College students’ angst
is the worst in decades
Teaching social sciences and liberal arts courses at Hawaii Community College since 1990, I have met and taught many students of all ages and from different backgrounds. Not since the fall of 2001 with 9/11 has there been such an air of angst.
As the spring semester continues, students are sharing their confusion, fear and growing anxiety concerning what’s happening with our federal government and the political climate. Like most adults, students are worried about their future. The tariff threats, halting the support to Ukraine, the immigrant crackdown, and the ongoing hostile rhetoric is chaotic and frustrating.
Students must prioritize their focus on finances, financial aid, employment and career trends in addition to the common student woes of completing assignments and preparing for final exams. For many, there is graduation in May and the decision whether to continue with higher education or enter the workforce with their diploma and learned skills. Life goes on — despite who is in the White House.
As a teacher, it is important to listen to student concerns and try to first “check in” with them. By this, I mean to center them with the calmness of aloha.
Encouraging people to take it easy, slow things down with breath-work, exercise, walking or spending time with your furry friends before you check the news or read the newspaper can lessen the anxiety that comes with being an informed citizen in this political climate.
We are fortunate to live in Hawaii nei where we have the cool trade winds, colorful rainbows and Tutu Pele, who is demonstrating every day that there is majestic beauty all around us. Let’s continue to take care of each other, take things easy and support our island warriors who are currently in leadership positions whether it be in government, health care or education.
We must live aloha, have hope and faith and show our youth that together we will get through these worrisome times.
Claudia Wilcox Boucher
Hilo
The Democratic Party
needs new leadership
An open letter to Barrack and Michelle Obama: I am hoping that someone who reads this letter knows someone who knows someone who can forward the sentiment on to you.
Liberal Democrats are dismayed with the lack of any coherent leadership to resist the daily outrages inflicted by the Trump administration, which now claims to have a mandate from God!
Democracy in the United States cannot survive this onslaught, and Ukraine as a separate, independent democracy surely will not.
We are told to expect huge tariffs on pharmaceuticals, which will raise already high drug prices.
The Justice Departments has been weaponized as never before — even in the Nixon White House.
Men accused of accepting bribes and violating federal election laws are given a free pass if they will agree to round up immigrants to be sent to the jungles of Panama at the mercy of a Panamanian government terrified of Trump.
Thousands of federal workers are being dismissed summarily and illegally, severely damaging programs to feed the hungry, pay teachers to educate our children, provide Medicare and Medicaid to keep people from dying.
The only policy is destruction, and the weapon is Elon Musk, unleashed to spy on our Social Security and tax records and meddle with the federal payments system.
Someone must step up to take leadership of the Democratic Party to nationalize a resistance to this autocratic “kakocracy.” While we have many highly qualified public figures, governors and senators who would make fine presidential candidates in an open primary (assuming Trump doesn’t anoint himself to a third term), I cannot think of any other people at this juncture who can possibly mobilize any workable resistance.
Your country needs you to break your polite silence. Please help save our democracy.
Arne Werchick
Kailua-Kona
