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Letters for Wednesday, July 23, 2008
• Lifeguards’ quick response
• Shoot pigs, learn to bandage soldiers
• Protecting plots from birds
• Polarity of opinions
Lifeguards’ quick response
The article in Sunday’s The Garden Island describing the tragic drowning at Tunnels (“Woman pulled from Tunnels dies,” A1, July 20) needs some clarification. The article reports that “a pair of lifeguards arrived on the scene some 15 minutes after the woman had been pulled out of the water.”
The fact is that the lifeguards were at the victim’s side, with oxygen and a defibrillator, within 120 seconds of receiving the call from dispatch. And dispatch issued the call within seconds of recieving the 911 call. There is an unknown in this timeline, and that is how long it was before 911 was called by a bystander at the scene.
A lot of work has been done toward a system that achieves a rapid response by our lifeguards. The system includes having all the on-duty lifeguards being tied into 911, having defibrillators at every tower and having JetSkis and/or ATVs at certain towers. The Ha‘ena Beach Park tower has an ATV. The power of the bystander cell-phone is a key component to this system, but it’s not a component that can be controlled by our professionals.
What I wish I could say is that the Ha‘ena Beach Park lifeguards could, with their binoculars, reliably see all that is going on at Tunnels, two to three football fields away. They try their best, but it’s impossible, just as it’s impossible for the Po‘ipu Beach Park lifeguards to see all that is going on in front of the Waiohai and the Sheraton. For all our advances, this is still the dilemma we have on Kaua‘i: We have 10 lifeguard towers and we have 30 or 40 heavily used beaches. Many of these beaches (including Tunnels) have deceptive unseen currents. We’ve tried to impact this dilemma by having our ATVs and JetSkis, and many dozens of lives have been saved because of them and the skillful and brave lifeguards who operate them.
In other states many beaches actually have buoys and ropes that designate the area in which lifeguards can effectively oversee the swimmers and beachgoers. It’s a stretch for us to even be trying to impact much wider coverage areas. But unless we run into some serious windfall funding it’s the best we can do and we believe it’s worth the effort, even though there will inevitably be failures.
The “arrived after 15 minutes” statement makes our lifeguards look bad. The fact is they are really good. Just ask our emergency room nurses and doctors who regularly get to see their rescued near-drowning victims and the eternally grateful families.
Monty Downs,
emergency room doctor, Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Shoot pigs, learn to bandage soldiers
I would like to respond to an article in The Garden Island on Saturday (“PETA vows to challenge Army on killing pigs,” A5, July 19).
The Army is practicing bandaging for their medics by shooting pigs, and then applying bandages to them.
Wow. How far we in America have come.
So basically, you have a corral full of pigs who have been anesthetized, presumably so that the pain of being shot is less.
Or is it to slow them down and make the shooting easier?
Or both?
And a bunch of guys with guns and bandages.
Ghandi said you can judge a society by how it treats its animals.
So it seems obvious that we keep going back instead of forward here in America.
Two steps forward, one step back.
Their logic is that they need to train their medics for all of the young Americans who they plan on continually sending to Iraq and Afghanistan for years and years to come.
So instead of ending a war that was waged against a country that posed no threat, the Army in its infinite wisdom has decided to randomly shoot animals so that medics can practice bandaging them.
So that they can bandage another 30,000 young Americans who will be fighting for their very lives after a tour of Iraq.
Only in America.
What’s the definition of sociopathic behavior again?
God bless our fearful leaders.
Dennis Chaquette
Kapa‘a
Protecting plots from birds
How ludicrous to “protect” the Syngenta plots from Hawai‘i’s diversity of birds (“Making money chasing birds,” A1, July 22).
It is the birds (and us) who need protection. Protection from the massive volumes of chemicals and genetic pollution implemented by this company, poisoning our land, air and water.
Presently, Hawai‘i has the greatest number of endangered species of any state in the U.S. Syngenta’s destructive agricultural practices are paving the way for a permanent “silent spring.”
God help the poor soul whose job it is to sit in one of these fields, hour after hour, day in and day out, surrounded by those toxins. How many years might such a job take off a person’s life? Have any studies been done? No.
Have we seen countless examples of illness and death among workers in chemical agriculture? Most definitely.
