MAY WE PLEDGE TO TEAR DOWN DIVISIONS

My heart was deeply touched as I read the commentary (Nov. 10) by Nobel laureate and former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. I was raised during the Cold War, learning in school to "drop" under my desk, covering my head as I crouched in fear with my back to the windows. As Mr. Gorbachev says, "While we politicians from the last century can be proud of the fact that we avoided the danger of a thermonuclear war, for many millions of people, the world has not become a safer place."

Robert Frost said it well: "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." The Berlin Wall has come down, but many other walls remain: the walls surrounding Palestinian villages in the occupied territories, the walls separating us from our Mexican neighbors, the invisible wall keeping families from one another in divided Korea, the many walls we build between ourselves and those who seem different or strange.

For the sake of those who have fought and died and for the sake of the children and grandchildren who follow after us, may we commit ourselves to tearing down walls that divide and building a world of justice and peace for all.

the Rev. barbara grace ripple | Aiea

B&BS

ALLOW LICENSED, REGULATED OPERATIONS

In response to Mark Erwin (Letters, Nov. 3), I also live in a nice, quiet, neighborhood. I am local, and my family has lived in this house since 1960. There is a B&B next door, and across the street. Driving in my neighborhood, you would never know they existed.

B&B owners are more apt to keep their property well-tended and, at least in my neighborhood, are good neighbors. I enjoy staying at a B&B when I travel, as it gives one a chance to "blend in." As long as they are licensed, and well-regulated, I think B&Bs should be allowed.

annette spinaio |Kailua

JONES ACT

LAWSUIT ACCUSATIONS HAVE NO REAL BASIS

Erstwhile gubernatorial candidate John Carroll has brought suit accusing the Jones Act of "inflating the cost of living and doing business in Hawaii" ("Jones Act unfairly hurts Isle business, suit alleges," Advertiser Nov. 2).

The same allegation can be levied against every regulatory provision in effect in the United States: minimum wage laws, environmental regulations, insurance requirements, taxes, etc.

The Jones Act simply requires companies transporting goods between two points in the United States to comply with U.S. law, just like every other business. It does not take a judicial pronouncement or even an advanced economics degree to realize that if you took away all regulation in the United States, the cost of business would be "cheaper."

If Mr. Carroll's logic in this lawsuit were applied across the board, there is no job in Hawaii that could not be outsourced to foreign workers who would perform the work at less cost to the business owner.

But Americans have long recognized that this is not sound economic or social policy, and thus we have formulated various laws to govern the conduct of our business affairs.

It leaves one to wonder as Mr. Carroll's current campaign disappears, will this "lawsuit"?

neil dietz | Port Agent, Seafarers International Union, Honolulu

FURLOUGHS

A TYPE OF STIMULUS, EXCEPT FOR THE KIDS

Wasn't the whole point of President Obama's stimulus bill to keep the economy afloat by spending more? Now all the states, including Hawaii, are spending less. What gives? A kind of anti-stimulus bill, I guess.

But the Friday furloughs are helping business in Hawaii rebound: My dentist says she's never been busier on Fridays, and lots of other businesses are creating activities for kids (pay at the door of course). It seems like the only people not being stimulated are my kids. But who cares about that, eh?

Marcus daniel | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

PLAN MUST BE GOOD FOR CONGRESS, TOO

So the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a new national health care package. Gee, if it is so good for me, I wonder if they required members of Congress to enroll in their own plan?

r. d. greenamyer | Mililani

CITY COUNCIL

COLUMN LEFT OUT REAL FACTS ON CANDIDATE

This letters is in regard to the Nov. 6 column by Lee Cataluna, "Getting a head start on council campaign."

In this era of consolidated news mergers, my gravest concern is that objective, comprehensive and responsible journalistic reporting has completely vanished. In addition to being biased, the article failed to mention any substantial reasons to support Stanley Chang.

I could not ascertain one iota of information about his platform, community service record or where he stands on any of the pressing issues facing District 4 or this city. Instead I learned that he is cute, wears two kinds of sunscreen and worked for a firm that focuses on business counseling — hardly the background suitable to represent a district and city mired in problems.

deborah a. luckett, m.p.h. | Honolulu