Vote “No” on Legislative Initiative 11-1: The Issue: Legislative Initiative 11-1 proposes to limit voting on Article 12 (Land Alienation) to people of NMI descent. Our View: This proposal must be soundly defeated for it discriminates on the b

We have vacillated and resorted to quick-fixes to soothe our grand insecurity even 21 years after we’ve joined the greater American political family. We have done so by perpetuating policies that at best, blatantly discriminate and displace fellow Americans (US Citizens) who have decided to make these isles home for their families.

This local sense of insecurity has triggered grand hypocrisy in the way we’ve handled the welfare of US Citizens we’ve treated with the attitude of “Them Against Us”. At best, we’re demonstrating our grand sense of political immaturity where we’ve consistently hid our heads in the sand rather than face up to real citizenship responsibilities as to even openly discriminate against fellow US Citizens. This scarcity mentality has no place in our long march to strengthening our democratic institutions.

Furthermore, the “land alienation” provision in the Covenant was allowed to stay though constitutional experts agree that it is an “iffy” provision that could be shot down by the US Supreme Court. There’s now before the highest court in the land the lawsuit of Rice vs. Cayetano, a case that limits voting of Bishop Estate board members to people of Hawaiian descent. It runs contrary to a US Constitutional Amendment that prohibits purposeful discrimination against US Citizens on the basis of race.

Many have resorted to arguments that even Native Americans were given the right to deny others land ownership. The difference is significant in the relationship of “sacred” land where Native Americans live in reservations. The Hawaiians and indigenous people of these isles do not have any history of “sacred” relationship to land nor are we living in reservations. We live openly under the blue skies of these isles as a free people all the way around.

Finally, we’ve allowed fellow US Citizens to vote on local elections (including the midterm election this Saturday) and have done the same on recent constitutional amendments soundly defeated by the electorate. Let’s outgrow our insecurity and penchant for discrimination and allow fellow Americans to partake on a matter of an individual right. Let’s once and for all learn that we can’t have our cake and eat it too. Vote “No” on Legislative Initiative 11-1. A negative vote is a demonstration that we have in fact attained political maturity. Si Yuus Maase`!