Remove ImagesLetters
This Weeks Letters
BERTRAM SPEAKS OUT
November 16, 2006
Eh brah—OK, I didn't really catch the "gadfly" thing last time
("Know Your Candidates!" Oct. 26, 2006). I knew it wasn't good but I
had to look it up. Egad! Gad*fly: a fly that bites or annoys livestock!
Will your attacks never end? Do you know how high a gadfly could fly if
a gadfly could fly high? At least I do. But I don't gad (to wander
about restlessly with little or no purpose) and I'm no gaffer (old man,
rustic).
But now you find me short, with short gray hair! Am I also
shortsighted? What are my other shortcomings? Still with my shortness,
you can't get over it! Like getting over a cold or a divorce? What
about getting through or around it?
And I'm always speaking (won't shut up) at public hearings (where no
one listens). Finally you accuse me of "sitting pretty over [in the
11th]" ("Midterm Follies," Nov. 9, 2006)—I've never over-sat in my
district ever and I pledge to your readers to address this and many
other serious community issues in the Legislature. And I'm not old.
-Representative-elect Joe Bertram III, 11th District
Why do we allow war or other dramas to be the only way we can meet
our neighbors and create or participate in a sense of community
("Warrior Society," Nov. 2, 2006)? Why have we forgotten how to live
together in peace? Why do we need a common enemy to "rally" around so
that we feel smarter and superior? Why do we let warmongers with no
love for the well-being of their country jerk us around? Let's figure
it out, people. It's called being responsible for the wellbeing of the
community and for ourselves. Actually, it's called Democracy.
-Blue Moon, via email
WHAT TRUTH?
Anthony, brah, congratulations for finally telling the masses about
the truth! ("The Brave and the Dead," Nov. 9, 2006). Some of us have
heard such stories... usualy repeated upon faith to defend the
oppressed, desperate and disposed in this society. Your article showed
facts that cannot be argued that there was indeed a larger,
intentional, devious, evil hand involved in the crack epidemic that
strangled the inner city... and then the suburbs (which finally caused
people to notice).
Why would they (the USgovernment) do such things? To keep the poor
and dependant poor and dependant. There is no better "boogey man" in
America than a cracked-out black man with a gun.
-Arthur Madison, Lahaina
Anthony Pignataro responds: Thanks
for the compliment, but I should make clear that at no time has any
evidence surfaced that the CIA intentionally moved crack cocaine into
inner cities to eradicate African Americans. The CIA admitted that its
assets working for the contra rebels sold drugs in America's inner
cities during the 1980s, but no evidence of a larger conspiracy has
ever surfaced. What's more, reporter Gary Webb never made such
assertions either, but that didn't stop the mainstream media from
attacking him for exactly that nonsense.
Maui Time welcomes letters commenting on
our coverage, but only if they're complimentary. If you still wish to
complain about something, please have the decency to use plenty of bad
punctuation and grammar—that makes it easier for us to make fun of you
when we respond. We also reserve the right to edit your letters. Send
your letters to the editor via e-mail (letters@mauitime.com), regular
mail (Letters to the Editor, Maui Time Weekly, 33 N. Market St., Ste.
201, Wailuku, HI 96793-1742) or fax (808-244-0446). All correspondence
must include your full name, hometown and phone number.