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The TMT and its supporters did try, many times, to show how research in Astronomy could be considered a continuation of the traditions of Native Hawaiians, who
by PopePompus 7y ago
The TMT and its supporters did try, many times, to show how research in Astronomy could be considered a continuation of the traditions of Native Hawaiians, who navigated the Pacific astronomically (at least in part). Some Hawaiians agree with this argument. But there is a core group of Native Hawaiians for whom arguments about the merits of the TMT are irrelevant. They don't want more construction on Mauna Kea, full stop.
If something like this controversy involved a Native group on the US mainland, things might be simpler. There would probably be a native government for the Navaho, or Souix, etc that the TMT could negotiate with. If the TMT got the go ahead from the native government, then that government would deal with protestors among their own people, if the TMT did not get permission from the native government, then it would know that it could not proceed. But there is no widely recognized Native Hawaiian government. There's nobody for the TMT to negotiate with that all the protestors would obey. So the TMT negotiated with the state government, but many Native Hawaiians do not acknowledge the legitimacy of the state.
- kingkawn 7y agoThere was a recognized native Hawaiian government once. The US overthrew it with military force to satisfy business interests.
- PopePompus 7y agoWell, my point was that there is no entity now that the TMT could negotiate with, which would be seen as legitimate by all Native Hawaiians.
- kingkawn 7y agoYes but their opposition to projects such as this comes from the fact that nobody can consult with them because their society was dismantled on a whim and has never had the opportunity to reformulate to provide this project’s leaders anyone with whom to negotiate. Hence, their opposition that you and others get outraged about.
- PopePompus 7y agoI'm not outraged. I'm saddened.
- kingkawn 7y agoThe potential loss of the telescope is the least of what there is to be saddened about
- bsanr2 7y agoI think his point is that it's the fault of the people who, ironically, would be at less of a disadvantage now if they'd been less imperialistic in the past. Native Hawaiians had a government that was dismantled by force; it's not their fault that they don't currently have a government.