‘Pork’ project?
‘Pork’ project?
Abraham Sadegh, in the Jan. 5 Tribune-Herald (Your Views), is a fine example of haole intellectual imperialism.
This self-proclaimed messiah states most of the billions of people on our planet know nothing of Mauna Kea and its value to those who do know of the mountain’s traditional religious significance to the Hawaiians.
Does that dismiss the significance of the mountain’s sanctity? Most importantly, Sadegh fails to tell us why this project is so pressingly important — perhaps he knows God is waiting at the other end of the mirrors and is anxious to swoop down and save us from our fatal flaws.
The Thirty Meter Telescope is a $1.3 billion project, he writes, which will bring us spiritual blessings into the future. Are spiritual blessings measured in dollars these days? His cup of arrogance and finance runneth over.
Hawaii Island is better suited to be an international “peace center” designed on the aspirations of the late Sen. Spark Matsunaga. Such a center is in perfect keeping with the spirit of aloha. This, along with a permanent home for the International Olympics, built where tomorrow’s wars are now being designed, will fill our coffers with money untainted by the desecration of the host people’s values and culture.
The world does not need another glimpse into yet another black hole of a neighboring galaxy.
This TMT project sounds like an eternal pork barrel for a perpetual bridge to nowhere.
Snap out of it!
Tomas Belsky
Hilo
Lack of transparency
I’m very disappointed with Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration. Transparency has taken a large step backwards during his current term.
It is very difficult to get any significant updates on two stalled (and important) highway projects — the second phase of Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening and the realignment/reconstruction of the final 5.7 miles of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway in Hilo.
I have to jump through hoops to get any updates on these projects, as the governor refuses to acknowledge any of my emails.
The lack of transparency also applies to the state Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration upper management on Oahu and the mainland.
This wasn’t a problem during Gov. Lingle’s second term. The state Department of Transportation and FHWA were much more open, at least with my inquiries.
We, as taxpayers, deserve to know where things stand with both of these highway projects, without any smoke and mirrors.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona