New program helps teen girls

The American Civil Liberties Union and David Hipp of the state Office of Youth Services are rightly concerned that 80 percent of female wards at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility have committed minor offenses, and a lack of programs makes it difficult to re-enter communities successfully ("Improved youth prison still concerns ACLU," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 21). Meanwhile, girls’ share of juvenile arrests in Hawaii is rising. University of Hawaii professor Dr. Meda Chesney-Lind’s research shows 33.7 percent of juvenile arrests in Hawaii were girls in 1991, jumping to 41.7 percent in 2009.

Gender-responsive programs are important to making sure girls at HYCF and other facilities get the support they need to create a better life. Many girls struggle with trauma from neglect and abuse, and exhibit trauma symptoms like self-injury and running away.

One new example of such a program is Project Kealahou, a federally funded program within the state Department of Health. Inspired by other gender-responsive programs such as Girls Court, Project Kealahou provides support to girls by providing services such as trauma therapy, mentoring, support groups and cultural education.

Tia L. Roberts
Director, Project Kealahou

Rail transit will burden Hawaii

I can’t believe that the train is still going forward. Not one train in the entire U.S. has made money or broken even. Everyone will have to drive to the train stations and/or use TheBus at either end. Convenient? The unions are running our government. What’s going to happen when the work they are promised is done? Where will Hawaii be? I’ll tell you: broke and broken! Here’s a question that I would love someone to answer: How much will we have to pay to ride the train?

Tracie Pundyke
Kaneohe

Jesus would be with 99 percent

Before the big banks and mega-corporations hijacked much of our government of the people, by the people and for the people, our country seemed to have a reasonable balance between capitalism and socialism. Ever since the inhumane greed and power of the 1 percent has infiltrated our government, the devastating effects of "trickle-up economics" have never been clearer.

In light of this, the marriage between the Republicans and the religious right seems hypocritical. Republicans support many of the very things Jesus would oppose. Their affinity for military expansion and aggression stands in direct opposition to "thou shalt not kill," and everyone knows the story of Jesus ridding the temple of "money changers."

Gandhi said, "The best way to fight evil is to expose it," and I believe Jesus would have stood with the 99 percent who are courageously doing this in so many cities around the world today. Meanwhile, the religious right and Jesus look like two separate realities.

Bruce Lee
Hawaii Kai

Retail workers have it easier

I agree with Kathy Brindo’s heartfelt words of this wonderful time of year that helps us all take a pause from our daily stresses and be humble and thankful for the things we have ("Let shoppers gobble up all our holidays," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 28).

But for me, my words would have differed right after she indicated that retail workers are complaining about working on holidays, which they get paid time-and-a-half for doing. These workers should be grateful for having a job and one that offers overtime pay.

I’ve been a farm manager for almost 13 years. I guarantee one day of work here in the fields and the retail workers will be back at the stores with a gleaming smile, knowing they work in a clean, air-conditioned environment.

Han Song
Kaneohe

Heavy price for shopping

So this is what we’ve become?

A nation so obsessed with the launching of the Christmas shopping season that we set up camp around stores that open earlier and earlier every year and where acts of violence and muggery among shoppers and those who would rob them in store parking lots are just the price one pays to get the best deals.

I baled out of Christmas commercialism years ago and, like so many, cherished Thanksgiving as the one holiday with no religious or commercial baggage. No more. A time for families and friends gathering and celebrating their various traditions has become totally subordinate to the overarching goal of getting to the front of the line at Best Buy or Toys R Us.

Consumer spending is what everyone is counting on to get the economy moving again — but what price are we paying?

Nancy Davlantes
Kaneohe

NAFTA no guide to Pacific pact

"The U.S. was forced by NAFTA to accept Mexican trucks on U.S. highways despite violations of truck safety standards." That line in Ralph Sato’s letter against the Trans Pacific Partnership reveals myths that need exposure ("Pacific trade pact has very dark side," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 28). First, the North American Free Trade Agreement doesn’t force anything. It is not an entity, but merely a contract signed by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. It is the outcome of a negotiation that, by definition, can’t always support the desires of only one party.

Second, Mexican trucks only began rolling on U.S. highways in October, having been fought off for 16 years by U.S. unions and truckers defending their turf. It is too early to say they are unsafe. Canadian trucks, whose standards are also different, have been on U.S. highways since 1982 with no apparent problem.

None of this has anything to do with TPP, nor will we see trucks crossing the Pacific. TPP is still in negotiation. Let’s wait and see what comes out.

Steve Craven
Honolulu

Obama: Take on Congress

Thomas Friedman makes a very good point that President Barack Obama should adopt the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan as his own for 2012 ("Obama can trump the GOP if he leads in a new way," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 25). I agree that he should not waste effort defining his Republican rivals in as ugly a way as possible. If the primary season is any indicator, they will do that for themselves.

But I would add to Friedman’s prescription that "in times of crisis, leaders jump first." Leaders also prepare the way for that leap to be successful. Obama should do that by running mainly against congressional Republicans, like Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, who have openly declared that their highest priority has been to ensure that Obama is a one-term president.

Ed Gaffney
Ewa Beach