July 19, 2005
Apartheid in HawaiiIt seems that many people are moving backward in terms of race issues and want to create further segregation, to the point of forging an extra-Constitutional government for native Hawaiians.
Some congressional staffers are calling it "the worst bill most voters have never heard of." Hyperbole aside, the Senate is preparing to take up legislation that would create an independent, race-based government for Native Hawaiians.Unfortunately, it seems there is little moral backbone to oppose this monstrous legislation.
But guilt is a powerful political weapon, and Hawaii's major politicians have fallen completely into line as lobbyists for the Akaka bill. Among them is Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, who is said to have convinced herself that her party's ability to compete for Native Hawaiian votes is linked to support of the Akaka bill. She claims to have helped convince six Republican senators, including Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to support the measure. If she is right, that means there will be a bare 51 vote majority for the Akaka bill when the full Senate votes on it next week. Since the House has previously passed similar versions of this bill, it is likely to approve this one as well.This is exactly the opposite direction we need to take. We should be moving towards a society where all are treated equally, regardless of ethnicity, rather than classifying each American based on background and treating them differently as a result.
Posted by Jonathan R. on July 19, 2005 08:11 AM
Comments
I lived in Honolulu for 3 years while working for the federal government from 1991 to 1994. The state was well on its way to rampant racism even back then and anyone coming from the mainland (a "haole" in local lingo)was treated as a second-class citizen. It was one of the main reasons I left the islands when my tour was up, I could not stand the constant discrimination.
There was then, and still is, a movement in Hawaii to cede from the US and become its own country. The locals long for the reinstitution of royal rule and consider that they are being illegally occupied by white people from the mainland.
Although the islands are beautiful beyond compare, I say let them go. We have no use for them other than our Naval base in Pearl Harbor, but we can do without that. Cut them loose - remove financial support at taxpayer expense, and let them fend for themselves.
Posted by: Reverend Scaramonga ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.gopbloggers.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 19, 2005 11:46 AM
Is it time once again for one of those famous Bush Vetos?
Posted by: Troll at July 19, 2005 12:22 PM
Amen Scaramonga! Let them vote independance, buy back improvements and go it alone. Perhaps let them have Maui in return for a quit claim on the rest of the islands. Let Puerto Rico loose, too while we are at it. At the same time, cancel US citizenship for anyone who goes with the new country. No people should be held unwillingly to a country they do not want to bear allegiance.
Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at July 19, 2005 08:34 PM
Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, who chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee, wrote a comprehensive analysis addressing his concerns over the creation of a race-based government for Native Hawaiians and the dangerous precedents that this bill would create. The paper is available at http://rpc.senate.gov/_files/Jun2205NatHawSD.pdf.
Posted by: Lee at August 18, 2005 01:39 PM
