Originally posted by Hangtime
Nah.. more like parity with the indians. lands of their own, big feaderal assistance package, educational grants, medical grants and hospitals, some autonomy on cultural stuff.
A casino would be facetious guess.
They could build more than one.. I don't think they're commies.
I still dont think you are getting it so I'll provide you with some details of what this would entail (not that it matters, the bill most likely wont see a vote before Congress recesses).
If you read or even got quotes from the Apology of 1993, the US govt. formally apologized to the decendants of the Kingdom of Hawaii for basically illegally taking their country by force. They have never been recognized as "indigenous" people, which would put them on a par with indians and eskimos. They have never legally given up their rights as a sovreign nation. Therefore, their actual legal status (other than being US citizens for being born in Hawaii after it became a state) is up in the air.
What the bill seeks is for the US govt. to recognize them as said descendants, legally, and to restore to them the rights of a sovreign nation. In return for this, they would then give Hawaii BACK to the US, as it is currently recognized. I dont think there are any specifications for "reservations" like the indian tribes have, and casinos are going to be specifically barred by the language of the bill (gambling is currently illegal in the state of Hawaii, and no one wanted this to be a way for indian tribes to open their casinos here on Hawaiian land). What Hawaiians want for themselves, is the right to make a choice. To be considered "wards of the state" as indians are (nothing of which is specified, and which no one I've talked to wants) or to be full citizens of the US and the State of Hawaii. They dont want to be un-American, they just want recognition. They want the right to administer programs that are ALREADY IN PLACE to protect Hawaiian heritage and provide services for the people, without bother from groups that want to interfere with the operation of private schools and other trusts. They want a council that will have some say, some legal power, to negotiate with the state govt and the federal govt on protection for places that are sacred to Hawaiians, as indian tribes do in negotiating for what happens to remains or other artifacts recovered.
I dont think any of that is much of a burden on the US or anyone else. They still want to be US citizens. They are just tired of being ignored and stepped on where their history and heritage are concerned.