We need jobs, but do we need this? Let’s build an economy based on “green” jobs, not one which exposes everyone and everything to endless spraying, such as seen with Pioneer and Syngenta.
Archie Mead
Kilauea
Polarity of opinions
The real problem is not the protesters on surfboards, as Don Paul says (“The cost of protest,” Letters, July 13), or Don Paul’s views, as Joseph Crocona says (“Ignorance is bliss,” Letters, July 16).
The real problem is the absolute polarity of opinion. Interesting that Crocona calls Paul “Mr. One Way” then goes on to identify himself as also being “Mr. One Way” (the opposite way).
I think this is an example of the main problem we have today; the refusal of many to consider the validity of an opposing view. There is obviously, to me at least, validity in the positions of both of these people. But I would be willing to bet, if we put them in a room together to discuss these issues, they would emerge with the exact views they went in with. And this is the big problem. If we are to go forward in a constructive way we need to have respect for people who care enough to be out there thinking about, talking about and trying to do something about their opinions, even if we don’t agree with them. Then maybe we could have discussions based on logic that would actually accomplish something. The man known to many as the wisest ever is Socrates. He didn’t trust his own wisdom however, so he tried to gain wisdom through the logical questioning of those who claimed knowledge. Listen. Consider. Go into a discussion with an open mind and respect for the views of others. Maybe something good could happen.
Bruce Savage
Kalaheo
• Shoot pigs, learn to bandage soldiers
• Protecting plots from birds
• Polarity of opinions
Lifeguards’ quick response
The article in Sunday’s The Garden Island describing the tragic drowning at Tunnels (“Woman pulled from Tunnels dies,” A1, July 20) needs some clarification. The article reports that “a pair of lifeguards arrived on the scene some 15 minutes after the woman had been pulled out of the water.”
The fact is that the lifeguards were at the victim’s side, with oxygen and a defibrillator, within 120 seconds of receiving the call from dispatch. And dispatch issued the call within seconds of recieving the 911 call. There is an unknown in this timeline, and that is how long it was before 911 was called by a bystander at the scene.
A lot of work has been done toward a system that achieves a rapid response by our lifeguards. The system includes having all the on-duty lifeguards being tied into 911, having defibrillators at every tower and having JetSkis and/or ATVs at certain towers. The Ha‘ena Beach Park tower has an ATV. The power of the bystander cell-phone is a key component to this system, but it’s not a component that can be controlled by our professionals.
What I wish I could say is that the Ha‘ena Beach Park lifeguards could, with their binoculars, reliably see all that is going on at Tunnels, two to three football fields away. They try their best, but it’s impossible, just as it’s impossible for the Po‘ipu Beach Park lifeguards to see all that is going on in front of the Waiohai and the Sheraton. For all our advances, this is still the dilemma we have on Kaua‘i: We have 10 lifeguard towers and we have 30 or 40 heavily used beaches. Many of these beaches (including Tunnels) have deceptive unseen currents. We’ve tried to impact this dilemma by having our ATVs and JetSkis, and many dozens of lives have been saved because of them and the skillful and brave lifeguards who operate them.
In other states many beaches actually have buoys and ropes that designate the area in which lifeguards can effectively oversee the swimmers and beachgoers. It’s a stretch for us to even be trying to impact much wider coverage areas. But unless we run into some serious windfall funding it’s the best we can do and we believe it’s worth the effort, even though there will inevitably be failures.
The “arrived after 15 minutes” statement makes our lifeguards look bad. The fact is they are really good. Just ask our emergency room nurses and doctors who regularly get to see their rescued near-drowning victims and the eternally grateful families.
Monty Downs,
emergency room doctor, Wilcox Memorial Hospital
Shoot pigs, learn to bandage soldiers
I would like to respond to an article in The Garden Island on Saturday (“PETA vows to challenge Army on killing pigs,” A5, July 19).
The Army is practicing bandaging for their medics by shooting pigs, and then applying bandages to them.
Wow. How far we in America have come.
So basically, you have a corral full of pigs who have been anesthetized, presumably so that the pain of being shot is less.
Or is it to slow them down and make the shooting easier?
Or both?
And a bunch of guys with guns and bandages.
Ghandi said you can judge a society by how it treats its animals.
