The Pen > The Sword

English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote the phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword," in his 1839 play, Richelieu.

As a child, my mother forced me to read a book per day. It was a strenuous mental task at age 4-5 (having barely learned to read) but unbeknownst to me, reading and writing would later help me excel academically and gain acceptance into a competitive boarding school (Kamehameha Kapālama).

Today, I've learned that writing can be a powerful way to send a message without using violence. When convincing, it can rally people to action or support a particular cause. The purpose of my blog is to present people with a more tempered viewpoint of conservatism as opposed to the rants from Republican activists and far-right fringe groups (e.g. HIRA, see editorial below).

The French satirist/philosopher, Voltaire, wrote in his novel Candide (1759), "We must cultivate our garden." This denotes the philosophy of personal responsibility and for me, it serves as a reminder that we must use the tools we possess to better ourselves and in so doing, we can increase our influence in an increasingly unsettled world.

The article, “Tupola seeks restraining order against activist” (Star-Advertiser, April 22), is a timely testament that the Hawaii GOP is being fractured by destructive splinter groups like Hawaii Republican Action (HIRA).

The Hawaii Republican Party continues to dwindle in number due to fringe, alt-right groups whose profane and unethical messages are inconsistent with the aloha spirit. Whereas many younger voters hold fiscally and socially conservative values, few choose to identify as such due to the negative energy harbored by such factions.

State Rep. Andria Tupola is one of the few Republican leaders in the state, and her tireless work is repeatedly acknowledged by her community. To flourish, the Hawaii Republican Party needs positivity rather than destructive entities like HIRA that recklessly malign our leaders and blight the party.

Kaiwiola Coakley

Waialae-Kahala