‘Offensive activity’
‘Offensive activity’
Yes, Mr. (James) Borden, I certainly agree with your “rights” as provided in our U.S. Constitution, wherein Article I of that document clearly states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press,” etc.
Now, let’s take a careful look at the definition of the word “speech” as defined by Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary: “The act of speaking; the expression or communication of thoughts and feelings by spoken words, vocal sounds and gestures.”
Mr. Borden, I find nothing in either the U.S. Constitution nor Webster’s that defers to the use of signage to abridge the term “speech”! However, in my opinion, you are flagrantly abusing your rights when you openly display your offensive and disruptive signs or speak in an offensive manner at Lincoln Park in Hilo or, for that matter, any other public place.
Seems to me you should exercise some common sense and cease your disruptive and offensive activity as obviously pointed out by many of our citizens.
As an alternative, you can park your truck and its signage on your own property!
Ron Baptista
Mountain View
A tourist’s view
During most of July, we were tourists in the Puna District. During a visit to the Maku‘u Farmers Market, we stopped by a booth staffed by volunteers from the community clinic in Pahoa.
They were passing out information about rat lungworm disease and recruiting people for blood tests to determine the prevalence of the disease.
As you know, the parasite enters your body through unwashed fruits and vegetables. Its worms eat your lungs, your immune system goes into overdrive and it becomes life-threatening. There is no straightforward cure.
Other than the volunteers at Maku‘u, we saw no other notices — not in the Malama Market, not at Uncle Robert’s, not on the radio, nothing. Prevention is easy: Wash your fruits and vegetables.
Please give everyone a chance to avoid this horror. Please do more pubic health outreach.
Not addressing this emerging issue is hardly consistent with the aloha spirit. In fact, I resent the negligence, as I am sure those who live in Puna do or will shortly.
Robert Steward
West Hills, Calif.