My last editorial on the Ka Leo

My last editorial on the Ka Leo

I will be graduating from the University of Hawaii at Manoa on December 19, 2004, which is 9 days from now.

And here is my good-bye editorial. I could make a big book about my experiences at UH, but I only have so much space to write about it in an editorial. Plus, I wanted to say a few things I didn't get a chance to write about in previous editorial.

So here is my LAST Ka Leo editorial (unless I come back for graduate school years later)

http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/09/41b805cd8ad34?in_archive=1

Goodbye UH Manoa, oh how I've learned so much
Pablo Wegesend
Ka Leo Staff Columnist
December 09, 2004
This will be my last editorial in Ka Leo. I will be graduating this semester after five and a half years at this campus. I started attending UH in fall 1999. Back then, the world was different. We were still in the previous millennium. Ben Cayetano was the governor, Bill Clinton was the President and 9/11 hadn't occurred yet. The June Jones era was just getting started.

As the world changed, I also changed. Before coming to this university, I was very unfamiliar with the Internet. I even told a friend in high school that I didn't care about the Internet. Now, I'm using the Internet everyday. In fact, I use the Internet a lot more often than I watch TV. This came about because the computer labs on this campus gave me an opportunity to explore. Some new friends also told me what Web sites to check out that got me hooked to the Web.

Before coming to this university, it never occurred to me that I would be writing editorials. I didn't even read that many editorials before coming to UH. However, reading Ka Leo editorials inspired me to write Ka Leo editorials myself. Since spring 2000, I've been an editorial writer for Ka Leo. Of course, I always wish I had more time to write more editorials.

This university exposed me to different types of people. A recent editorial in the "Star Bulletin" said that local kids should attend mainland college to meet people who are different. That editorial implies that all people in Hawai'i are the same.

My experience at McKinley High School and at UH tells me that's not true! McKinley High School, located near Ala Moana Shopping Center, is probably one of the least "local" high schools in Hawai'i. Most students fall into either one or both categories; 1) immigrants and/or 2) residents of low income communities.

Most of the boys at my high school listened to gangsta rap, hardly anyone ever listened to Jawaiian (Hawaiian reggae) music. Most dressed like South Central LA gangstas rather than local boy surfers. While some speak pidgin like the rest of Hawai'i, most either spoke a foreign language or talked as if they're from South Central Los Angeles.

When I entered this university, I met people from other parts of Hawai'i. They are very different from those who went to McKinley. In my first year at UH, I met a few people from the neighbor islands (one was my roommate), and they indirectly exposed me to Jawaiian music that most of my high school classmates ignored. Before I never owned any local CDs. Now I have a small collection of Jawaiian CDs.

Not only are Honolulu kids different from neighbor islanders, they're also different from those from suburban O'ahu. Suburban O'ahu students grew up with a lot more luxury than I did, which is why I had to laugh when some of those students complained about "being poor" or that the "dorms look like a ghetto." I also had to laugh when they said that urban Honolulu is "too crowded." How many people from Shanghai or Calcutta would ever say that?

Also, at this university, it is the first time I've been around a large number of white people. (I know that some of you from the mainland will laugh at what I just said.) Some white mainlanders said that being in this university was the first time they've ever been in the minority. However, in my high school, only 1 percent of the students were white. Never did I see an all-white clique in my high school because there weren't enough white people to make up a clique.

So it was a culture shock when I met some white people at the university who came from Oregon or Washington. Before meeting them, I didn't know anyone my age who had hippie-ish hair. Nor did I knew anyone who faithfully listened to the Dave Matthew Band or the ladies of Lilith Fair tours. But now, I work alongside such people at my job at the Marine Option Program.

But regardless of the differences, we all shared this university. I could go on and on about the adventures I had at this university - the sports events, talent shows, the freshmen seminars, the funny moments in class, the amazing things I learned, the sit-downs by the fishponds, leaving the campus late after hours in the library or the computer lab, the walk-around in the dorms that got one RA suspicious, reading the interesting magazines at Hamilton, the Entrepreneurship Club, the professor strike, riding the campus shuttle, etc.

