so, how does the forum at large here at uspol feel about this? Balkanization to the fore?


Hawaiian Nativism

The House of Representatives has voted 261–153 to recognize ethnic Hawaiians as a new Indian tribe. Astonishingly, 39 House Republicans supported this shameful piece of legislation — a bill that will thwart some Americans’ rights in the interest of further dividing our nation along racial lines.

The measure fell short of the 290 votes needed to override the veto that President Bush has promised. But the bill’s anticipated success in both chambers of Congress — and the support given it by many ostensibly conservative Republicans in both — is cause for alarm.

The bill, sponsored by Hawaii senator Daniel Akaka (D.), would first create a nine-member panel to decide who counts as a “native” Hawaiian and enroll members of the “tribe.” It would then create a tribal governing entity, which would negotiate for land with the federal and state governments. This entity, a second government for aboriginal Hawaiians, could establish schools that discriminate against non-“native” children and hold elections with racial criteria for participation, immune to challenges under the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. Indeed, the bill was written to circumvent a 2000 Supreme Court decision that forbade the state’s Office of Hawaiian Affairs to hold an election in which only “native” Hawaiians could participate.

Proponents of the bill argue that Hawaiians are merely seeking the recognition already given to the sovereign Indian tribes. But there are important historical differences. Whereas Indian tribes saw their land seized by the federal government, Hawaiians exercised self-government on June 27, 1959, when they voted overwhelmingly to become our nation’s 50th state. Unlike Indian tribes, aboriginal Hawaiians were not geographically segregated by federal troops, but live interspersed among Hawaiians of all races and even in other states.

The federal government has no business recognizing racial groups as distinct nations simply because they are ethnically unique. It sets a terrible and divisive precedent, which, if pushed to its logical conclusion, would turn John Edwards’s fantasy of “two Americas” into a reality of five or six Americas, as other ethnic groups followed the Hawaiian example.

The Bush administration’s opposition will thwart this legislation for now and simultaneously deny cover to the Republicans who are supporting it. They include not only Alaska’s congressional delegation, which traditionally supports any old idea of the Hawaii delegation, but also Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Sens. Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Gordon Smith of Oregon.

Unfortunately, however, this attempt to divide Americans by race will not end with a Bush veto. Hillary Clinton voted for it in 2006 — and she may sign it into law yet, if Americans make her their president.


The Week on National Review / Digital

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No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

unfreakin believable

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I just neutered the cat , now he is a Liberal

As for the other side of the coin, why not? I lived in Hawaii for five years, on Oahu and Maui, and spent a lot of time on every island but Niihau. Hawaii is as racially diverse as anywhere in the US I've ever experienced and each race generally follows its own customs. Most mainland haoles can't determine the difference between Chinese/Japanese, Hawaiian/Samoan and I remember tourists constantly referring to Filipinos as Mezicans. I say give Hawaiians their own land, those few who are left, and treat them as a sovereign nation. That will at least provide some compensation for what the fundamentalist Christians who raped the islands called bringing their god and civilization to savages and assist in preserving their cultural identity. The Waikiki beach front and Pearl Harbor would be a nice starter gift.

It will be interesting to hear how posters support the ethnic nation of Israel while denying Hawaiians their piece of turf. And for those who stand on Hawaii selecting US statehood, you obviously have no clue about the political composition and ruling elite of Hawaii.

I am one who thinks it should have been done a long time ago. Hawaii is different from here in some ways and similar in others. The issue is establishing the native tribes and traditional lands. My understanding is that this would establish something similar to how Alaskan tribal entities were established back in the 70s. It has worked well here for the most part.

Hmmm think that point got lost somewhere.

"aboriginal Hawaiians were not geographically segregated by federal troops,
but live interspersed among Hawaiians of all races and even in other states" is a statement displaying the ignorance of the commentator. Unlike Alaskans, Californians and residents of other states who adopt their states name as a geographical identity factor, no resident of Hawaii calls him or her self a Hawaiian unless that person has Hawaiian blood. Residents of Hawaii are separated by ethnic background and each ethnic group is proud of and maintains that heritage.

I agree with you. It is a sad affair for the nation of Hawaii, ending up as a native indian tribe of the United States is the end result of a colonial project that was very very successful. Some nations survive colonialism with a few damage, others survive with mild damage (Ireland [language and a lost province] ) others are in a ongoing struggle for their survival (Catalonia,Tibet) and others become shadows of their formal self, a 'museum piece' like Hawaii and Vasque country

Color blind society, remember? We're all supposed to be Americans and you can't have a united people when people like you constantly want to segregate everyone into groups. Isn't this what the Civil Rights Movement was trying to end?

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"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

If the people of Hawaii want a popular vote in their state to secede then I am fine with that. I think any state should have the right to secede, but that's not what is going on in this legislation. It's trying to purposely create and further inflame a division within the people.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

This could be viewed as reparations for the way the hawaiian government was overthrown by white plantation owners in 1893 and the islands annexed by the US in 1898.

I'm not sure how "overwhelmingly" the actual native hawaiians voted for statehood. By 1959 (60+ years after annexation) I'd be willing to bet most of the people who were eligible to vote on statehood were americans - not native hawaiians.

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A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed to the utmost extremes of injustice and oppression.
Edward Gibbon

How much time have you spent in Hawaii? If any you'd understand there's no effort to segregate people into groups for purposes of discrimination. Cultural heritages are maintained and celebrated, but what's the difference between Chinese New Year and St. Patrick's Day? Neither pursues discrimination. To compare the goals of the civil rights movement, which sought to end existing, blatant discrimination against blacks, with Hawaiians who are seeking the recognition already given to sovereign Native American tribes on the mainland US is apples to oranges.

Personally I believe segregating people in the US by race is wrong in ANY instance. Either you are american, or you are not. I don't care what happened 200 years ago, if you live in this country legally, you should be treated the same as everyone else. To say this proposal is designed to protect Hawiian culture is asinine, its like saying black/white segregation is a way of preserving the WHITE culture. Are you suggesting the Hawaiian culture is worth protecting, but the white culture is not?

What culture brought to Hawaii by immigrants would you consider worth saving?

Hmmm, I'm a bit confused by your responce. Maby I misunderstood you, I thought you were implying protection of Hawaiian culture was a good reason to give them thier own tribal land.

Back on topic, though, I see no reason why any group of people in the US deserve, or need anything difforent than anyone else. If you are a US citizen, dispite your skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ect, you are an american - like it or not.