11-10-2008, 05:45 AM
My question was whether President-Elect Obama is American. That has been esablished beyond a reasonable doubt, and pushing non-substantive themes such as the suggestion that Obama was not American (and perhaps even un-American) may be one reason why the opposition lost so handily. People want answers now -- not slanderous, unsubstantiated nonsense.
No, my question was whether he would be recognized as "Hawaiian". My answer to that is yes, he is Hawaiian. By the way, he supports the Akaka Bill in princple. That bill will provide certain rights for NATIVE HAWAIIANS. Obama would not meet the definition of Native Hawaiian under any version of that definition. However, under any other definition, the man is Hawaiian.
It is important to distinguish between Hawaiians and Native Hawaiians. I am all American and part Native American (I do not strongly associate with my tribe, or any tribe --tribal associations are atavistic in my view, thwart human progress and suppress what we have in common in favor of what we do not have in common).
So, when people tell you that you are not Hawaiian, even when you are born in Hawaii and even when you are President of the United States of American (including the State of Hawaii), they are wrong. What they mean is that you are not Native Hawaiian. That is a completely different matter.
Barack Obama -- An American and a Hawaiian.
Glen -- An American, part Native American, and someday a Hawaiian by choice.
No, my question was whether he would be recognized as "Hawaiian". My answer to that is yes, he is Hawaiian. By the way, he supports the Akaka Bill in princple. That bill will provide certain rights for NATIVE HAWAIIANS. Obama would not meet the definition of Native Hawaiian under any version of that definition. However, under any other definition, the man is Hawaiian.
It is important to distinguish between Hawaiians and Native Hawaiians. I am all American and part Native American (I do not strongly associate with my tribe, or any tribe --tribal associations are atavistic in my view, thwart human progress and suppress what we have in common in favor of what we do not have in common).
So, when people tell you that you are not Hawaiian, even when you are born in Hawaii and even when you are President of the United States of American (including the State of Hawaii), they are wrong. What they mean is that you are not Native Hawaiian. That is a completely different matter.
Barack Obama -- An American and a Hawaiian.
Glen -- An American, part Native American, and someday a Hawaiian by choice.