Real U.S. history in memory hole

The essay by Lawrence J. Haas managed to turn post-World War II history upside-down ("Unwavering demo- cratic doctrines will allow U.S. to shape events," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 5).

He did this by claiming that since World War II, "Washington has sought to advance freedom and democracy around the world" and that the U.S. "has done so to great effect over the years."

In reality, the U.S. has supported a very long string of right-wing dictators by means of providing financial aid, American weapons, military training, political support, C.I.A. operations and, in some cases, military intervention to protect them against democratic opposition.

For your younger readers, much of this history is simply unknown, largely because the American mass media have done their best to ignore it.

This brings to mind what George Orwell called "the Memory Hole," a chute in the wall used to carry inconvenient documents down to an incinerator.

Oliver Lee
Aina Haina

Walking Waikiki very unpleasant

As a tourist visiting Waikiki, I am astonished at how many homeless you have sitting and lying on the sidewalks.

I feel sympathy for the plight of most homeless people. I feel there is a time and place for everything and everyone. However, the sidewalks of Waikiki are neither the place nor the time for the homeless. You cannot mix tourism with homelessness. It just does not work.

For instance, there is a group of up to a dozen homeless people enjoying themselves in front of Lulu’s Restaurant on Kalakaua Avenue. My wife and I are panhandled every time we try to get by this group.

It is not just a problem with the sidewalks. On the side streets, we repeatedly come across graffiti, garbage and situations where we do not feel safe.

It is not a pleasant experience and not something I can recommend to others.

Dennis Ihaksi
Vancouver, Canada

Some homeless almost familiar

We have been travelling to Waikiki Beach for the last three years now, and it is really a wonderful place.

It is unfortunate that so many street people just hang out, sleep and just destroy the beauty of walking Kalakaua Avenue. It seems that some of them have been there for years, since they even look familiar to us.

I hope that some solution can be found that will change the look of the street and not make it a good walk spoiled.

Larry Zub
Little River, S.C.

Politicians cater to the noisiest

Kudos to Alan Gottlieb of Kapolei for his clearing up the matter of GMO food production. And I have learned a new word: "Luddite" ("Organic farming can’t feed the world," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 14).

Indeed, I am among the silent majority who "value eating." The word "organic" has taken on an almost god-like meaning.

As Gottlieb pointed out, organic farming takes up far more resources in land and water and costs more for the consumer.

With Gottlieb’s quoting from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one might hope that the vocal minority will finally be quiet and let common sense and real science help feed the world.

As for our legislators doing the right thing, alas, this is too much to hope for, as the majority of themsympathize with the noisemakers for whom facts and incontrovertible evidence mean nothing.

Michael Gilleland
Kailua

Schofield sets good example

The recent letter regarding flashing lights for crosswalks is absolutely right.

Why not do what Scho-field has done? When a pedestrian approaches the crosswalk, flashing lights on both sides of the crosswalk light up, whether during the day or at night.

This is a no-brainer fix.

Bernice Mattingly
Mililani