State Rep. Sylvia Luke refused to fund the deal to raise rates paid to foster parents and posed the question, “Should one program take precedence over the other just because we have a lawsuit?” (“Lone legislator snuffs foster care settlement,” Star- Advertiser, May 19).

The answer is yes, based on the fact that it is a requirement based on the law — and more importantly, because the first priority of any civilized culture is to take care of its young. Foster children are all of our responsibility.

Foster families provide a valuable service by opening their homes to care for these children who come with varying amounts of trauma. These foster parents need not only enough money to cover the basic daily expenses of raising a child, but the not-so-obvious emotional expenses of spending time with the youngsters, listening to them and teaching them basic manners, how to study, and even how to read.

If we paid foster families what they deserve, it’s true we’d drain the state’s budget, but paying a foster family the pittance of $529 a month is laughable, if it were not so tragic.

Meredith Leigh Kimitsuka

Foster home developer (retired)

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National unity should be the norm

Reading the local newspaper and staying abreast of the shooting incident in Washington, D.C., I noted a common theme in which the incident created a “rare show of unity.”

Stephen Colbert was also highlighted on the web for a “rare” show of support for our president.

It is a sad day when our country, still the greatest in the world, has fallen to the point where unity has become rare. Politics aside, it is obvious that we, as a nation, are capable of coming together in spite of political or religious differences. When the need is great, we always rise.

The real question has become, why must the need be great? If it can be done during times of duress, obviously it can be done at any time. For the simple sake of what is truly best for our nation, unity should be the norm — not rare.

Michael Turman

Wahiawa

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Second Amendment doesn’t work today

The authors of our Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment had in mind flintlocks, muskets, derringers and little cannons, when they were talking about the right to bear arms.

I think most reasonable and prudent people realize that nuclear arms and chemical arms should be regulated, since they can be so deadly. Therefore, I think it is permissible to regulate nuclear and chemical arms.

Also, we should regulate different types of firearms.

Some of these National Rifle Association types commit the most atrocious crimes with firearms and somehow the Second Amendment is supposed to make everything OK for the gun- violence victims.

I think our Second Amendment is obsolete.

Phil Robertson

Kailua

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Bikeshare program a welcome addition

As an avid cyclist who was cured of diabetes by riding, I commend the City and County of Honolulu for creating the Biki bikeshare system.

Across the nation, I have seen this system work very well in places like Portland, Ore., and Austin, Texas.

I applaud the Caldwell administration and the bicycling community for making Biki bikesharing a reality. Cycling is a healthy and ecological way to travel, sightsee and more.

We just need to step up the laws to cover these government-provided bicycles as well as anyone’s personal bicycle and moped. The theft of bicycles and mopeds has run rampant.

Han Song

Kaneohe

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Other murders an attack on us, too

Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House, recently gave a very moving address to the Congress regarding the recent shooting of his fellow legislators. He stated that the attack on one is an attack on all.

When are we, as Americans, going to widen the circle of concern to all Americans who are victims of violence in this country? On a daily basis we have dozens of murders; many innocent people are victims of domestic violence and gang violence.

Why aren’t we considering these murders, too, as an attack on all of us? We need to find the root causes of violence in our society, admit the problems, and then do whatever we can to attack these problems the best we can. Or are we going to be willing to accept these deaths and assaults as just a part of the American landscape?

Roman Leverenz

Aliamanu

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Cat litter brand insults Hawaiians

I am so weary of disrespectful misuse of Native Hawaiian intellectual property and cultural traditions. I just found out about a new product, “Fresh Step Hawaiian Aloha” cat litter, which claims that “it’s like a luau for your litter box.” I thought this was a joke at first, but it’s real.

This is so spectacularly wrong and insulting. Think of it: dancers, event production companies, food vendors, lei makers, musicians, festivals — not to mention cultural traditions, both sacred and popular — now all equated in the marketplace with something to control the smell of cat excrement.

Why did Clorox and Proctor & Gamble, who purport to be positive about diversity, do it? I am sure they wouldn’t have created a Mexican, Jewish or Japanese version of cat litter. Why are Hawaiians considered fair game?

I hope markets stop selling it. Please do not buy it.

Amy Marsh

Pahoa