07-15-2015, 12:57 PM
quote:
The TMT people invested 7 years and untold dollars into this project, now the "protectors" are saying that is not enough, while being very unclear about what they do want. I do not remember all these people flooding the hearings about the TMT over the last 7 years, instead they wait until the trucks are rolling, and then they stand up and claim no one was listening to them?
I'm still not partial to any particular side, and admittedly, I've come into this discussion a bit late as I'm not familiar with what concessions the public received from this 7 years of investment in the islands. Can anyone tell me what Hawaii has gotten in return so far?
quote:
Protesting the TMT doesn't address the need for Hawaiian Homeland housing, education for a greater number of keiki, (not just the privileged few who now attend Kamehameha Schools), college scholarships, jobs, and some form of political power and recognition. What the TMT issue has done is given Hawaiians the spotlight. Now might be the time to put that attention on issues that will in fact change their lives and their children's lives for the better. In all honesty, I've tried, but I can't see how one telescope more or less on Mauna Kea will affect the Hawaiian people for better or worse by one iota. Housing will. Education will. Homeland self determination will. If those things are important, isn't it time to take the next step?
Totally agree with that sentiment. But could it be that the battle is part of negotiating for those things above that didn't materialize? What I mean is, what is a better time to negotiate than when you are finally holding some cards?