Mahalo to Kona
airport policeman
Angels come in many forms. Sometimes they wear the uniform of a Kona airport policeman.
Thursday, Oct. 19, is the day my husband and I encountered an angel. Mike Silva was on duty when he noticed two aging people struggling.
We were weak from getting over the flu, challenged by the 87 degree heat and attempting to walk while pushing a loaded cart to our car. Our car had been left for us at the airport. We arrived at the south end of the airport and had to make it to the northern most parking area because the parking lot was full.
Mike Silva approached us and asked if he could help. After evaluating our situation, he took the cart from my husband, helped us locate our car, and then unloaded the heavy luggage into the trunk.
I want to acknowledge his kindness, his awareness, his compassion and his humanity. Without his assistance, we may not have made it to our car.
Within days, my husband died in his sleep from an enlarged heart that we did not know he had.
Mike Silva, may you have a blessed life. We are so grateful to you.
Linda Schutt
Ocean View
Do wolverines cheat?
Wolverines, or “carcajou,” are ranked among the most fierce mammals by size in North America. No idle coincidence, the wolverine is the symbol of the University of Michigan’s football team.
Recently, in the world of college football, a scandal of unprecedented magnitude has erupted. It was discovered that one of the staff of Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team had been spying on other football teams by stealing signals of opponent teams.
This devious activity had encompassed several seasons. The advantage to the Michigan team was significant. Coach Harbaugh remained guarded and mute regarding the initial inquiry.
The red-faced irony of this scenario in the context of “rah, rah” teamwork, makes turfing and scapegoating the violation of game rules to a single staff member wildly indefensible and inadmissible!
Coach Harbaugh luxuriates in a $10 million salary and national notoriety. Michigan is currently relishing the pinnacle among NCAA football teams.
History recites dictator Julias Caesar as aggressive and popular. Ultimately, he overextended his conquests, became indicted by the Roman Senate as “too aggressive,” and met his demise.
One can only speculate: What factors made Jim Harbaugh and staff “cross the Rubicon”?
A number of us eschew certain professional sports is the commercial aspect, financial politics and not infrequent personnel train wrecks. College ball is embraced as a more pure, clean and “hometown” amateur sport, not compromised by dollar interests.
As an alumnus of the University of Hawaii, Boise State and Iowa, this writer had never heard of any college football Watergates in those earlier times.
Some decisive action is already in process by the NCAA.
Mystics and prophets proclaim the ultimate measure of man is not time-perishable achievement, but the evolution of a person’s internal character. Maybe a grade school class with shining integrity could do a GoFundMe project and comp Michigan coaching staff with a social ethics class.
Good thing wolverines can’t read.
Jim Barker
Keaau