Goodbye to the University of Hawai'i at Manoa! I will miss you.
P.S.: Keep the weight room at Stan Sheriff open longer on the weekends. Please get the professors to stop being so biased! And remember my suggestion for more one-person dorm rooms.

Of course I should've mentioned that at the beginning of my college career, that Ken Mortimer was UH President, Hugh Yoshida was UH athletic director, but I forgot about that when typing the editorial

Violence against Violence OK

Here is my latest editorial on Ka Leo.

It has some re-hashes from stuff I said from earlier blog posts

And in the new web version of the editorial, they took out a idiotic, hideous line that appeared on the print version. I didn't even write that line, a copy editor added it in. Anyways, that line no longer exists in the web version and a correction will be printed in Ka Leo soon.

Anyways, here's the editorial


http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/06/41b3c7837cd0e

Violence against violence OK
By Pablo Wegesend
December 06, 2004

There are times when violence is wrong. It is wrong to attack someone just to people's possessions. It is wrong to use force on others just to get sexual satisfaction. It is wrong to attack someone based on race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

But there are also times when violence is necessary.

Statements like that, however, are considered blasphemy by some in our university. Two events, one in Hawai'i, another in Iraq, illustrate the occasional necessity of violence.
First, let's go over the incident in Iraq.

In Fallujah, a U.S. Marine killed a wounded Islamic militant who appeared to be unarmed because there was no gun in his hand. Because of that one fact alone, there has been outrage directed toward that U.S. Marine.

That outrage is misdirected -- for one thing, this incident happened in the Middle East, where Islamic militants don't hesitate to blow themselves up! That Islamic militant probably had an explosive device hiding under his clothing.

How would the U.S. Marine know if that's the case? The Marine would have to go very close to that Islamic militant to find out. Once that happens, chances are very high that the Islamic militant would've blown himself up and killed the U.S. Marine in the process. That could've happened if the U.S. Marine gave first aid or arrested that Islamic militant.

Under those circumstances, most people would've shot and killed that Fallujah terrorist! I would -- it's my life or his! Or at least, his life or me coming home being a medical burden on my family and society.

Some would call that "racist" or "anti-Arab." Those who would say that don't realize that those Islamic militants don't just brutalize Americans. They brutalized Arabs more often than anyone else.

Let's not forget that Islamic militants blew up a Christian church attended by native Iraqis. Let's not forget that ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons severely brutalized and killed thousands of Arabs and Kurds.

These Islamic militants aren't nice to their own people.

Closer to home, there's another incident where necessary violence occurred.

On Sept. 6, a Kahuku farmer, Khamxath Baccam, shot and killed an intruder who was stealing crops and equipment. The intruder, Marcelino Pacheco, was a known crystal methamphetamine user. So what would we expect Baccam to do with someone intruding on his property?

He could plead all night long with the intruder, trying to reason with him to leave. But anyone living in reality knows that won't work. And you wouldn't want to get near someone who is intruding on your property. Chances are, as in the case described, the intruder is on crystal meth and is capable of violence.

You might say "Call the police!" However, in a rural community like Kahuku, it'll take forever for the police to arrive.

So chances are, if Baccam didn't shoot the intruder, he would've been slashed to death by the time the police arrive. Criminals know that.

Would you take that chance? Would you know if the intruder is on crystal meth and carrying a hidden weapon? You wouldn't know until the intruder attacks with fast, violent rage.

Some might say, "How dare you stereotype someone who is intruding on your property!" Excuse me, if that person has no moral qualms about intruding on others' property, what makes you think he would have any moral qualms about slashing your face, stabbing your kidneys, or killing you?

Baccam says he feels bad about killing the intruder. But he also understands that in the real world there might be situations where you have to protect yourself with deadly force.
However, too many people have been sheltered from that reality, which is why some of them say, "Just give the robbers what they want and you won't get hurt." Nonsense!

Remember, it's not Vice President Dick Cheney or Massachusets Sen. John Kerry getting robbed on the streets. Criminals know that those people are well protected. It is the average person that has one percent of the money Cheney or Kerry have who is getting robbed on the streets.

