BASELESS ATTACK NOT GOING TO HELP SYSTEM

After reading Darwin Ching's commentary ("DOE must make better budget choices," July 23), I'm relieved that his term as a Board of Education member appointed in 2005 by Gov. Linda Lingle didn't last long.

It would be troubling for someone who apparently lacks an understanding on how public schools operate to be in charge of how tax dollars are used for education. Ching has always advocated against Act 51, which gave schools more control over their budgets by allowing them to carry over 5 percent of funds each year.

This is critical to give principals the freedom to implement needed reforms by channeling money to areas where students are experiencing the most difficulty. Schools need this flexibility to quickly address challenges, whether it be an unexpected spike in enrollment or data showing a specific student group requiring intervention.

Running a school is no different than operating a business or a household, and I'm sure that in his own family finances, Ching has money set aside in case of emergencies. Fortunately, the Department of Education is now overseen by a new board that has recently set up an ad hoc committee specifically assigned to streamline operations to make our public school system more effective and efficient.

I agree that our schools are in need of help. However, Ching's unwarranted and baseless attack on the school system will be as helpful to improve education as his boss's multimillion-dollar cuts to schools.

Andrew D. Friedlander | Honolulu

MCMACKIN

MEDIA LAUGHED, THEN BLEW UP THE STORY

For a "bad attempt" at a joke, many members of the news media present during coach Greg McMackin's initial press conference certainly seemed to enjoy it based on the laughter said "joke" received.

Who wants to bet that those very individuals who enjoyed Coach Mac's attempt at comedy were the first ones to run any type of juice story?

I give Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weiss a lot of credit for quickly moving on from the entire situation. Can't say the same for many others. They know who they are. Laughing at the next inappropriate joke. Creating another overblown controversy.

Typical media. Typical hypocrites.

Sean Corpuz | Honolulu

MUCH MORE THAN AN APOLOGY IS NEEDED

Way to go, McMackin! The next time a GLBT youth is harassed, beaten or thrown out of their home he can take "pride" in knowing that he helped foster an environment where that is deemed expectable.

Talk is cheap and he needs to do more than a simple apology. Let's talk about a sizable donation to the local gay youth group to let those gay youth know they are valued and have a place to turn in their time of need. Then he should pay for a PSA out of his own pocket denouncing hate speech and homophobia, starring him. After all that is done, then and only then should the UH administration, the people of Hawai'i and the gay community accept his apology.

This is a teachable moment, and it appears that McMackin needs to be taught a lesson.

Michael Golojuch Jr. | Kapolei

It's no secret that Hawai'i lost the gay and lesbian market along with their families years ago thanks to politicians like Sam Slom and Mike Gabbard. The Japanese aren't coming because of swine flu and it's cheaper to vacation closer to home. Now, thanks to coach Greg McMackin's slur against the Catholics at Notre Dame, we are probably going to lose a good portion of the Catholic market and anything that was left of gay and lesbian travel. It seems like Hawai'i is certainly getting to be known across the country and around the world as the place not to visit. Here's the best part: almost half of the people here still don't bother to vote yet we contribute to McMackin's salary of over a million dollars a year. Are we nuts?

Walter Mahr | Mililani

STATEHOOD

FASHION INDEED PART OF REMEMBERING DAY

I have enjoyed all the articles regarding 50 years of statehood. The article on fashion really brought back the following memory: What I was wearing on Aug. 21, 1959.

I remember the day as clearly as some people remember the day a president was shot, or man walked on the moon or a rock star died.

I was visiting, from Seattle, my father, stepmother and two stepsisters in Inglewood, Ca. My sisters and I had just come inside from swimming at a neighbor's pool.

We were sitting on the floor in our damp, matching, Catalina blue-and-white-striped swimsuits. My stepmother came in the front door carrying the afternoon newspaper and held up the front page. "Look what happened on your 13th birthday." There I sat in my blue-and-white striped bathing suit feeling like I had just been handed the best gift ever.

Little did we know then that each of us would move to Hawai'i and spend close to 40 years in this beautiful 50th state that we call home.

Bobbe Joy Fernandez | Honolulu

WIENERMOBILE

TO TRY TO DEPRIVE KEIKI OF JOY IS SELFISH

I was lucky enough to win a ride in the "big hotdog" along with my 4-year-old grandnephew (who was very excited). It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us and we were grateful for that chance.

The Outdoor Circle's Bob Loy said they received six to 12 complaints from O'ahu residents (Advertiser, July 24). What about the other hundreds of thousands of "us residents"? Did this big hotdog cause some kind of permanent blight on "our" great state from June 28 to July 19?

During our ride I saw smiles on children and adults and many shaka signs from the people we passed and waved to. Which is something I'm sure we would all like to see more of, especially nowadays. To not allow them to return and give another child the same opportunity I think is selfish and coldhearted.   

V. Perry | Honolulu