Letters

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / [e-mail] Kaliko and Paco Mireles rallied along King Street Thursday to demand the removal of City Councilman Rod Tam as chairman of the Zoning Committee after he used the ...

[Joe]

I agree with Konno, Jordan AND Middleton.

Let's vote Tam out of Office.

According to Middleton's view, calling Tam a loser because he has a chink in his armor is okay. It shouldn't hurt Tam's feelings.

Tam's constituents and opponents should try it next time and see if it hurts Tam's feelings.

[tWhere is the aloha]

Mark you have had your say, but the bottom line is a city council member has used this word signifying illegal immigrants, not all illegal immigrants come from Mexico, and we cannot codone someone who has authority to represent us going around doing this in a place where many different races live work and play. i know Mr. Tam will not use that word again, Like you were able to express your feeling, the Hispanic community should be able to do the same.

[Mike Hu]

It's called "Growing up."

A lot of thoughtless and insensitive things used to be done and said -- and rather than pronouncing them wrong in hindsight and retrospect, we need to get it right from now on -- so that we merely do not justify and rationalize them because that's what we've always done before, and that is what makes us who we are.

So stop the hazing, stop the taunting, stop the teasing, stop the put downs, stop the provocations, stop the harassment, stop the domestic abuse.

Why is that so hard?

Then go on to create better customs and traditions that celebrate, honor and define (express) your culture and society.

That's the meaning and purpose of living in any time -- and not just the mindless repetition of the past as the only future now possible.

Those cultures and societies that don't do anything more than continue the past, become extinct -- for all the right reasons.

[Keith Haugen]

If the controversial term used by Councilman Tam refers to illegal aliens and/or undocumented workers, then why are American citizens protesting?

You would think that only illegal aliens and undocumented workers would be out there carrying signs.

The term refers to someone who entered our country illegally, not someone born here or who entered legally. It DOES NOT relate in anyway to those who possess U.S. citizenship.

It also refers to those who entered illegal from Mexico. So how does this affect Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc.?

While it might be offensive to some who, for legal reasons, don't belong here, it appears the wrong people are protesting.

Or does it mean that the protestors support the illegals?

[Grant]

Paul Mossman would have us believe Theodore Roosevelt created the National Parks for the exclusive benefit of this generation. If that was truly Roosevely's line of thought, the resources of ANWR would long ago have been exploited and depleted. But Roosevelt was a CONSERVATIONist who saw the value in saving our wilderness and resources for future generations. And unlike a monarchy, these areas are not the legacy of an individual, but a society that values its place in the world.
It is precisely the thinking of Mr Mossman that has contributed to our current bloated and wasteful economy that doesn't think twice about using now and dealing with the consequences later. Lets try conserving instead of consuming.

[LEGAL immigrant]

Keith Haugen wrote:

If the controversial term used by Councilman Tam refers to illegal aliens and/or undocumented workers, then why are American citizens protesting?
You would think that only illegal aliens and undocumented workers would be out there carrying signs.
The term refers to someone who entered our country illegally, not someone born here or who entered legally. It DOES NOT relate in anyway to those who possess U.S. citizenship.
It also refers to those who entered illegal from Mexico. So how does this affect Cubans, Puerto Ricans, etc.?
While it might be offensive to some who, for legal reasons, don't belong here, it appears the wrong people are protesting.
Or does it mean that the protestors support the illegals?

Good question, Keith..... I was wondering the same thing....... I'm an immigrant to this country (took 7 years to do it LEGALLY).... There is NO SUCH THING as 'ILLEGAL' immigrant... you either do things LEGALLY, or you have broken the laws of this country! Thought you might find this interesting:

IMMIGRATION LAWS:
1 There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.

2. All ballots will be in this nation's language.

3. All government business will be conducted in our language.

4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.

5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.

6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden will be deported.

7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.

8. If foreigners come here and buy land... options will be restricted. Certain parcels including waterfront property are reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.

9.Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.

10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted &, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged. All assets will be taken from you.

Harsh, you say?.......

The above laws are current immigration laws of MEXICO.

[John Mendoza]

I'm sure Mr. Mark Middleton has never known full blown discrimination, otherwise I think he would be a little more empathetic.

I am American of Mexican descent who grew up in an area of America that had signs in stores & theaters that said, "no dogs or mexicans allowed." When driving through certain parts of the city we would be stopped by the police and told to, "go back to where you belong, we don't want you in this area."

Even when I joined the military we were called "wetbacks" by the drill instructors in boot camp. So words do hurt Mr. Middleton and I hope you never have to experience prejudice.

[Bumpercrop]

When and where was the hypenated American (term) first used? When legal immigrants came to this country in the old days they wanted to be full Americans, not hyphenated ones. They wanted to escape their old country. So who started it? And why?

And why continue using a term that says "I am only half American, and half something else"? And do you notice that the American part is always second to the 'other' country/race? Should I trust you and your judgement if you are only half American? Do you care enough about this country if you are only half American?

[Blue Eyed White Devil]

I'll have to mark this day on my calendar, it's the first time I've ever agreed with the sanctimonious Keith Haugen. I'm sure too, that the whiners have no compunction about saying effen haole this and effen haole that. Do you?

[Waianae Moke]

Why is Paco Mireles waiving a Mexican flag? If he likes Mexico so much, why is he here? He should be waiving an American flag to notify everybody that he is an American and proud of it.

Get your act together Paco. You are sending the wrong kind of message.

[dargent77]

Tim Russert was on TV, 24/7, and on MSNBC, NBC, Meet the Press...anyone else notice that was way TOO MUCH?
He had arterial damage and didn't exercise. Probably ate garbage for meals...and drops dead at 58...predictable.
And, how can anyone thrive on this b.s. we call "American Politics"?

[pablo]

I like it when people mistake Teddy Rosevelt for some latte drinking environmentalist. The guy who dug the ditch from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific can hardly be compared to the modern luddite greenies.

[Italiano Brah]

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HAWAII How in the world people are concern about illegal immigrants in Hawaii. Let’s see the Hawaiians were here first and then came all the another nationalities. So, basically mostly everyone that lives in Hawaii now is foreigners or Illegal Immigrants. All might say I’m not an illegal immigrant I am an American. Well if I’m not mistaken the only true American are the American Indians and every one else were immigrants from all over the world. Am I missing something here?

[Bia]

President Bush has kept us safe from another 9-11 attack. That's a fact. Sorry that the Bush Haters just "don't get it."