SAFETY

RED-LIGHT CAMERAS NEEDED, LONG OVERDUE

Red-light runners have become a fact of life in Honolulu.

We see them at nearly every intersection in town. Apparently, a yellow or red traffic signal means "step on the gas" to many drivers.

Yet, each year the Legislature fails to pass a red-light camera bill ("Red-light camera bill has little hope," April 20).

Why the controversy? If you obey the traffic signal laws, you should have absolutely no objection to red-light cameras. Privacy or constitutional concerns? At best, that's a thin argument by habitual red-light violators themselves.

One Neighbor Island state senator believes that red-light cameras are supposed to address "the main issue of pedestrian safety." But as state Rep. Joe Souki pointed out, red-light runners not only pose a danger to pedestrians but also to vehicular cross-traffic.

Visible and consistent enforcement of the traffic laws is the most effective means to deter or reduce red-light runners. The passage of a bill allowing the use of red-light cameras is long overdue.

GMO

TARO DECISION SHOULD BE MADE BY HAWAIIANS

The biocrop debate (Focus, April 29) casts the issue as one about science.

It would be more fruitful to recognize the political nature of the debate, and see that the deeper question is who should decide.

I would just as soon not have Monsanto's manager of scientific and community affairs make my food choices for me. I am not sure what qualifications he has to pronounce on what is good for our society or our environment or our community.

I will gladly receive the scientific information he has to offer, with proper citations of scientific sources, but I will do my own interpreting of that evidence, thank you.

The Monsanto manager commends Rep. Clift Tsuji and House Speaker Calvin Say for not hearing the bill that would ban genetic engineering research on taro.

The final decision on the management of taro should belong to Native Hawaiians and no one else. I am sure they would respectfully receive whatever scientific information others have to offer, but those others should respect Hawaiians' right to decide what to do with that information.

If they want to make their decision more on cultural grounds than on what some describe as scientific grounds, a decent respect for our hosts would tell us that the choice regarding taro is theirs to make. Taro belongs to the indigenous people of Hawai'i, not to anyone else.

THEATER

'FRAMED' A CHALLENGING, SOPHISTICATED OFFERING

The problem with an overly critical review of a play is that it might keep people away who would thoroughly enjoy the play.

I had a completely different take on "Framed" from that of your reviewer, who called it "slow and unclear," and said the "two acts work like a long, slow walk in the park."

I found the play perfectly clear, and it clipped along in a sprightly manner. The four characters each desperately want something, and each uses a different method to achieve those wants. Through quick, quirky, highly amusing scenes, we watch each one develop.

If you want a fast-paced, hit-you-over-the head drama with simplistic answers all laid out, leaving you nothing to cogitate on afterward, this play is not for you.

If, however, you want a challenging, sophisticated play, suffused with humor, that reveals its message gradually, with characters you'll reflect on long after the final curtain, by all means don't miss "Framed."

UH BASKETBALL

IRONY IN NASH DECISION REGARDING ALIKA SMITH

New University of Hawai'i basketball coach Bob Nash chose to terminate Alika Smith as an assistant coach because of Alika's lack of "seasoning."

Exactly how much seasoning did Bob Nash have when he was hired as an assistant basketball coach at UH?

AGRICULTURE

SHORTSIGHTEDNESS CAUSED ISLE BEE CRISIS

Well, it looks like we've done it again. Coqui frogs were bad enough, but now, just when Hawai'i is poised to become the major supplier of mite-free queen bees throughout the world, negligence, stupidity and inept management have let a major bee pest into our state.

Worst of all, instead of a decision to quarantine O'ahu bees, we will instead "urge" O'ahu beekeepers not to let the insect pest spread interisland.

Not one politician, civil servant, or governmental regulator had the foresight to establish an inspection program or outright ban on the trans-shipment of bees through Hawai'i to protect against the varroa mite.

Shortsightedness has once again endangered a potential windfall agricultural market for Hawai'i. Was anyone listening to Hawai'i beekeepers when they objected to shipping bees from mite-contaminated areas through Hawai'i, or the requests for inspection protocol for ships, containers and planes arriving from such areas?

Stopping invasive species must be given higher legislative and regulatory priority.

TAKING WING

MANY FINE AVIATION EXHIBITS AT MUSEUM

I enjoyed reading Lee Cataluna's column about the Pacific Aviation Museum (April 29).

However, it should be added that there are many more impressive aircraft and exhibits in the museum than are mentioned in the article — the very impressive Mitchell B-25 bomber, for example.

MIDEAST

TREMENDOUS BLAME ALL AROUND FOR IRAQ WAR

The second Iraq war has been a disaster because of its deceitful conception and its poor strategic execution.

It has crippled our hunt for Osama bin Laden and made his forces much stronger. Staying the course indefinitely may not be "defeatism," but it is defeat and failure.

However, leaving sooner or later will probably mean a collapse of the house of cards that is the Iraqi government. It is a terrible dilemma, similar to our nightmare in Vietnam.

There is tremendous civilian blame to go around for this disgraceful perversion to our spirit after 9/11. It lies primarily at the very top, from our president and vice president, but does extend to nearly every U.S. citizen.

Wake up, America. Never again.