Biden is great
In regard to “Biden is terrible” (Your Views, March 3), Mr. Allen Russell defeats his own premise.
His missive asks that we examine our backgrounds and hearts for service to “both nation and community” as he excuses former President Trump for his lack of service to either.
Trump dodged military service with bone spurs in his foot, though he could not even remember which foot; and if he served his community, why have we not heard about it?
His good citizenry includes scamming people in “Trump University,” his shuttered foundation, and a half-dozen bankruptcies. Hundreds of people were injured in those enterprises, yet Trump always came away flush.
I am one of those “polarized leftists” that Mr. Russell references. I have my Vietnam Service Medal. I flew bombers off aircraft carriers. I have beneficially given and/or raised millions of dollars for charities. I was on the boards of both Communities In Schools and the YMCA, and I am a member of Rotary. I tutored students for more than a decade.
I look up to President Biden and resent the assertion that he has “done nothing for the U.S. in his time, except play (sic) lip service to black Americans.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black member of Congress said it well: “I know Joe, we know Joe, but most importantly, Joe knows us… . I can think of no one with the integrity, no one more committed to the fundamental principles to make this country what it is than my good friend, my late wife’s great friend, Joe Biden.”
Our country has suffered the slings and arrows of the British burning the U.S. Capitol, confederates seceding from the union and attacking the U.S., terrorists attacking the World Trade Center and our Capitol.
We need not look that far back, though, to find enemies of the state. We need only look back two months to the day that our own President Donald John Trump sent his mob to destroy our democracy.
Gerry Baldwin
Hilo
Excuses, excuses
Regarding comments by readers (Tribune-Herald, Your Views) about roadside trash: I drove to Hilo a couple weeks ago and was appalled to see the Department of Transportation mowing the Panaewa median.
No one thought to pick up trash ahead of time, so mowers were simply shredding and spreading plastics, paper, glass, etc.
I actually spoke to someone at DOT and to a County Council member and suggested to both that they go pick up the litter. Of course, there was no further action, other than continued mowing.
“COVID, no gathering” is the reason I was just given by DOT for the Adopt-A-Highway program’s inactivity.
Another excuse: Blame COVID, rather than encourage people to pick up rubbish, and to pick up necessary supplies from DOT.
We all suffer from lack of government leadership. So easy to say “no can” and let it go at that. But of course our state (and county) highways deteriorate while the state spends who knows how much to mow the miles of median.
What a sad state of affairs!
Bobby Camara
Volcano