Your Views for February 15

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The kick heard ’round the state

The kick heard ’round the state

Regarding, “Iolani Palace door is damaged,” (Tribune-Herald, Feb. 11): How far-reaching are the repercussions of a single finger’s squeeze of the trigger on a cheap, mail-order rifle by an irrational assassin? Or the “irreparable loss of treasure” brought about by a single, swift kick upon the door of our beloved ‘Iolani Palace?

In one case, the consequences resulted in the loss of the 35th president in Dallas by a Marxist sympathizer. In another, the outcome was the loss — by a single kick of someone’s foot — of a plate of priceless and treasured stained glass adorning the 132-year-old door of our beloved royal palace.

It is deeply troubling what incalculable loss can be inflicted on our society by the squeeze of a single finger or by a swift kick upon a treasured door. So much harm and loss suffered by so many people, brought about with such a small amount of human effort.

Richard Dinges

Hilo

Regarding ‘haole’

In reference to Kevin Thompson’s repetition of the “bad breath” theory of the origin of the word haole (Tribune-Herald, Your Views), if the origin of “haole” only dates to the first contact with Westerners, then how did it get into the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant?

Jesse Crawford

Hilo

Fire ant politics

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald, in an “above the fold” headline (Feb. 11), reported about our all benevolent state government’s call to arms in the fight to combat the tiny fire ant (TFA), which was discovered in Honolulu County. Imagine just a month and a half after the Hilo Tribune-Herald reported the discovery of the TFA on Oahu, “mommy” state government decided it is time to move against the TFA.

Never mind this invasive pest has been on the Big Island for 15 years and is now beyond control. The TFA is in the backyard of Honolulu “fat cat” politicians, and they want it stopped! The TFA must not be allowed to get out of control, at least on Oahu. The other islands, however, be dammed.

Whether or not Big Island state politicians want to admit it, the outer islands, (Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Big Island and, to a lesser extent, Maui) have always been considered Oahu’s “step children.”

Hawaii state government’s primary philosophy is collect “outer island” taxes, dictate to us how to behave, and, if we are lucky, state government might return some of the millions of dollars the “step children” pay to our “Mommy dearest” central government.

Unfortunately, Hawaii state government — and to some extent, a portion of Hawaii Public Radio elitists — think the sun rises and sets on Honolulu. “Let them eat cake,” as the saying goes.

Arthur Warren

Keaau