On the ‘trash heap’
On the ‘trash heap’
So, I guess it has come down to this (reference “Sun sets on Hoku Kea, Tribune-Herald, July 7): The future of Hawaii’s kids will be sacrificed for the politically correct notion that we must “address concerns from protesters.”
Here’s the political calculus: The governor imagines the anti-telescope mob somehow can be appeased by throwing them the “bone” of three facility decommissionings.
Upon learning he does not have the power to break contracts with the international owners of astronomy facilities on Mauna Kea, except for “telescopes the university has ownership or control over,” the governor puts (what?) on the chopping block: the prime learning tool of the University of Hawaii at Hilo astronomy department!
Is anyone outraged? Or will this all be forgotten by the time the next election comes around and the electorate falls prey to the soothing words of slick politicians, those who promise you nothing but goodness and light, but who then, behind your backs, continue the throttling of Hawaii’s economic future.
Add astronomy now to the trash heap of promising, clean, high-tech industries for Hawaii that cannot meet the current standard of progressive thinking.
By the way, you don’t need a $650,000 1-meter telescope to teach astronomy. My alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, teaches undergraduate astronomy quite well with a vintage, century-old 6-inch Alvan Clark refractor.
Give our kids a functioning telescope already!
Curtis Beck
Hilo
Not so beautiful
I took a post-Independence Day stroll around Banyan Drive on Sunday morning. Within five minutes of my walk, a vehicle came around a bend at a high rate of speed, but was suddenly cut off by another vehicle turning left into a driveway. Both drivers gave “stink eye” for a few seconds, then went on their merry ways.
Twenty-five minutes later, a white compact drove past the Hilo Naniloa Hotel with the driver yelling something out his window that I could not make out, but the driver certainly was angry about something.
Two minutes later, a young man walking with what appeared to be his young daughter began swearing at himself out loud for no apparent reason.
Almost concluding my walk, I approached the area overlooking the bay, where many tour vans stop. Consumer fireworks trash littered this area, possibly remnants from the night before.
Another lovely and charming day along beautiful Hilo Bay!
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo