12-30-2007, 09:18 AM
Glen, I think those of us whose background has taught us throwing trash is bad can say that, but for those who were never taught that, no, we cannot say that to them without imposing our views on others, so we can try to convince others of our views, but diplomatically and non-judgmentally?
We already do condemn littering in public and on other people's land in the form of laws made by those who are in power. As to a person's private property ... we need to be careful about expecting others to do as we do. Education when people are at an impressionable age, great. Attitude, superiority, and scorn, not so good.
Predictable response -- "if you don't like our ways, LEAVE, we never asked you to come here."
I agree with you, but I suspect we have similar cultural backgrounds.
My point is that many times we think our beliefs are absolute truths because we are surrounded by like-minded folks who like us condemn those who think otherwise as wrong. Often these truths are culturally relative and I believe we need to keep this in mind as we proceed to instigate change.
I think we really need to be careful about sweeping statements that assume everyone who settled these islands looked at them as "paradise" and all the preconceived notions that come with that idea. Look at history of the island settlement. It's simply not borne out by the facts. This was never a utopia. It was for most who came a resource and opportunity for a better life economically or politically (or so they hoped). For the missionaries, it was a duty and a mission, and a whole lot of ego and self-enrichment.
All I'm saying is let's be real about how Hawai`i came to be what is today. Environmentalism is a relatively new concept, even though the philosophy can reach back in time and draw on the spiritual ideals of pre-settlement Hawaiian culture. Which I applaud as an example and an inspiration, although society was hardly "perfect" then either. War, classism, feudalism, etc., not a utopia.
We already do condemn littering in public and on other people's land in the form of laws made by those who are in power. As to a person's private property ... we need to be careful about expecting others to do as we do. Education when people are at an impressionable age, great. Attitude, superiority, and scorn, not so good.
Predictable response -- "if you don't like our ways, LEAVE, we never asked you to come here."
I agree with you, but I suspect we have similar cultural backgrounds.
My point is that many times we think our beliefs are absolute truths because we are surrounded by like-minded folks who like us condemn those who think otherwise as wrong. Often these truths are culturally relative and I believe we need to keep this in mind as we proceed to instigate change.
I think we really need to be careful about sweeping statements that assume everyone who settled these islands looked at them as "paradise" and all the preconceived notions that come with that idea. Look at history of the island settlement. It's simply not borne out by the facts. This was never a utopia. It was for most who came a resource and opportunity for a better life economically or politically (or so they hoped). For the missionaries, it was a duty and a mission, and a whole lot of ego and self-enrichment.
All I'm saying is let's be real about how Hawai`i came to be what is today. Environmentalism is a relatively new concept, even though the philosophy can reach back in time and draw on the spiritual ideals of pre-settlement Hawaiian culture. Which I applaud as an example and an inspiration, although society was hardly "perfect" then either. War, classism, feudalism, etc., not a utopia.