Response to cartoon
Response to cartoon
Once again, Gary Hoff’s weekly contribution to the Commentary page has left my mind in a quandary.
His cartoon depicts a military exercise taking place at Pohakuloa Training Area, with the comment, “giving new meaning to ‘The rockets Red Glare, the bombs bursting in air.’”
New meaning? Does he think Francis Scott Key wrote those words about Fourth of July fireworks? No, he is referring to real rockets and real bombs at the battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
The United States was defending “the land of the free and the home of the brave” against a British invasion. It is the well-armed and well-trained military that has kept it that way for more than 200 years. This is what allows the uke player and hula girl to enjoy the “Land of Aloha.”
Maybe the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air have faded from Mr, Hoff’s memory of a certain day in December 1941.
Gary Marshall
Keaau
‘Problem solved’
All the hoo-ha about the secondary access road and whoever is blocking it is not a big deal. It needs to be done, and the state and county cannot put it off any longer because they let tens of thousands of us move here with an active volcano, and we’ll need a way to get the heck out of Dodge when Pele comes again.
Make a nice two-lane road from Nanawale to Hawaiian Beaches/Shores and then on to Makuu Drive in Paradise Park. Then, the drivers will have 30 different roads to drive on to get over to Shower Drive, where Shipman’s Bill Walter can philanthropically offer a way through his land to join Railroad Avenue in Hilo. That way, many folks can avoid Highway 130 and Pahoa altogether on their daily commute to Hilo.
While he is at it, Mr. Walter can gift his white sand beach back to the people of Hawaii, as he has enjoyed it privately himself for way too long, and the Puna folks are desperate for beach access. Give him a tax break or something. I’m sure you in politics know how to do it.
Problem solved!
Sara Steiner
Pahoa