MAUI PRIDE COVER
I am a loyal reader of the Mauitime newspaper. However, the Oct. 4, 2012 cover photo was extremely offensive. How sad that MauiTime would parody the famous Iwo Jima Memorial honoring fallen Marines. Not even Mauitime can spin this cover photo to be anything but what it is, an attempt to put the LGBTQ on equal footing with the tens of thousands of brave Americans who have fought and made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us including LGBTQ. And before you say it yes, we all know that LGBTQ also fought for this country under cover and they should be no less outraged.
Maui you really messed up this Time.
-Maria Johnson, via email
Is there a reason why the cover photo is one big sausage fest? Where is the representation of the Lesbians? The Transgendered? The Bisexuals? The Genderqueer? For a story focusing on the LGBTQ Community you sure dropped the ball on the picture that should be a proud representation of said community.
-Reina Todoroki, via MauiTime.com
Of course it would be great to be fully inclusive with all sexual orientations and gender identities, but people who don’t like this cover are missing the entire meaning behind it. This photo is playing off the Iwo Jima Memorial Statue (as well as the famous 9/11 photo of firefighters raising the pole with the American flag). There were no women in those, but that doesn’t mean that women weren’t there fighting or dying for what they believe in just like the men were.
This photo (although a little playful) still is a symbol of the flag being raised up. Even if persons of other sexual orientations or gender identities aren’t present, I don’t believe this photo excludes them. The flag being raised is that represents everyone in the LGBTQ community… and we should all be proud to be part of it. Thank you MauiTime for your support and creativity!
-Ben Kincaid, Maui Pride co-founder, via MauiTime.com
The Editor Responds: We did reach out to various non-male individuals for inclusion in our cover shot, Reina, but for one reason or another, all declined to take part.
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CANE BURNING
This is in regards to the MauiTime article on cane burning in the Sept 27, 2012 issue (“Feeling The Burn”) and the Coconut Wireless column in the Oct 4, 2012 issue. I totally agree that cane burning is terrible and has to stop. I also understand that there are alternate ways to harvest the cane. Bottom line, though: I do not agree with commercial and residential development on all 37,000 acres.
Whatever happened to Hawaii especially Maui being sustainable–not having to depend on the mainland for our own needs (i.e. vegetables, fruits, and other kinds of agriculture)? Destroying the green fields will make Maui just like Oahu… full of concrete and roads. So tourism has become the largest source of income on Maui.
HC&S should consider looking into other kinds of agriculture for these 37,000 fields and keeping Central Maui green! Maui has such rich soil and perfect climate to grow fruits and vegetables on a very large scale. I know water is scarce and can be very expensive but I bet if HC&S and other landowners work with the local farmers and even bring experts from the large, successful farms in California we can create a diversified and successful agricultural industry and make it efficient and affordable and profitable.
I work in the construction industry but if we believe converting all 37,000 acres to commercial and residential development is an alternative to creating new jobs… well in the short term, yes, but it will destroy what Maui has come to be known.
I wish the mayor, the county council, farmers, regular citizens and landowners come together to make some compromise to preserve Maui’s open spaces and green fields and create jobs and profitable ways to make it work without destroying Central Maui. Even the tourists would agree with keeping Central Maui green.
-Larry Angel, via email
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