So it seems obvious that we keep going back instead of forward here in America.
Two steps forward, one step back.
Their logic is that they need to train their medics for all of the young Americans who they plan on continually sending to Iraq and Afghanistan for years and years to come.
So instead of ending a war that was waged against a country that posed no threat, the Army in its infinite wisdom has decided to randomly shoot animals so that medics can practice bandaging them.
So that they can bandage another 30,000 young Americans who will be fighting for their very lives after a tour of Iraq.
Only in America.
What’s the definition of sociopathic behavior again?
God bless our fearful leaders.
Dennis Chaquette
Kapa‘a
Protecting plots from birds
How ludicrous to “protect” the Syngenta plots from Hawai‘i’s diversity of birds (“Making money chasing birds,” A1, July 22).
It is the birds (and us) who need protection. Protection from the massive volumes of chemicals and genetic pollution implemented by this company, poisoning our land, air and water.
Presently, Hawai‘i has the greatest number of endangered species of any state in the U.S. Syngenta’s destructive agricultural practices are paving the way for a permanent “silent spring.”
God help the poor soul whose job it is to sit in one of these fields, hour after hour, day in and day out, surrounded by those toxins. How many years might such a job take off a person’s life? Have any studies been done? No.
Have we seen countless examples of illness and death among workers in chemical agriculture? Most definitely.
We need jobs, but do we need this? Let’s build an economy based on “green” jobs, not one which exposes everyone and everything to endless spraying, such as seen with Pioneer and Syngenta.
Archie Mead
Kilauea
Polarity of opinions
The real problem is not the protesters on surfboards, as Don Paul says (“The cost of protest,” Letters, July 13), or Don Paul’s views, as Joseph Crocona says (“Ignorance is bliss,” Letters, July 16).
The real problem is the absolute polarity of opinion. Interesting that Crocona calls Paul “Mr. One Way” then goes on to identify himself as also being “Mr. One Way” (the opposite way).
I think this is an example of the main problem we have today; the refusal of many to consider the validity of an opposing view. There is obviously, to me at least, validity in the positions of both of these people. But I would be willing to bet, if we put them in a room together to discuss these issues, they would emerge with the exact views they went in with. And this is the big problem. If we are to go forward in a constructive way we need to have respect for people who care enough to be out there thinking about, talking about and trying to do something about their opinions, even if we don’t agree with them. Then maybe we could have discussions based on logic that would actually accomplish something. The man known to many as the wisest ever is Socrates. He didn’t trust his own wisdom however, so he tried to gain wisdom through the logical questioning of those who claimed knowledge. Listen. Consider. Go into a discussion with an open mind and respect for the views of others. Maybe something good could happen.
Bruce Savage
Kalaheo
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 9:19 AM:
" Hello again TGI,
Please do not expect anyone to buy your theory of promotion or advertising and success program Waimea High School. We the former students there at one time in our lives actually do not care of local propaganda and success story with you or anyone there and their cars to show for as a success story.
Basically, I wrote to Waimea High School, and I suspect as always that this town is a ghost town. No offense but there is nothing to do there, just unemployed educators and former students.
I am not with their idea of success story, and I am not placing religion or anything like that on anyone, because as you know, this is still a free country and you can do anything you want. The whole idea of success just doesn't work well in a farm club setting and wanting to make it out or make it happen after you graduate in high school there to say the least.
Basically, some people I may know here, think some of you people still stuck there are still losers because you haven't made it happen for yourself or others, if you get my point staying home doing nothing.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Please do not expect anyone to buy your theory of promotion or advertising and success program Waimea High School. We the former students there at one time in our lives actually do not care of local propaganda and success story with you or anyone there and their cars to show for as a success story.
Basically, I wrote to Waimea High School, and I suspect as always that this town is a ghost town. No offense but there is nothing to do there, just unemployed educators and former students.
I am not with their idea of success story, and I am not placing religion or anything like that on anyone, because as you know, this is still a free country and you can do anything you want. The whole idea of success just doesn't work well in a farm club setting and wanting to make it out or make it happen after you graduate in high school there to say the least.
