Truth, not censorship
Recent attempts to censor what educators can teach about race and racism threaten us all. To those interested in quality education, I commend to your reading Jalaya Liles Dunn’s article appearing in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Fall 2021 news letter, a sampling of which I have excerpted for this letter.
“All students deserve an inclusive, welcoming, honest and meaningful education that prepares them for their future and engages them in thoughtful discourse to help inform their world views. As the country is grappling with injustices and inequities, it is even more important that all students understand the precursors of this current narrative of racial injustice. Without these critical conversations in affirming learning spaces, students from all races and backgrounds are robbed of having the freedom to shape their discernment of the world in which they live.
“We know the truth can be uncomfortable at times, but the call to teach our hard history is necessary to achieve the promise of our democracy and the pursuit of justice. In the hands of trained educators, the truth can be transformative and help shape future outcomes for the betterment of all people. Our young people must help us reach our fullest potential. This requires giving them an honest account of our shared history and demonstrating how embracing the stories of our diversity makes us better.”
As with light, truth can be an effective disinfectant.
Edward H. Schulman
Kailua Kona
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Appreciate Kona
Thank you for the free copy of the commemorative issue of the 50th Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, which was included in our newspaper of Oct. 26. I wanted to take the time to send out a great mahalo for all the Board of Directors, committee chairs, and sponsors of the festival. The letter from Mark Twain says it all when we in Kona should appreciate Kona where “A week in Kona ought to cure the saddest of you all.” The rich history of what he saw when he landed in Kona in 1866 at the young age of 27 should make us all realize that we live in such a beautiful place.
Best wishes go out to everyone who appreciates the history of Kona and its people!
Carol Zakahi
Kona
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It’s up to the consumer
I am mystified at the lack of intelligence of the County Council. Reference the article about the Kona (and Ka’u) coffee published Oct. 28.
Sure, blame the manufacturers for not using 100% Hawaiian coffee in their products. Who would ever think that the consumer would read the label to determine what percentage of true Hawaiian coffee is in every batch? While I for one did just that the other day at the market; and there, on every package of coffee was printed plainly the percentage of Kona (or Ka’u) coffee enclosed. It is listed as 10%, 20% or more to my liking, 100%. I would never purchase any coffee that was not 100% local. But people can buy whatever they want, yet why should the state or county care what percentage makes up any particular coffee. It is up to the consumer to decide how much they want to pay for a bag.
Another thing crossed my mind — why is no one concerned about Kona beer? Every bottle or can, aside from the kegs, are labeled as having “Kona Sunshine” or some other exotic name, while none of the products are produced in Kona, or anywhere in Hawaii. Good luck finding where they are manufactured, aside from the required indication of production in New Hampshire, Oregon or Colorado.
Maybe that’s why Kona Brewing has settled with numerous folks around the country for deceptive advertising.
But let the County Council overlook this small fact.
Michael L. Last
Na‘alehu
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