/* Written 3:28 pm Jul 7, 1993 by lofstrom@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu in
igc:alt.politics.g */
/* ---------- "Help Hawaiian Sovereignty Tribunal" ---------- */
I was surprised to see the article that Dale had posted for Mike
Feinstein and Linda Martin, re the People's Tribunal, since support for
the tribunal has NOT been discussed by the State Steering Committee of the
Hawai'i Green Party. The O'ahu County Steering Committee has discussed
the issue and agreed something on the order of "if this is what some
Hawaiians want to do, then this is fine by us." As I understand it -- I
wasn't at the meeting.
The post consisted of a letter from Mike and Linda, followed by a long
document supplied by the tribunal planners. The Hawai'i Green Party had
not read or approved this document, and we do not necessarily approve of
the positions taken therein. Our platform says only that we support
Hawaiian sovereignty in a form fair to all citizens of Hawai'i -- it
doesn't commit us to any particular sovereignty group or plan.
The State Steering Committee will be meeting in a few days, and will be
discussing this issue.
Speaking purely in a PERSONAL capacity, I have more than a few misgivings
about the tribunal project.
The gentleman heading the project favors total secession from the US, and
some language in the document posted hints that this is the desired
recompense for the wrongs done to the native Hawaiians. Most citizens of
Hawaii are not native Hawiians, and would surely oppose this plan. There
is a great deal of evidence that most native Hawaiians would oppose it
too.
The tribunal seems designed to foment anger, rather than deal
constructively with the current problems of native Hawaiians. There is no
one here in Hawaii who will now publicly state that the US seizure of the
islands was anything but a crime. The only point at issue is whether or
not some form of recompense is due, and what form this recompense should
take. We should be discussing this issue, not raking up and nursing
grievances.
The document supplied by the tribunal is historically inaccurate and
misleading (I spent some time doing archival research in Hawaiian history,
and feel I can speak with authority here). The shrill partisan bias is
absolutely unnecessary, IMO. The rapacity and bad faith of the federal
and state governments are amply shown by incidents and policies that NO ONE
would deny. Exaggeration and distortion weaken the Hawaiian case.
As I said, this is my personal take on the issue. If some Hawaiians want
to do this tribunal, they have a right to do so. If some Greens want to
support it, they have that right. However, they don't speak for me.
--
--- Karen Lofstrom lofstrom@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu
K.Lofstrom on GEnie