We need
the military
I just have a hard time understanding people like Jim Albertini (Your Views, April 21).
His letters are usually peppered with the usual tropes: War is bad; the military is bad and should not train; white people are guilty of racism from birth, so therefore are unknowingly evil; Hawaii is sacred, and no other place on Earth is as righteous.
I wonder if Jim has been to 20 countries and all 50 states, like I have. I wonder if he knows there is this huge world beyond this Connecticut-sized slab of rock in the middle of nowhere.
It is always easy to pound one’s chest and say war is bad and never offer a solution. It is easy to tell people how evil the military is — until another military comes into play, demanding you change your ways.
Hawaii is sacred, but so is every square inch of dirt on this planet. But we have to build roads, buildings, sidewalks and many useful things on it.
When should the military train, Mr. Albertini? Should the military just wait until another well-trained military decides to invade?
Mr. Albertini seems to have it right about war. But if we do not prepare for war, you get taken over.
Think being weak and untrained is cool and pono? Visit Ukraine. The untrained among us get to have their families killed and towns ruined and economies wrecked, while they helplessly stand by and watch, waving their rainbow flags of love and tolerance.
Allen Russell
Hilo
Full-service stations
What happened to full service at the gas stations?
It’s really sad Hilo has no full-service stations … well, I know of only one so far. It’s sad. There people out there that could use the help to put air in their tires, check under the hood, etc.
Whoever is in charge, can someone do something to bring back full service at Hilo’s gas stations?
William James
Pepeekeo
