Speaking for Everyone
Members of OHA joined with Governor Lingle and Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation at a reception recently. The intent was to build support for the Akaka bill in Congress. Representative Neil Abercrombie said,
“If Mr. Bush’s administration recognizes that this is something not just for native Hawaiians, but something all of Hawaii wants and needs, then I think we’ll be in good shape.”
All of Hawaii wants and needs the Akaka bill? Everyone? At debates held recently by the league of women voters weren’t there opponents of the Akaka bill from all sides of the spectrum? Hawaiian sovereignty separatists as well as those who want Hawaii to remain a state with no preferential treatment and everyone being treated equally under the law attended those debates, all against the Akaka bill.
Whatever Rep. Abercrombie believes he doesn’t speak for everyone. He might not even speak for a majority but we will never know without a statewide vote.
Does he speak for you?
Anonymous said,
November 22, 2005 @ 2:47 pm
This guy is talking from Washington, DC about a law that proposes to change the life of every person in Hawaii, imposed from above on Hawaii without a vote of the people of Hawaii. That arrogant Congressman does NOT speak for me!– BRT
bill lewis said,
November 22, 2005 @ 4:00 pm
Neither Abacrombie or Akaka speak for me. The Akaka bill is an abomination and seeks only to further deprive the Kanaka Maoli of their sovereignty and what’s left of their lands. The U.S. needs to restore Hawaiian sovereignty and pay restitution for the damage they have done over the past 112 years.
Anonymous said,
November 22, 2005 @ 5:51 pm
If Akaka, Abercrombie, Lingle and all the promoters of the Akaka Bill say it is for all Hawaii, how come we are not being asked to vote on it. The Akaka Bill is a race based ripoff, unconstitutional and based on revisionist history.
Anonymous said,
November 22, 2005 @ 10:57 pm
Kaka bill is nothing more nor less than another Dan Inouye scam like Kahoolawe and Sandwich Isles Communications. A means to put federal money into the pockets of Dan’s network of fellow crooks. What is surprising is that Lingle became part of the scheme? Can this be explained? Is she a crook too. Henry Guigni, who died last week, was Inouye’s long-time bag man. Wake up Hawaii, take Inouye to the cloakroom and teach all these crooks a lesson in constitutional democracy!!!!!
Eric J. Seabury said,
November 23, 2005 @ 8:41 am
Neil Abercrombie, Daniel’s Inouye and Akaka, as well as Linda Lingle definitely do not speak for me! I do not have native-Hawaiian blood but my family has been in Hawai’i since 1855 (My great-great-great grandfather from my father’s side arrived in the islands from Portugal almost 20 years before the influx of Portugese arrived and he was a supporter and friend of the monarchy. Another great-great-great of mine was Manuel Nuñez, the inventor of the ukulele). In 1959, the majority of Hawai’i residents voted for statehood. I don’t deny the fact that many pro-sovereignty individuals back then were pushed back and told to be quiet and I don’t deny the fact that many Hawai’i residents (Not just native-Hawaiians but other ethnicities) who signed the petition to have the Queen restored to her throne in 1893 were disgracefully ignored (My ancestor being one of them). But the Akaka Bill will do nothing else but divide us even further and make native-Hawaiians a ward of the Federal government. We are an island state and we have a rich, cultural history that no other state or country can match. We are the best example of how the rest of the world should be. The Akaka Bill will affect all of us and it should be put to a vote by the people of Hawai’i before Congress makes any decision on “our behalf”. And as far as sovereignty is concerned. People are either “for” or “against” it. I think the best way to answer the question of sovereignty is to also put it to a vote. Ask the people of Hawai’i, “should the question of sovereignty be put to a vote by the people of Hawai’i?” If people vote “yes” in the majority, it should be discussed and voted on and if it is “no”, then the question should be dropped once and for all. I, for one, wouldn’t have a problem with this because I know in my heart that the majority of Hawai’i´s people want to remain with the United States of America. While native-Hawaiian groups have many supporters to maintain the culture, language and the land, the pro-sovereignty movement is a minority. I have family and friends who have native-Hawaiian blood and they’re proud to be American. Let’s bring the entire debate out at last to the people and put it to rest once and forever!
Busco said,
November 23, 2005 @ 3:04 pm
He doesn’t speak for me. He never has and as far as I am concerned I will working to make sure he doesn’t ever speak for me!