SITUATION WITH PRESIDENT OUT OF HAND

I was amazed at all the clamor and to see the different angles from which each faction conveniently interprets what has occurred. I don't know who is right or wrong; I don't have the facts. But by all accounts, cool heads should have prevailed in any case. With this in mind, let's look at the people involved.

We have professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. He is reported to be one of the most brilliant minds in the nation. Highly educated, a teacher and a forger of characters — an example of intellect and balanced intelligence whose example is followed by many. But he was unable to keep his temper in check and do his best to avoid an unnecessary confrontation.

We have an eminent lawyer who also happens to be the president of the United States, the highest office in the land. By his own admission, without having knowledge of all the facts, he was also unable to control his mouth and added fuel to the fire by calling the action of the police "stupid."

Then we have Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley. I don't know what his education is but my guess is that it is not at the same level of the professor and the president. He is probably your average citizen, working diligently for the community that he has pledged to serve. Furthermore, Sgt. Crowley was called to the scene by a concerned citizen and asked to investigate a possible house break-in. He was trying to do his job.

The situation seems to have escalated and got a bit out of hand. But somehow, everyone seems to put all the blame on Sgt. Crowley.

My question is: If an eminent Harvard professor and the president of the United States could not defuse the situation ... need we say more?   

Franco Mancassola | Hawai'i Kai

GAMBLING TAX

NEW LAW IS SHIBAI — WHAT'S NEXT?

Ms. Lingle, could you tell me what can I spend my discretionary money on without being taxed? Will you start taxing me if I donate to a charity? This new law is shibai in the first place, being retroactive to January 2009. Bet you guys will start taxing the retirees, the homeless, the money you get when you redeem your cans and bottles or maybe have us pay to use the public restrooms, or tax us for using the beaches. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have used the word bet. Mr. Chong and Ms. Lingle, this shall be your legacy for Hawai'i.

Rudy Samson | 'Ewa Beach

FEDERAL RESERVE

FED, CRONY FRIENDS ARE WHAT AILS U.S.

With the recent dustup in Congress over the bill to audit the Federal Reserve, I wonder what the Fed has to hide. Their crimes, of course! The Fed is a group of private individuals, many foreign, that prints money out of thin air and lends it to the U.S. government at interest. Is this the most perfect racket ever? The Fed was created in 1913, through bribery and secrecy, when most of Congress was on Christmas recess, by some of the world's most nefarious characters. Designed to enslave freemen and enrich the tyrannical and usurious, the Fed has become the very thing Thomas Jefferson warned us about. The Fed and its Goldman Sachs cronies are the sickness that ails America, and the remedies being discussed only apply to the symptoms. We need to cure the illness, not the symptoms. Maybe we should tell China and Japan to collect their U.S. debt from the Fed members, personally.   

Mike Rueli | Kaimuki

CLUNKERS PROGRAM

OLD CARS COULD BE USED BY HOMELESS

With the advent of the "old car" clunker program, many of these will be SUVS, vans and minivans. Why not disable the engine, remove the fuel and place them in an area with appropriate personal facilities and offer them to the homeless?

Bob Frye | Sunset Hill, North Shore

CELL PHONE BAN

SOME SCOFFLAWS GO TO RIDICULOUS LENGTHS

My wife and I saw something so ridiculous that I had to write a letter. This lady was talking on her cellular phone while driving but was cowering below the top of the steering wheel, I guess hoping no one would see her on the phone. Now talking is dangerous enough but trying to hide behind the steering wheel while talking is too much. She certainly had me fooled. I had absolutely no idea what she was up to.

I wish I could draw an editorial cartoon of someone driving a car looking through a periscope while on the phone or texting.

Gary Nakanishi | Honolulu

TINMAN TRIATHLON

ANGEL WITH PICKUP TRUCK SAVED THE DAY

A big mahalo to Katie with the pickup truck who rescued me and Rachel off Kalaniana'ole Highway during the Tinman Triathlon, something the Tinman officials or HPD were unwilling or unable to do.

Rachel ran with her broken bike from the big Hawai'i Kai hill to past West Hind Drive and I walked with my broken bike hitchhiking from the Hawai'i Kai beach park to West Hind Drive. Thousands of cars, trucks, vans, and police vehicles passed us without anybody stopping to help.

Then came guardian angel Katie with the pickup truck. Thank you, Katie, for taking a chance on two desperate Tinman participants, and taking time out of your busy Sunday morning to rescue two women in obvious need of help.

And thank you, Rachel, for your inspiration and motivation. After Katie got us close enough to Kapi'olani Park to run with our bikes the rest of the way in, I was ready to quit. But not you, your "heck, I'm finishing; let's run" attitude reminded me what Tinman is all about. Every finisher is a winner.

Guardian angel Katie with the pickup truck was our hero this day. Mahalo, Katie!   

Marie Manning | Honolulu