Trump’s wall
There’s so much news about the wall and fall of President Donald Trump.
It reminds me of a childhood tale about Humpty Dumpty, who sat, and sat and sat on a wall. Yet, with a thump, he had a great fall. Couldn’t put himself back together again.
Amazingly, ironically and unintentionally enough, Trump pulled off what his predecessor couldn’t do. He brought together bipartisan cooperation in the Senate and the House. Great for America!
Of course, don’t be surprised if he later claims credit for that feat and Trump-ets “victory” via his tweets.
Isn’t politics interesting? What are we seeing here — 2020 hindsight or foresight?
Lloyd Fukuki
Waimea
PETA: Go vegan
Kulana Foods, which was suspended from operations for a second time when a USDA inspector saw workers attempt to drag a terrified pig from a truck using ropes tied around the animal’s ankles, should stop slaughtering animals entirely (“Kulana Foods’ decision to cease slaughter of small animals concerns some ranchers,” Tribune-Herald, Jan. 30).
Raising and killing animals for food is an ugly business. Even the best-regulated slaughterhouses are violently killing sensitive, intelligent beings who were denied everything that was natural and important to them.
All animals are individuals with personalities and feelings. Pigs, for example, like to play, explore, and sleep nose-to-nose. Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers’ voices, and mother pigs “sing” to their young while nursing.
Sheep are sensitive animals that can get upset when they’re separated from their friends and family members or are approached by strangers.
A United Kingdom farmer recently stopped taking lambs to slaughter and gave his flock to an animal sanctuary, saying that taking the animals to slaughter was stressing him out and that he hated to see the “animals going through that stress.”
He wants to stay “in the farming world, but not livestock farming,” and plans sell Indian dishes and vegetables at a street market. Other farmers also would be wise to switch to something that’s humane and profitable.
The best way to spare animals from pain and suffering is to go vegan. Hawaii is becoming more and more vegan-friendly every year, and Honolulu even scored a spot on PETA’s list of top 10 vegan-friendly cities in 2016.
To learn more, and order or download a free vegan starter kit, please see www.PETA.org.
Heather Moore
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Va.
Mahalo, HTH
The 21st annual Wailea Mochi Pounding was blessed by close to 900 people who made the “pilgrimage” to visit this Hamakua plantation-style village to experience good luck rice cakes made the traditional way — i.e., pounding steamed rice that was soaked and washed for three days.
This event is blessed by the volunteers who come out, year after year, from Hakalau and even Oahu to “kokua.” The vendors and entertainers come from Big Island. They have all become friends. We are simply one “mochi ohana.”
The Tribune-Herald has been most supportive by posting the mochi pounding in its Calendar section. On Dec. 31, the Tribune-Herald also published a full page about the event (“Being There”) using staff photographer Hollyn Johnson’s candid photos.
We are deeply grateful. Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo, Tribune Herald.
The 22nd annual Wailea Mochi Pounding will be 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 28, 2019. We are in gratitude.
Akiko Masuda and the “mochi ohana”
Wailea