That fact alone shows you that it's not about the possessions that common people have, it's about their vulnerability.

I remember a former coworker told me that when he was in middle school, he would threaten other kids for money. He did that even though he had more than enough money in his pockets to buy himself snacks and soda at 7-11. He did that because he thought it was fun.

Money wasn't his motive, bullying others for fun was his motive.

Does any thinking person think that kid would rob rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight or actor "The Rock," both of whom have way more money than most robbery victims? No way! Knight or "The Rock" would've given that kid a severe beat down!

That former coworker agreed with me when I mentioned that you can't reason with thieves, muggers, rapists, or other criminals. Those violent criminals think that reasoning is for sissies. The only language they understand is fear and violence.

So when a group of violent thugs steps up to you, it's either 1) run and hope they don't catch up, 2) knock them out, or 3) point a pistol in their face.

It doesn't matter if you don't like those options. You can be politically correct all you want. But muggers, rapists, burglars and terrorists never were, aren't and never will be politically correct.

Passing of Arafat

I thought back in 1993, with the famous handshake between Yitzak Rabin and Arafat, with Bill Clinton in the background, that Arafat was changing his ways and becoming a man of peace. It got me optimistic.

Until I learned later that Arafat has rejected peace deals that could've been a roadway to a Palestinian state. I also learned that Arafat rules over the Palestinians with an iron fist. So much for Arafat being a great man.

But anyways, I really hope that one day Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace, where Israelis dont have to be worried about suicide/homicide bombings and Palestinians dont have to worry about being racially profilled by Israeli authorities.

Electoral Threats

On Monday, November 1, classes at UH were cancelled, and I assumed there would be no Ka Leo that day. Few days later, I found an issue of Ka Leo that day.In it, there was an article about ex-UH football player Craig Stutzmann who ran a "say nothing" campaign for State House.


http://www.kaleo.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/11/01/4185e74362021?in_archive=1


A telling excerpt was this

Reports say he has been threatened by a high profile supporter of the Democratic Party and told he should not challenge Saiki.Stutzmann told the Hawai'i Reporter on Oct. 15, that he received a phone call from a prominent businessman, who told him that running for the Republican Party would not be "good for his career."

It makes me ashamed that I didn't read the Hawaii Reporter as often as I should.here's the Hawaii Reporter article

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?f9c485a0-ca4c-41b3-858b-615a0d9fc210

But what is a shame is that Stutzmann didn't stand his ground! This is a guy who isn't scared to be tackled on the football field, so one would assume that he wouldn't let threats stop his campaign for office!

Do I regret voting against Stutzmann? The better question would be - should I vote for someone who said nothing and didn't even stand his ground? That is worse than Kerry's flip-flops!

Stuttzmann should've made the news of the alleged threats public a lot earlier. People would've joined his side, knowing that he once made big plays for UH against big-time rivals BYU and Fresno State!

Mayor Mufi

My prefered candidate, Mufi Hanneman will be the next mayor of Honolulu.

If I'm not mistaken, he will be the 1st Polynesian mayor of Honolulu. That should give hope to many Polynesian youth, to know they can go beyond negative stereotypes and accomplish great things.

Bush WON

Though I voted for a minor candidate (Badnarik), I do feel a smile on my face when I think of the reactions of folks like Tobin Jones! Hey Tobin, you can't blame me again!

Kerry accepted the loss like a man, unlike Gore who kept demanding recounts in 3 counties of Florida that favored him.

It seems that most blue (Democrat) states remained blue, most red states (Republican) remained red! NY Times already had an article about NY residents dissing the red states. The regional rivalry will get heated all over again!

Hopefully, the draft scares are BS. But only time will tell!

I voted today

At 9:45 am I filled out the ballots at Kuhio Elementary School.

