Freedom of speech
I was about to write a letter, comparing TV watchers in Russia, who only get to see what Putin wants them to see, and TV watchers here, where some people only watch either the “MSM” or Fox News. Are there many people who watch some of each? I wonder.
But then, today, I watched Jessie Watters and “our own” Tulsi Gabbard discussing this issue on the Fox News channel. I found the irony overwhelming. Between them, they insisted that Biden’s propaganda is as bad as Putin’s and how the right (would that be Jessie and Tulsi?) isn’t allowed to argue or dissent or speak up or ask questions (a nod to Tucker Carlson).
Wait. I’m watching two people on national TV argue, dissent, speak up and even ask questions, and yet neither of them was arrested. Neither of them had their words blanked out. Neither of them was held for questioning after the show aired. Neither of them was fined for their words.
Speaking of Carlson, his monologues are reportedly so supportive of Putin that the Kremlin is encouraging Russian media to use clips of his speeches as often as possible. Tucker has not been arrested or taken off the air or fined or interrogated for hours, after any of his shows.
I might find some Fox News programs offensive or outrageous (or even highly unlikely: Ukraine is busy making bioweapons?) But, I don’t want to see them shut down as long as the First Amendment protects all of us and as long as “freedom” of speech still exists. Freedom of speech that exists here, protecting Jessie and Tulsi and Tucker, in a way that does not exist in Putin’s Russia.
Phyllis Hanson
Keauhou
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Theft, theft and more theft
There is not a day that goes by without hearing about another agricultural theft somewhere on your island. In my role as executive director of 1,800 member Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, I hear about ag theft all over the state. This would include what’s reported on 15,000 member Facebook page and although members of that on other islands far outnumber big island participants. It’s the Big Island members who suffer the most amount of agricultural theft.
What happened to the police officers assigned to ag theft? Good question but I’m sure they are no longer asked to focus on it. Other Policemen friends tell me there are no officers assigned to agriculltural theft although that was a major part the mayors work as prosecutor.
We, as a rural and farming community, need police protection from the endless numbers of thieves trespassing on our properties, stealing and selling our crops and threatening members of our families and communities. You, the government, better do something before someone does it for you and creates a worse problem.
And yes, all my avocados were stolen last week along with a number of rare fruit. Chased people out of my jackfruit tree twice and I’m tired. They even stole the new trespassing signs.
Ken Love
South Kona
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