In the trenches
As a retired law enforcement officer, I feel the need to respond to the “Excessive force” letter published in Your Views on July 20.
The writer states: “Daniel made the serious mistake of cutting the forearm of an officer with a kitchen knife.” So she can honestly predict that Daniel was intent on cutting his forearm only and not trying to stab the officer in the chest?
She continues: “I feel sad for how he and his fellow officer must feel about the uncalled for killing of a frightened young man who wrongfully created that forearm wound.”
First of all, how can she know how the officers feel? And she also contradicts herself by saying the forearm wound was not a mistake but “wrongfully” created, so she is admitting that Daniel was at fault for this incident.
Again, she writes: “The ‘shoot to kill’ police mentality has been exposed (especially since George Floyd),” but she fails to realize that Floyd was not shot and killed by the police.
Lastly, she says “Danny ‘overreacted’ to the forceful entry … ,” so again she admits that Danny was the one who overreacted and caused the responding officers to react as they did.
I could go on and on. But, lady, unless you’ve been in the trenches of being a police officer who puts his life on the line every time he reports for duty, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.
Prentiss Moreno
Hilo
All one race
Recently, the Tribune-Herald published a letter that left me a tad perplexed.
The writer was a teacher of sorts, and he went on a rant extolling the need to fight racism by educating children in school.
As a Caucasian person and the mother of two very white children who were basically assaulted and insulted throughout their elementary school years in the Big Island, as well as me a 35-year Hawaii resident who was routinely denied access to job opportunities by the local folk in view of my eternal haole status, I sincerely hope this teacher who sports a European name will teach local children that we all form part of one race — the human race.
Jeanne Seimer
Hilo
Dead batteries
A current solution is very often the source of a future problem.
All batteries die, and with the growing popularity of solar power, if there is not a plan to collect and dispose of those batteries, you will have a switch from one environmental problem to another.
This will be largely ignored until the problem has gotten out of hand, causing the gnashing of teeth, the pulling of hair and the pointing of fingers.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa
