However...
On 2004-06-20 23:50, christiki295 wrote:
...resulting in a "nation within a nation" political and legal status and, presumably, provide legal immunity to the native Hawaiian schools of the Kamehameha Trust from discrimination claims:
Kamehameha School has an endowment nearly as big as Harvard's, billions! Why should Kamehameha Prep be allowed to discriminate? White guilt?
"...the United States recognizes Native Hawaiians as a political entity rather than an entity based on race."
**If it's a political group, any of us can join, right?
Or are we giving special race based privileges under another name? **
"...The bill articulates that Native Hawaiians have an inherent right of self-determination..."
Hey, they can vote, eh? Just like me and you. Remember, melting pot, we are all equal in the eyes of the law? Why start giving special privileges to one group of citizens vs. another? They get to vote, use publicly supported schools, municipal infrastructure, etc...AND they get all that other stuff? Good deal!
The federal recognition bill also authorizes a roll for adult Native Hawaiians who wish to participate in the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government. Native Hawaiians who wish to participate in the roll must be at least18 years old and provide documentation that they are the direct lineal descendants of an indigenous person of the Hawaiian Islands. According to S.344, there are two ways a person can prove lineal descent. A person eligible for the roll must show that they are a direct lineal descendent of (1) an indigenous person who resided in the Hawaiian Islands, on or before Jan. 1, 1893 or (2) an indigenous person who was eligible for programs under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in 1921.
**Didn't they try something like that in Georgia in the early 1900's. Only white descendants of Civil War vets could reside in certain neighborhoods? I remember bathroom and restaurant systems that tried the same thing.
I have always been against racial discrimination. ANYONE born in Hawaii is a native Hawaiian in my eyes. I have to think that way, it's the way our Constitution 'tries' to ensure equality for its citizens.
Isn't this bill just a way of the government trying to drive these native people to erecting casinos, smoke shops, fireworks stands, and souvenir stores?
I mean, come on, look at how much good these laws have done on the mainland. We're talking NO native culture protection, unless you consider tribal casinos part of indigenous culture. If they want to protect native culture, then living according to native culture and tradition should be required. Can there be native culture driving around in Chryslers? Living with air conditioning? Using modern tax payer supported hospitals?
There is no native culture outside of tourism. I can't think of any "Amish-style" Hawaiians who have forsaken the conveniences of American infrastructure to continue living in the true native fashion. This bill is a sham.**
The Native Hawaiian people may exercise their right to self-determination by selecting another form of government including free association or total independence."
**I think any group of people should be allowed the same opportunity, then. We can have Mormon Country, Whites Only Country, New Africa, Chinatown Country...geez, it's only fair.
Why can't the citizens of this fine country get jobs, vote, hold it together, and still enjoy their specific heritage? Let's just declare evryone a victim of somebody at some point in their family tree and get on with it.
Maybe I should demand some land in England as recompense for having some white ancestors driven away because they were ostracized for their crazy religiosity. Also, I think Norway owes me, I think some other ancestor was discriminated against by a Viking. At some point, these arguments about "native cultures" become specious.
Apologies, but if someone is a citizen, then he or she is the same as me. If some people spent as much time flipping burgers as they did playing victim, then they'd all own a dozen burger stores and get to play victim in their mansions crying about how hard it is to find good help.**
One last question: If whitey stumbled into Hawaii and took things over, how is that different from whoever was there at the time having killed/eradicated the group who was in charge previously? All of human history is kind of about people jostling for an advantage over each other, so why reward the group of oppressors who were busy oppressing just as we took control? Shouldn't there be a fund and form of self government for the people who were conquered and then oppressed by Kamehameha? Maybe he was so good at killing the opposition leaders that we now have no record of who owned the land before him. Just 'cause he was in charge when we arrived doesn't mean there isn't another group we should be looking for to help recover from serial oppression, eh?
Apologies for being so disagreeable. I am against the bill, but mean no personal disrespect to any members.
