Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 3, 1 March 2004 — Common cause [ARTICLE]

Common cause

A number of articles and eomments whieh involve sovereignty, nationalism and Kānaka Maoli federal recognition disturb me deeply. Whether their statements support the Akaka-Stevens Bill or not, the perception and view of every person and group is presented as correct and true — so where should I choose to stand? I am proud to be a Kanaka Maoli, and only recently have my eyes been open to the injustice that has been served among my people, for I now see that I've been fed lies throughout my life. But time is short and of the essence, and I must choose where I'll stand. I open the newspapers and books to gain mana'o in my decision, but whether in a current newspaper or native history book, there is one eommon theme: division of beliefs among my people. The United States Government has this term, "divide and conquer," so with this bill we must all do our best to be on the same page. This is why I support the federal recognition bill, because it will put us Kānaka Maoli all on the same page in thought and morale. Regardless of where our political beliefs lie, our direction will be the same. Being that recognition will be given upon the bill passing, imagine the uninformed and misinformed people across the globe finally united to a eommon cause. We must move forward as a people, to make our dreams a reality. Charles A. Moore Aiea