BEING PART OF HAWAI'I HISTORY WAS PRIVILEGE

As history was being made in 1959 I can proudly state and I fondly remember that I was there.

Being stationed at Schofield Barracks and then a staff sergeant with Mortar Battery, 25th Infantry Division, 35th Battle Group (The Cacti) in Quad D, we had just finished a three-day survival training exercise on the East Range when it was announced that Hawai'i had been admitted as the 50th state.

Our battle group was selected to participate in a statehood parade.

After some practice at Schofield we were bused to old Fort DeRussy at the exact site of the Hale Koa Hotel and we lined up for one of the most memorable parades I ever was in, in my 29 years of active duty.

We marched from Fort DeRussy down Kalia Road, on to Kalakaua Avenue, down Ala Moana boulevard to the Aloha Tower. The sidewalks were lined with thousands and thousands of lovely Hawaiian people cheering and celebrating statehood.

Yes, I was there and I will never forget those days in 1959 in lovely, beautiful Hawai'i.

Mahalo, Hawai'i, for giving me the privilege to be part of history.

Al Eisner | Wheaton Silver Spring, Md.

JUDICIAL SELECTION

PUBLIC INPUT NEEDED ON NEXT FEDERAL JUDGE

The Hawai'i Federal Judicial Selection Commission needs your input in selecting our next federal judge.

Federal judges hold much power. They are appointed for life and they even have the power to order the president of the United States to act, although this power is rarely used. Federal judges interpret and uphold our U.S. Constitution, including our precious Bill of Rights.

They also decide on significant civil and criminal matters that impact not only the parties directly involved, but that also set precedent for other matters that have a much broader effect. There are only four full-time federal judge positions available for the District (State) of Hawai'i — so each one is important.

Hawai'i is one of only 10 states that have a merit selection commission — the independent Hawai'i Federal Judicial Selection Commission — to screen applicants to make sure that only the most qualified names are submitted for consideration and confirmation by the president and the U.S. Senate.

We appeal to all of you to help make this process work and to demonstrate to our senators and our president that the merit selection process that Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka created does work, and that our justice system is much better as a result.

The commission is taking nominations now and require completed applications by Sept. 4. For more information, you can go to: http://inouye.senate.gov/Press/Judicial-Selection.cfm; http://akaka.senate.gov/public/judicial.html; www.hsba.org; or contact me at 523-2654.

Lawrence S. Okinaga | Chairman of the Hawai'i Federal Judicial Selection Commission

HEALTH CARE

KUDOS TO OBAMA ON END-OF-LIFE PROVISION

By joining the hysterical Republican reaction to the Obama health bill's provision to compensate doctors for end-of-life counseling, Gov. Lingle is guilty of political opportunism at its worst, pandering to the most stupid citizens' ignorance and fear.

With one quarter of Medicare cost spent on the last year of life, changes are essential to ration health care more efficiently. Money wasted on ultimately useless medical procedures that only prolong pain and suffering for terminal patients often result from ignorant relatives' refusal to use common sense in their demands.

The Obama administration deserves credit, not obloquy, for tackling this difficult problem, instead of exploiting it like Sarah Palin and other Republican troglodytes.

C.W. Griffin | Honolulu

PROVISION FOR ALL IS A MATTER OF BASIC RIGHTS

Within the disinformation circulated by some special interests is the idea that health care reform would establish a "death panel" to coerce euthanasia of the elderly to save money. However, the current system may in some cases amount to indirect forced euthanasia, since the lives of many of the 46 million Americans without adequate health care may be jeopardized.

The U.S. government signed the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in Article 25.1 that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

In spite of the economic crisis, foreign debt and two wars, in many respects the United States remains the richest country in the world. If the U.S. can spend trillions on the Iraq war, then surely it can spend billions on the security of its own citizens in terms of health care.

America is bankrupt morally if it cannot provide its citizens with the basic survival needs of safe air, water, food, shelter and medicine. The provision of access to the necessities of life for every citizen cannot be summarily dismissed as socialism; it is simply a matter of common sense, humanity, decency and rights.

Dr. Leslie E. Sponsel | Honolulu

STATE BUDGET

TAP HURRICANE FUND FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

City Councilman Romy Cachola and the Advertiser editorial board make excellent arguments for tapping Hawai'i's Hurricane Relief Fund to address the state's $786 million deficit.

Now, state lawmakers and the governor must ensure the fund's $185 million support the one area where taxpayers will see the most return: public education.

Investing in schools benefits all of us socially and economically by lowering costs on everything from fighting crime and drug use, to helping teen parents, providing healthcare and homeless services. Research shows that high school graduates have more job security, earning about $60,000 more over a lifetime than a dropout and contributing just as much more in taxes.

A 2005 report by The Campaign for Educational Quality at Teachers College, Columbia University, said, "Whether the growing youth population will contribute to economic productivity or become a drag on social resources hinges crucially on policy decisions to bolster educational investments."

Hawai'i's Department of Education is being cut by a massive $468.5 million. If we shortchange Isle students — our future leaders and workforce — we will all pay for it later.

Janis Akuna | Member, Hawai'i Board of Education and former Chairwoman of Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund