Why can’t we have a free public beach (“There’s a new plan afloat to refurbish the Natatorium,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 10)? Why spend millions to restore a pool, pay for maintenance and provide for liability insurance?
The city has other needs for its funds. Let the Historic Hawaii Foundation, since it intends to raise funds, pay to move the memorial arch inland. Let the public, including tourists, enjoy an expanded free beachfront.
Mandy Bowers
Manoa
‘Deplorable’ lives in inclusive America
As a Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient, I was sickened by the article by University of Hawaii cultural anthropology professor Alan Howard, who suggested the separation of Hawaii from the other states because of political views (“Hawaii should consider seceding from the U.S.,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 29).
By way of example, I owned a business with a Moroccan-born Jew and a Hindu immigrant. We had a Hispanic general manager whose parents never spoke a word of English, and three divisions headed by a black female, an ultraconservative Christian female and a gay female.
We prospered in business, shared in its successes, knew each other’s families, and not only attended each other’s children’s graduations, weddings and parents’ funerals, but also celebrated everyone’s birthdays, college acceptances and holidays, and respected and cherished each other’s different views, religion, heritage and politics.
As a “deplorable,” this is the inclusive America I love, not the divisive one promoted by Howard.
Gary R. Johnson
Kaneohe
U.S. should uphold promise of liberty
President-elect Donald Trump’s implied and stated beliefs regarding immigration and minorities appear to be contrary to basic American beliefs and sentiments such as those written by Emma Lazarus and carved on the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to be free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Trump’s preference for hammers and walls conflicts with America’s promises to light, openness and liberty. Let us hope America will be worthy of the statue’s true name, “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
Richard Y. Will
Waikiki
Fluoride drops can keep cavities away
I don’t see what all the fuss is about fluoridating our drinking water (“Time to fluoridate isle water?”, Star-Advertiser, Insight, Nov. 20). The simple solution is to buy fluoride drops, available by prescription.
Matt Hee
Kakaako
