Apology
Last week in a “My Turn” column, I made an inaccurate statement regarding Steven Ikaika Rodenhurst. I stated that he is not a “registered professional engineer.” He is a professional engineer and is registered on the Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website. My apology to Mr. Rodenhurst. The rest of my statement regarding Mr. Rodenhurst and Mr. Kern stands as written.
Brenda Ford
South Kona
Greater acceptance and unity needed
The letter, “Help Me Understand,” in Monday’s edition expressed tremendous anger and rage. I don’t think such expressions will help move folks toward greater acceptance and unity.
Barbara Feliciano
Waimea
Please show me
Since everyone is so certain President-elect Joe Biden will be our next president, please show me where in the U.S. Constitution it says that we can try a former president for impeachment. If that’s how it works I’d like to go back to George W. Bush who gave us the Patriot Act, and maybe Obama who reignited racism not seen since the Jim Crow days. Oh what the heck, let’s impeach and convict everyone we don’t like right now. After all, there’s nothing else going on.
Mikie Kerr
Waikoloa
Believe what you wish
This week, the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available to kupuna in the islands.
At the end of last year, in Auburn, New York at The Commons nursing home, 24 coronavirus deaths happened after residents began receiving coronavirus vaccinations. There were no deaths before the vaccination. And within a flash, stories debunking this news appeared all over the internet as well.
Believe what you wish about this “lifesaving treatment,” which may very well become mandatory. Even if the coronavirus has an over 98% recovery rate, even if treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine with zinc are available and effective, for some reason, your leaders feel it is really important to receive this special concoction.
And when you think about this, keep in mind Henry Kissinger’s quote from his book the Final Days: “The elderly are just useless eaters.”
History proves that in all previous times of overpopulation and economic depression, governments historically have preferred that those segments of the population that cost the government money (medical, housing, food, social security) either go to war, starve or transition to the spiritual recycling bin. It’s just basic economics, always has been. To the reader though, it may be their mother, father or grandparent. Just sayin’.
Krisztina Samu
Kapaau
Just my thoughts
Some believe the election was fair. Some believe the election was rigged. However, a decision has been made. I am reminded of the line from The Godfather “never take sides against the family.” We are the United States family, maybe separated by shades of melanin and ideas, but we are still the United States.
We need to move forward. Our enemies are watching. If they come for us, they won’t care what issues tore us apart. The big “A” for American will be the target on all of our backs.
United we stand, divided we fall. Our leaders need to get on board. All of them.
CR Jones
Kona
Seek to understand
John Rabi in a Jan. 8 letter asked for someone to explain to him why the pro-Trump supporters are being called a “mob” while the “vandals” at protests are called “peaceful protesters.” I will try to explain.
The Capitol “mob” was fighting for the man they believed won the election. They may have believed they were doing something patriotic, but breaking into and ransacking one of the most revered buildings in our country because they can’t accept the results of a free and fair election, is far from patriotic. Besides being an accurate term for a group pf people bent on lawless violence, perhaps the media’s use of the word “mob” is a reaction to this shameful affront.
On the other hand, Black Lives Matter participants are called “protesters” or “activists.” These are accurate terms. They have been protesting the murders and attempted murders of black people at the hands of police and are calling for an end to this injustice. Yes, there was looting and property destruction, but this was not characteristic of the protests.
I hope that in this new year, we will continue to ask for explanations, and seek to understand what may seem inconsistent.
Diane Aoki
Kealakekua
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321, via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:
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Kailua-Kona, HI 96745