Difference between revisions of "2006-05-10 Akaka Fact Check"

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(Point/Counterpoint synopsis)
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=Point/Counterpoint synopsis=
 
=Point/Counterpoint synopsis=
Point:  Speaking about his own grandchildren, who
+
{{point|Speaking about his own grandchildren, who speak Hawaiian and take pride in their culture and have studied Hawaiian history, including the overthrow of the monarchy:  "It is THIS generation that is growing impatient with the lack of progress in efforts to resolve longstanding issues.  It is THIS generation that does not understand why we have not resolved these matters.}}
speak Hawaiian and take pride in their culture and
 
have studied Hawaiian history, including the overthrow
 
of the monarchy:  "It is THIS generation that is
 
growing impatient with the lack of progress in efforts
 
to resolve longstanding issues.  It is THIS generation
 
that does not understand why we have not resolved
 
these matters.
 
  
Counterpoint:  But indeed, we HAVE resolved these
+
{{counterpoint|But indeed, we HAVE resolved these matters.  The overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, the annexation of Hawai'i in 1898, and the Statehood vote of 1959 (94% voting yes), clearly resolved these matters.  Some diehards on the losing side keep agitating for a new "settlement."  The main reason why Senator Akaka's grandchildren fail to understand that we have resolved these issues is because of the highly biased "education" (actually propaganda) they are receiving in Hawai'i's substandard schools with their highly politicized history lessons.}}
matters.  The overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, the
 
annexation of Hawai'i in 1898, and the Statehood vote
 
of 1959 (94% voting yes), clearly resolved these
 
matters.  Some diehards on the losing side keep
 
agitating for a new "settlement."  The main reason why
 
Senator Akaka's grandchildren fail to understand that
 
we have resolved these issues is because of the highly
 
biased "education" (actually propaganda) they are
 
receiving in Hawai'i's substandard schools with their
 
highly politicized history lessons.
 
  
Point:  "There are those who have tried to say that my
+
{{point|"There are those who have tried to say that my bill will divide the people of Hawai'i.  As I have explained, my bill goes a long way to unite the people of Hawai'i ... The misguided efforts of my colleagues who seek to delay the Senate's consideration of this bill, however, may have a divisive effect on my state."}}
bill will divide the people of Hawai'i.  As I have
 
explained, my bill goes a long way to unite the people
 
of Hawai'i ... The misguided efforts of my colleagues
 
who seek to delay the Senate's consideration of this
 
bill, however, may have a divisive effect on my
 
state."  
 
  
Counterpoint:  The whole purpose of this bill is to
+
{{counterpoint|The whole purpose of this bill is to divide Hawai'i's people along racial lines by creating a government exclusively for people of one race.  The bill then authorizes the new racial government to negotiate with what's left of the State of Hawai'i for land, money, and regulatory powers.  That's a recipe for conflict.  That's divisiveness.  Those Senators who block this bill are performing a great service to protect the unity of Hawai'i's people under a single government guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws; protecting the integrity of the U.S. Constitution; and protecting all America from a precedent for further balkanization.}}
divide Hawai'i's people along racial lines by creating
 
a government exclusively for people of one race.  The
 
bill then authorizes the new racial government to
 
negotiate with what's left of the State of Hawai'i for
 
land, money, and regulatory powers.  That's a recipe
 
for conflict.  That's divisiveness.  Those Senators
 
who block this bill are performing a great service to
 
protect the unity of Hawai'i's people under a single
 
government guaranteeing the equal protection of the
 
laws; protecting the integrity of the U.S.
 
Constitution; and protecting all America from a
 
precedent for further balkanization.  
 
  
Point:  Senator Akaka's speech focused on the need for
+
{{point|Senator Akaka's speech focused on the need for a structured process for ethnic Hawaiians to settle long-standing grievances stemming from the overthrow of the monarchy, and strongly hinting that the growing impatience of today's young people could result in violence if the issues are not settled (in a manner that satisfies them).}} 
a structured process for ethnic Hawaiians to settle
+
 
long-standing grievances stemming from the overthrow
+
{{counterpoint|Citing restlessness and hinting at possible violence unless concessions are made is a threat.  It is thinly-veiled extortion.  Threatening violence is itself an act of violenceAppeasement of a bully merely encourages the bully to become more aggressive, as Neville Chamberlain learned when he gave Hitler the green light to grab a piece of Czechoslovakia, and stepped off the airplane waving a document and gleefully shouting "Peace in our time."}}
of the monarchy, and strongly hinting that the growing
 
impatience of today's young people could result in
 
violence if the issues are not settled (in a manner
 
that satisfies them).   
 
  
Counterpoint:  Citing restlessness and hinting at
 
possible violence unless concessions are made is a
 
threat.  It is thinly-veiled extortion.  Threatening
 
violence is itself an act of violence.  Appeasement of
 
a bully merely encourages the bully to become more
 
aggressive, as Neville Chamberlain learned when he
 
gave Hitler the green light to grab a piece of
 
Czechoslovakia, and stepped off the airplane waving a
 
document and gleefully shouting "Peace in our time."
 
 
=Akaka's remarks with corrections=
 
=Akaka's remarks with corrections=
 
Coming as soon as they are published!
 
Coming as soon as they are published!

Revision as of 11:30, 10 May 2006

Point/Counterpoint synopsis

Point: Speaking about his own grandchildren, who speak Hawaiian and take pride in their culture and have studied Hawaiian history, including the overthrow of the monarchy: "It is THIS generation that is growing impatient with the lack of progress in efforts to resolve longstanding issues. It is THIS generation that does not understand why we have not resolved these matters.

Counterpoint: But indeed, we HAVE resolved these matters. The overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, the annexation of Hawai'i in 1898, and the Statehood vote of 1959 (94% voting yes), clearly resolved these matters. Some diehards on the losing side keep agitating for a new "settlement." The main reason why Senator Akaka's grandchildren fail to understand that we have resolved these issues is because of the highly biased "education" (actually propaganda) they are receiving in Hawai'i's substandard schools with their highly politicized history lessons.

Point: "There are those who have tried to say that my bill will divide the people of Hawai'i. As I have explained, my bill goes a long way to unite the people of Hawai'i ... The misguided efforts of my colleagues who seek to delay the Senate's consideration of this bill, however, may have a divisive effect on my state."

Counterpoint: The whole purpose of this bill is to divide Hawai'i's people along racial lines by creating a government exclusively for people of one race. The bill then authorizes the new racial government to negotiate with what's left of the State of Hawai'i for land, money, and regulatory powers. That's a recipe for conflict. That's divisiveness. Those Senators who block this bill are performing a great service to protect the unity of Hawai'i's people under a single government guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws; protecting the integrity of the U.S. Constitution; and protecting all America from a precedent for further balkanization.

Point: Senator Akaka's speech focused on the need for a structured process for ethnic Hawaiians to settle long-standing grievances stemming from the overthrow of the monarchy, and strongly hinting that the growing impatience of today's young people could result in violence if the issues are not settled (in a manner that satisfies them).

Counterpoint: Citing restlessness and hinting at possible violence unless concessions are made is a threat. It is thinly-veiled extortion. Threatening violence is itself an act of violence. Appeasement of a bully merely encourages the bully to become more aggressive, as Neville Chamberlain learned when he gave Hitler the green light to grab a piece of Czechoslovakia, and stepped off the airplane waving a document and gleefully shouting "Peace in our time."

Akaka's remarks with corrections

Coming as soon as they are published!