I like this idea

[BeanCounter]

Here is something to ponder. We've listened to Ernie, now what did Jefferson say:

"Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them if we basely entail hereditary bondage on them." --Thomas Jefferson

Ernie, this is what your savior has brought with him. Bondage, not only for our children but for our grandchildren. And all the time all you do is stand with your hand outstretched waiting for the master to give you something. A slave you are, and a slave you will always be.

[BeanCounter]

Ernie,

I believe most of Australia was "forced relocation". Does England pay for everyone's health insurance down there? You need to get a grip on reality.

[Excaliber]

Did England nuke your home country, or in this example, Australia? Did it destroy your way of feeding yourselves, your way of life? If so, dam straight they should.

The Federal Government ruled on this issue a LONG time ago, "we" are taking responsibility for "our" actions of nuclear testing. In retrospect, maybe they should have done it in the Gulf and left Texas uninhabitable. No more bushes (now there's a sweet pun), no more trees, only barren waste land. Wait, maybe THATS why? Maybe they DID test a few in the Gulf?

[Excaliber]

You know, regardless of party affiliation, through the years, the decades, the century even, it is worth noting: The people in Washington D.C. have a basic moral clarity on many of these issues. It's not always perfect, sometimes it's brutally wrong, but in the end, "we" as a country tend to step up to the plate, in time, and take responsibility. I think it's one of the things that make America the great country that it is. I've spent considerable time in the Marshall Island's group, the poverty is grinding. They live off the sea, barely off the land. Destroy the sea or the land and they have nothing.

[BeanCounter]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Did England nuke your home country, or in this example, Australia? Did it destroy your way of feeding yourselves, your way of life? If so, dam straight they should.

The Federal Government ruled on this issue a LONG time ago, "we" are taking responsibility for "our" actions of nuclear testing. In retrospect, maybe they should have done it in the Gulf and left Texas uninhabitable. No more bushes (now there's a sweet pun), no more trees, only barren waste land. Wait, maybe THATS why? Maybe they DID test a few in the Gulf?

No, they gave them land and made them feed themselves. The same thing we should do after 50 years, make them self sufficient. How many generations and how many years will this have to go on? Think back in history as to how many people have suffered the same deprivations and diasporas. How many had their health care provided for life? None. If that was the criteria then all of us should get free health care. But then who would pay for it if we all got it free. I guess each and every one of us the way it should be.

So how come you're not crying for the Jews to get free health care?

[Jamo]

Can't they open a casino or something?

[Excaliber]

Actually, there has been talk of them doing that!

Bernie, the Federal Government put this thing to bed a long time ago, with apologies, monies and the rightful support to a people we seriously injured. Frankly it is done, has been done. You can thank Hawaii for going well above and beyond the call of duty in doing what is/was right by these people. It's really a non-issue, it's been settled.

[Ron61]

Ernie,

This is not part of this discussion and probably in the wrong thread but I have a question.

About a week ago I saw an article on the Reuters News that the Governor of Hawaii was thinking about a bill to try and get Hawaii out of the United States again and become a sovereign nation. Not much information was included and I haven't seen anything since about it. Is there any truth to that or was it just another write something to grab a headline type thing?

Ron

[Excaliber]

There is a "Nation of Hawaii" here, a small but vocal and active group. They even have a King! They hold protests from time to time, the King (along with supporters) was recently aressted for trying to take over Iolani Palace, eventually the charges were dropped. The State usually takes a hands off approach when it can. That is ONE group, there are others. The claims are that the people of Hawaii never signed documents giving the Islands to the USA. The USA essentially took the Islands by force. Actually, they make some interesting points. While I seriously doubt they will ever be granted any real say in land ownership, politics, etc. I couldn't totally dismiss the idea either. "Hawaiian Home Lands" an official State and National recognized organization does in fact own, or at least has a say in, hundreds of thousands of acres that the State PAYS THEM to lease back.

The biggest problem is there are multiple groups of Hawaiians who mostly fight among themselves for control of various State AND Federal lands. Hawaii recently celebrated "State Hood" day. There were no official parties, it was all rather quiet, the protesters came out in force, celebrate would be the wrong word. More like a wake.

Basically they want recognition like the Indians or Eskimos have, step one...