Basically, some people I may know here, think some of you people still stuck there are still losers because you haven't made it happen for yourself or others, if you get my point staying home doing nothing.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:45 PM:
" First of all, let this be known, that these comments here are worthless and useless considering the topic being discussed. We found this topic a useless waist of time and money. This is from any intellectual interested reader. And yes, I am not associated with any former classmates there on Kauai also, for this matter alone.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:50 PM:
" I have seen alot of losers being mentioned in association to Waimea High School sports at UH Manoa. Might I add they are the one's who are delerious and a debachery to any level minded reader. These names are wide and long. And they run from 1979-1990 graduates trying grace the pages of Kauai and represent that school, outrageous. I for one, right now am putting all of them down for ever contemplating fame and popularity. We actually do not understand your fame and glory at Waimea High School.
This is in regards to your articles on the Waimea High School athletics and any department there.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
This is in regards to your articles on the Waimea High School athletics and any department there.
Sincerely,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:55 PM:
" Losers I have mentioned that graced those pages are as follows:
Ross Kagawa 1984' UH baseball 1987' classmate of Percival Butay(cousin)
Edmond Acoba 1981'
Liko Pereira 1989 and someother school baseball?
Kui Souza 1988 Sacramento state baseball
Craig Ibara 1983' HPC of honolulu baseball
Keith Pigao - student information desk for all information here for class reunion
Lyman Lacro 1986, UH Volleyball 1987
Barry Magoay 1985, UH Volleyball 1989
These are just some of the names trying to gain popular votes via their own high School Waimea High School
even now. Unreal!
Best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
Ross Kagawa 1984' UH baseball 1987' classmate of Percival Butay(cousin)
Edmond Acoba 1981'
Liko Pereira 1989 and someother school baseball?
Kui Souza 1988 Sacramento state baseball
Craig Ibara 1983' HPC of honolulu baseball
Keith Pigao - student information desk for all information here for class reunion
Lyman Lacro 1986, UH Volleyball 1987
Barry Magoay 1985, UH Volleyball 1989
These are just some of the names trying to gain popular votes via their own high School Waimea High School
even now. Unreal!
Best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
HiKauai wrote on Feb 12, 2009 1:08 PM:
" Hello again TGI,
This is me, Dean Kelly Sabado. Thank you for letting me comment on your articles there on the island. I just want to thank everyone agreeing with myself on who actually I meant, calling them losers in that town. Ha! Ha! Ha! I am a personal graduate of that high school but will proudly say if they keep up the good work in academics and life, will not be too ashamed of being associated with Waimea High School as an alumni.
Sorry, but there are others who felt this way! Here on the island of Honolulu and even the mainland. These names may have one time in their lives even mine represent the epitome of failure and laughs, and not success.
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
This is me, Dean Kelly Sabado. Thank you for letting me comment on your articles there on the island. I just want to thank everyone agreeing with myself on who actually I meant, calling them losers in that town. Ha! Ha! Ha! I am a personal graduate of that high school but will proudly say if they keep up the good work in academics and life, will not be too ashamed of being associated with Waimea High School as an alumni.
Sorry, but there are others who felt this way! Here on the island of Honolulu and even the mainland. These names may have one time in their lives even mine represent the epitome of failure and laughs, and not success.
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "
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HiKauai wrote on Feb 11, 2009 9:08 AM:
RE: 2/11/2009 and the above topic
Can we cut out the "EXPLETIVE" here. Everyone knows if you are or were affiliated with high school at one time in your life in Waimea, Kauai, you would know that you do not place one of the three stooges willing to work at Kentucky fried chicken and place him at the vice principal's seat at Waimea High School. We all know that BOE and DOE played no roll in this nonsense of students being athletes then becomming success in the respected choice of degree and field like a BA degree. An example, you cannot put someone like a Pereira or even an Aaron Francisco from Kahuku High School, now former Arizona Cardinals NFL, as a BA candidtate after a prolific showing in sports. It just does not work that way. We all know that they cannot be serious placing academics after a 10 year assistant coach with a rediculous man/educator and/or coach if I might add like Tommy Rita of the 1980's and then expect him, Patrick Pereira to educate people in 2000's after being associated with dumb athletes all their life and now turn to academics. Now they educate people? Ha! What are we looking at here is basically a rediculous and dumber community than most perceived DOE standard base learning. Otherwise throw this article out already, alright?
best regards,
Dean Kelly Sabado "