What is The Problem?

In Honolulu Star Bulletin, “Gathering Place” on October 29, 2006 was an essay “Recognition would bring Hawaiians justice, not special treatment,” by Martha Ross.

One sentence in particular was striking “The eventual goal of many of these groups is to erode or eliminate all civil rights and affirmative action laws and policies designed to bring about equality.”

That is one amazing sentence. Any thoughtful person, reading and thinking about it should say:

-Absent those laws in what specific way would citizens of Native Hawaii ancestry not be equal to other citizens in Hawaii today?

-What is it specifically that calls for correction?

-If corrected by government would any innocent persons be hurt? If so, how could that be justified?

-The sentence implies that current laws do not bring about equality, but are “designed” to do so. Why? Is this perceived to be an uncorrectable perpetual situation?

If hurtful unjust activities by ancestors in distant past generations are to be somehow adjusted by todays and tomorrows offspring of the guilty, it seems to me that those of Jewish ancestry should be first in line. But we hear not a peep from them.

Michael Medved (of Jewish ancestry) said it well.

“…if you’re the victim of discrimination of some sort, then make the effort to transcend and ignore it, as have so many Americans of every ethnic or interest group. The most essential affirmation to facilitate success is the frequent, fervent declaration:

‘I am not a Victim.’”        

Victims drive through life looking intently into their rear view mirror.

Consequently, they crash and burn. Then they blame the road, the car or the obstacle, never their perverse behavior.

Martha Ross wants to “help” them by encouraging such behavior. And she gets paid to do so by OHA, a state agency.     

That, it seems to me, is the root problem.

Richard O. Rowland is president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. He can be reached via email at: dick@grassrootinstitute.com