This is who I voted for

President : Micheal Badnarik (Libertarian)- this was one of the toughest decisions I had to ever make! Though Bush did some good things as President (something the Radical Left would get mad at me for saying), and it isn't easy to vote against that, I had to do what I had to do. I sincerely hope all the draft scares turn out to be total BS, but I can't be certain at all! For self-protection, i chose Badnarik, even though some of his statements are loony. But only time will tell if the post-election secret draft plans are even true.


As for John Kerry, I cant trust a guy who is inconsistent throughout the campaign on multiple issues. Is he going to flip-flop on the draft too?

US Senate Hawaii: Jeff Mallan (Libertarian) I struggled with this one because in one of the local newspapers, Mallan's profile was missing, while it showcased arrogant pork-king Dan Inouye (D), morality fascist only motivated by same sex marriage and abortion - Cam Cavasso (R) and mega-left liberal Jim Brewer (Independent). Luckily the other local paper had his profile, so I chose Mallan

US House - Hawaii District 1 : Dalton Tanonaka (Republican) Tanonaka ran for Lt. Gov. but lost to current Lt. Gov Duke Aiona in the primary 2 years ago. I liked Tanonaka's economic expertise, and his moderate image. I also liked it when he slammed incumbent Neil Abercombie (D) for even bringing up the draft proposal in Congress (along with NY Dem Charles Rangel)! Abercombie is always friendly when replying to my e-letters to Congress even when I dont agree with his views. So in a way, I do feel a bit bad voting against him, but this is politics so I vote on who I think who will be a better Representative. Tanonaka was on the ballot, so I chose him,
The race also had Libertarian Allysa Young, a former stripper. Of course, that got my attention! But I found out that she declared she was going to leave the US for good after the election, so I decided not to vote for her. Plus, Tanonaka was on the ballot, and it was someone I could be satisfied with for now.

State House -District 22 - Scott Saiki (Democrat) I know, you all heard me criticize Hawaii Democrats. I stand by those criticisms. But Saiki's opponent Craig Stutzman (R) had said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in this campaign. He refused to answer ANY questions from the media. He sent no fliers. He doesn't seem to take this election seriously! I had him in my Journalism class at UH, and he was SILENT when the topics was politics. However, that silence was non-existent when the topic was sports. (side note: Stutzman was UH football player) Though I do appreciate all the catches Stutzman made in UH games against BYU and Fresno State, this election isn't about football! If Stuttzman even made an effort to say something in this campaign, chances are, I would've voted for him! Meanwhile, I'll keep a close eye on what Saiki is doing as a legislator.

Honolulu Mayor : Mufi Hanneman This was a non-partisan race between two long time Democrats, Hanneman and Duke Bainum. I voted for Mufi ( as everyone calls him) because of his opposition to the idiotic BRT system, the endorsements by state senator Sam Slom (king of pro-capitalist advocates) and the interesting idea to have a ferry for workers to commute from Waianae to Honolulu. Anyone who can get the endorsement of Sam Slom and still get a lot of support from low income communities (including my former home in Kalihi) is definitely someone I will support.

Board of Ed. (at large- can vote up to 3)Lei Ahu Isa, Darwin Ching, Guy Kaulukukui - Isa once repped my former district as a Democrat, but later defected to the Republican Party and support more local control of schools. Guy Kaulukukui and Darwin Cing said that "one size cant fit all" meaning what schools might work for one person, another person might benefit more from a different school. That should but hasn't been acknowledged by many people! Kaulukukui even wants to do away with district requirements to attend certain schools, AMEN for that!

Board of Ed. (Honolulu) Keith Sakata - not a far-right case like his opponent Denise Matsumoto who once proposed teaching of creationism in PUBLIC schools.

State Constitutional Amendments

I voted for 1,2 and 3 because 1 allowed convictions for each separate case of sexual assault of repeated assaults by the same person. 2 allows the public to be informed of sex offenders living nearby, and 3 protects confidentiality of rape victims.I voted against 4 because I dont want to be in a situation where I am accused of something and not know what the accuser looks like before the trial begins. It could be just someone you passed by at the mall that's made an accusation, and you wouldn't know who that was before the trial begins.

I'll talk about OHA and city charter amendments some other time.