The school has rightly determined there needs to be a recognition for these great kids. The graduation from 8th grade is a milestone in their lives. What’s wrong is they decided ONLY teachers and school staff were worthy to attend. The vice principal said I cannot take pictures of my child’s part of the talent show or Diploma presentation saying “Sorry, This is for Teachers and students its a ‘private Affair’ and that is the rule.”

The Principal called and offered some additional reasons.

1. Families give their children leis and some cannot afford them--this embarrasses others and he wants to protect them.

2. This is a time for kids to relax and be together one final time free from “Parental Distractions”.

3. The MOST IMPORTANT concerns in life for these kids now are their peers NOT THEIR PARENTS OR FAMILY.

My son wanted to share this Graduation with Family, but now is feeling pressured and is worried.

We parents have invested great amounts of time and energy raising our children and have the right to witness this proud moment in their life and our life...

“OHANA STAY AWAY” is wrong. We need to be there for our keiki. The event is set for June 3rd. CALL THE SCHOOL BOARD TELL THEM IT’S WRONG AND TO FIX IT.

Michael Fowler

Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i

What Is A Veteran?

Dear Editor,

A ‘Veteran’ -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America,’ for an amount of ?--’up to, and including his life.’ That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that fact.

Roger Evans

Pahoa, Hawai`i

Jimmy Obama

Dear Editor,

Barack Obama is destined to become the Democrats’ new Jimmy Carter. The similarity is eerie when one notes that both are --

>> bone deep anti-Semites who despise Israel;

>> arrogant beyond belief;

>> microscopically thin skinned at even the PROSPECT of criticism;

>> convinced appeasement is the basis for a sound foreign policy;

>> deeply ashamed to call themselves Americans.

Even the term ‘swift boating’ -- used endlessly by Democrats to describe the outing of John Kerry as a tin plated phony by combat vets who know the truth and told it -- is a thinly disguised slap in the face aimed at ALL Vietnam veterans by the media and by the preferred party of draft dodgers, flag burners, and those who cursed our returning troops forty years ago ... and who continue to heap their boundless contempt on these vets.

Obama clearly does not get it: it will take a lot more than a tiny flag lapel pin and gusts of cheap talk to sell the myth he is a patriot. Candidate Obama’s manufactured outrage at Bush’s speech in Israel is a fig leaf intended to hide the increasingly obvious fact that, when it comes to defending America, he lacks the grit to walk the walk.

Thomas E. Stuart, LCDR USN (Ret.) Kapa`au Hawai`i

“Change” -- Everywhere But Hawai`i

Dear Editor,

Talk of change was often mentioned at the Democrat Convention this weekend for everywhere but Hawai`i.

Did Democrats talk of “changing” our $2.4 Billion education system in Hawai`i which has ranked near the bottom in the nation for decades?

Did they talk of “changing” our medical malpractice laws which are forcing our doctors to leave Hawai`i?

Did they talk of “changing” the rules to allow another Hospital on Maui so Maui residents don’t have to fly to O`ahu for treatment?

Did they talk of “changing” the huge tax burden on Hawai`i’s citizens by lowering taxes or providing more than just a measly one dollar back from the tax revenue surplus?

Did they talk of “changing” their view on the homeless problem as “not being an emergency”?

I could go on and on with questions about “Change”, but the truth is, while Governor Lingle, Lt. Governor Aiona and all the Republicans in the House and Senate have tried to change these problems to solutions for Hawai`i, they have received no help from Democrats in the Legislature.

To see the kind of change Hawai`i so desperately needs, Hawai`i must elect more Republicans; because Democrats in Hawai`i want change everywhere but home.

Willes K. Lee, Chairman

Hawaii Republican Party

Surrender lies

Dear Editor,

In a YouTube video, Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) explains:

“In this last election… the Democrats, I think pushed it as far as we can, the envelope. We didn’t say it, but we implied that if we won the Congressional elections we could stop the war. Now anybody who is a good student of government will know that wasn’t true. But you know, in the temptation to win back Congress we sort of stretched the facts. And people ate it up.”

http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hiJYK8OIIiLPJ9J&s=btKNL3MPLjLRL5POJuE&m=lrKUJ5NGLgJ3E

Of course the Democrats did not stop the war. Instead they have joined with Republicans in funding the war. Obama now says if elected he will attempt diplomacy with our sworn enemies and pull our troops out of Iraq by the end of 2009. But even he does not promise he will “stop the war”. Stopping a war takes two sides. If one side stops and the other does not, then that is surrender, not stopping the war.

Is it possible that some Democrats are beginning to realize that unilaterally “stopping” the war by surrender will not go well with our public when it can no longer be entirely hidden that we have made very significant gains towards victory in recent months?

Even Nancy Pelosi returned recently from Iraq and choked out a weakly-worded admission I saw on TV that “--- some positive military and political progress may have been made in Iraq”. Note the words “may have”. Of course she hastily denied any change of her anti-war anti-military stance in spite of her admission. She does not seem to have enough brains to realize how foolish this makes her look.

Unfortunately some of their supporters still believe unilateral surrender is a wise and welcome “change of direction” that will immediately bring peace and prosperity.

Robert Williams

Na`alehu, Hawai`i

Not voting this time

Dear Editor:

Senator Obama needs to toughen his professional skin if he wants to become an effective president. When a person runs for our nation’s highest office just about everything is fair game including members of their family. Obama’s recent protective reply to the Tennessee Republican Party to lay off his wife was amateurish.

Mrs. Obama is fair game because she is out campaigning for her husband and what she says needs to be examined. When she stated: “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country”, she opened herself up to be critiqued. Why should she be different from any other presidential candidate’s spouse? Wasn’t former -President Clinton criticized regarding some statements while campaigning for his wife?

Michelle Obama did what most campaigners would also do in the same situation, she responded by trying to clarify her remark by saying she meant she was proud of how Americans were engaging in the political process and that she had always been proud of her country. However, her true feelings were exposed like when a cat is let out of the bag – it’s too late.

Senator Obama needs to be scrutinized just like any other presidential candidate and should not be given a free ride. Although in this election this not the case.

When Gov. Mike Huckabee made reference to his religious beliefs he was soundly criticized by many in the news media for trying to bring religion into the campaign. However, when Senator Obama recently made comments on how his religious teachings would influence his thinking as president he got a free pass. Why the double-standard? Why doesn’t a Democratic candidate get the same religion issue criticism as a Republican candidate?

Senator Obama will become the Democratic Party’s nominee and defeat Senator McCain to become president -but without my vote. I also won’t be voting for Senator McCain for like Senator Obama both are weak presidential material.

I have decided for the first time during a presidential election not to vote for the lesser of two evils.

James G. Borden

Hilo, Hawai`i