Proud of heritage Proud of heritage ADVERTISING I just have a couple of comments about Ms. Faye Hanohano’s racially biased remarks and the letters to the editor they generated. Most people do NOT make remarks like that in private, because
Proud of heritage
I just have a couple of comments about Ms. Faye Hanohano’s racially biased remarks and the letters to the editor they generated.
Most people do NOT make remarks like that in private, because many, many people are not bigots. Public servants are rightfully held to a higher standard in such matters, and Ms. Hanohano’s remarks were therefore even more egregious, and many white people DO feel disrespected when they are called haole, as I’m sure every other ethnic group feels when labeled in this way.
Mixed-race people are becoming the norm all over the world, and you cannot tell a person’s ethnicity by looking at them or seeing their name.
Why don’t we all focus on the fact that we are all so much alike, and not on our differences? Our mutually rich heritages and pride in them is a universal human concept we can all appreciate in each other.
And, by the way, I am very fair-skinned and blond, and my great, great grandmother was American Indian on one side and great, great, great grandmother on the other side was black and a slave.
What am I? Just as proud of my heritage as Ms. Hanohano, that’s what!
Laura Buck
Keaau
Obama’s Kool-aid
So President Obama has cut $82 billion in funds to federal programs and blames it on the GOP in Congress. Meanwhile, he promises $60 million in aid to Syrian rebels.
So where is that money coming from? How can he afford to send that much money to a country that does nothing for our country, while essentially putting Americans out of work and cutting programs that serve his own countrymen?
Here’s an even better question: Why isn’t the mainstream media asking these questions instead of continuing to drink Obama’s Kool-aid and trying to pin all the blame on the GOP?
And, to those who re-elected Obama, I hope you’re really pleased with yourselves now.
Shawn Lathrop
Waikoloa
Drive with aloha
While driving this past Sunday afternoon, I stopped at a stop sign and waited for an oncoming group of vehicles to pass. Apparently, this safe and lawful action must have came off as offensive to one of these drivers, because as they passed me, they stuck their arm out in broad daylight and showed me “the finger” while screaming some profanity.
Not only do angry and intimidating gestures like these make our streets a hostile environment we must face every day just to get around town, but it also ruins our state reputation for being “the state of aloha.”
To the driver that chose to make such a rude gesture in public, imagine the possible keiki that might have seen or heard you. If you’re having a bad day, you have no right to bring it out on others.
Drive with aloha everybody.
Jared Sumic
Hilo
