LET'S SHIELD CHILDREN FROM FEAR, IGNORANCE

"Protect our children." This statement was more like a mantra from those opposing the civil union legislation at the testimony hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee not long ago.

Yet, growing up in a loving home, my parents were straight, my brothers and sisters were straight, my aunties and uncles were straight, my neighbors were straight. I had never encountered a gay person in my youth and still I turned out gay. Children do not become gay by influence; they become gay despite every kind of influence in our society.

Rather, let us protect our children from the fears, ignorance, and injustices perpetuated by those who seemingly protect them in our society, including their parents.

IOWA ACCOMPLISHED WHAT ISLES FAILED TO

Thank you, Iowa!

Iowa did what California and Hawai'i failed to do: provide full protection and human rights for a minority.

It has been said that a ballot fight in Iowa, which has just 3 million people, would cost significantly less than the more than $70 million total spent by both sides in California.

Where is the Sermon on the Mount when you need it? Blessed are the — Where are the blessed when people who reportedly follow Jesus misuse church funds to divide families from each other?

How could the $70 million have benefited the children of California? Seventy million dollars could have helped the students in public schools or the families finding protection in abuse shelters or the newly unemployed workers in homeless shelters.

The Jesus that I learned about in Holy Trinity Catholic School would have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, sheltered the families of domestic violence, and provided shelter for the newly unemployed workers in this financial crisis.

That's what I think Jesus would have done. Yes, he would!

REAL ISSUE IS ABOUT VALUING PRINCIPLES

I am writing in response to those who have written on April 2 in favor of civil unions and have criticized opponents for their "bigotry" and churches for organizing "fears and prejudices."

Proponents of civil unions seek to legitimize the union of same-sex couples by conferring the same legal rights and privileges that have been granted to traditionally married couples. However, for many who are opposed to civil unions, I feel the real issue is not about denying equal rights or discriminating against a minority group; rather, it is about preserving the normalcy and sanctity of marriage as a union between one man and one woman as ordained by God; it is about not compromising principles for the sake of tolerance and changing times.

I am reminded of Dwight D. Eisenhower's words of wisdom: "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."

MENTAL HEALTH

PLEASE KEEP VISION OF REHABILITATION ALIVE

Now more than ever the mentally ill need support to stay on their medications, find jobs and maintain a typical lifestyle to the best of their ability. The statewide clubhouse system that is part of the Department of Health mental health services division has been successful in maintaining a critical link in the balance the mentally ill live with to see improvement in their lives and to provide value to society.

The statewide clubhouses have long had community support in the form of this well-documented, productive solution for the mentally ill and the society they live in along with the rest of us.

Having been part of a volunteer group, the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Hawaii, which dedicated 12 weekends and countless dollars in building an on-site outdoor sanctuary for the Downtown Hale O Honolulu, I would be joined in dismay and sadness by dozens of volunteers and myriad beneficiaries if this goes by the wayside.

We're just about to complete a direly needed facility on Moloka'i. Will this go to waste, too, along with the high density of Moloka'i's population who need these services?

Please say no. Please keep this incredible vision borne of dedication to successful rehabilitation of Hawai'i's mentally ill alive and working for our community.

TRASH PICKUP

CONSIDER EFFICIENCY BEFORE AN ADDED FEE

I read with interest the article on trash pickup in the Sunday Advertiser. Trash pickup was never "free." The cost was just hidden in the other taxes.

What is so disheartening is the total lack of willingness to consider other solutions such as better routings for pickup and fewer stops and starts for the trucks.

Reorganizing city departments for more efficient service wouldn't hurt. Why is it that what the city does is always perfect and that they believe they can spend our cash to the limit? Why do we always have to pay more for what could be done better?

And what Gary Okino said was a mind-blower. Apart-ment and condo dwellers do not pay for trash pickup? Give me a break.

It's a real sorry mess that when times are bad and people can't afford to eat out that the City Council believes that we have to pay more for trash pickup.

HAWAII SUPERFERRY

LETTER, COLUMN AN INTERESTING MATCHUP

There is an interesting matchup between Jay Fidell's column (April 5) and Kip Goodwin's letter in the same edition.

Mr. Goodwin says Superferry protesters were not against ferries per se; just against those that carry cars, are very big and transport more than "some cargo." He favors ferries that are not unusually fast, not "too big for the population base," are "appropriate to our travel needs" and have Hawai'i ownership. He arrogates to himself the right to make these decisions and judgments. Without a nickel's worth of financial investment in a ferry, he wants to set the rules for the investment others will make.

This is outrageous thinking. Imagine allowing the state the right to make such decisions — after the fact no less — for any of your own investments.

Mr. Fidell does not argue that investors should be free to exploit precious resources with no controls. He does point out the outrage of what has happened with our environmental laws and the tyranny being exercised against our populace and investors by the Sierra Club and activists like Mr. Goodwin. He notes, too, just how much this will harm us. Is anyone listening?