One proud teacher
I read Tuesday’s story about Chanelle Molina signing with the WNBA. She and her sisters worked so diligently to succeed and I am glad to see that it is paying off. I remember her sitting in my art class at Konawaena Middle School ages ago and am so proud of her and her sisters for a job well done.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Kailua-Kona
Save our fragile democracy
About 245 years ago our forefathers came to America to escape authoritarian governments controlled by kings and dictators. They preferred to be governed by a democratic system that allows citizen participation in the ruling process. These brave and dedicated people proceeded to develop our rules of law and our constitution. Twenty-seven amendments have been added to the constitution by the end of 2020.
Right now, we are in the middle of an unheard of second impeachment trial for a one-term president. He has shown us his disloyalty to the Constitution to which he took an oath to defend. He has incited our citizens to follow him and has directed them to violence in January. On Jan. 6, he directed an attack on our Capitol. Other infringements include perpetual lying, lack of compassion and empathy along with endless exhibiting narcissistic personality disorder behavior and actions.
I think of the many brave Americans who, in the past, put their fears aside and did what was required to maintain our fragile democracy. They sacrificed their lives, suffered on the battlefield and have lifetime scars. Their precious lives were interrupted.
What is happening to our country?
Our present congressional leaders should put aside their fears of job loss and unreasonable loyalty to their party at the expense of the American population; so our democracy can still be saved and the lives lost and the sufferings of previous Americans will not have been in vain. In the past, our military gave us their willingness to serve and protect our democracy. Now, it’s time for Congress to do the same.
Find former President Donald Trump guilty and ban him from ever holding any future government position. That is what he deserves. That will be justice.
Larry Emery
Kailua-Kona
The difference is …
T. Roth in a Feb. 2 letter asked why there were no terrorism alert warnings last summer for the Black Lives Matter protests. Simple, it was not terrorism. Yet, law enforcement coverage was not a problem, as it was in D.C. Arrests were made — 7,600 by one account, 10,000 by another.
Mr. Roth expected our representatives in D.C. to speak out against these “riots.” Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Rep. Ed Case and then-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard all signed on to the Justice in Policing Act, which was proposed in response to George Floyd’s death. Signing on shows where they stand on the need to address the protesters’ concerns. Of course, it died on Sen. Mitch McConnell’s desk.
Black Lives Matter protesters are not terrorists. The Capitol insurrectionists are. They were violent and destructive; their intent was to hurt people. The Jan. 6 riot was not only about former President Donald Trump’s inability to accept that he lost the election. White supremacy terrorism was determined by the FBI to be a national threat priority. These are the people who came in droves to the Capitol. These are the people who fought the police, killing one and hurting many others. Those who supported it, encouraged it, and incited it, need to be held accountable.
And we, as a country need to decide to disavow white supremacy and racism, and instead strive for the ideals of justice, equality, and democracy.
Diane Aoki
Kealakekua
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