Conflict over Gaza Strip
The Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over land for 50+ years. This started because during the late 1800's/ early 1900's, many European Jews wanted to go back to their ancestral land. However, at the time, the Palestinian Arabs dominated what is now Israel.
After the 1st World War, the British took the land that is now Israel. Some Jews moved in. Then, in World War 2, Hitler invaded other European nations and killed many Jews there. After World War 2, the Jewish desire for land in Israel grew stronger. Many European Jews, traumatized by the Holocaust, moved to the British territory of Israel. In 1948, Israel became an independent Jewish nation.
Since 1948, there has plenty of land conflicts between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. In a recent deal, Palestinian Arabs take over Gaza Strip. All Israeli Jews have to leave.
That is wrong! If the Jews want to stay in Gaza Strip, let them. Let them live under the Palestinian Authority if they wish.
And if Palestinian Arabs want to live in Israel, let them!
This is the 21st Century already, stop the segregation already!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Images of Hawaii
Everytime something goes wrong in Hawaii, there's always a whiner who say it'll scare away the tourists.
For example, when the University of Hawaii football got into a fight with the players from Cincinnati (2002) and Houston(2003), a bunch of letters to the editor said it'll scare away the tourists.
Nevermind that fights happen at sports events worldwide.
Now, there's this film about transvestite hookers in downtown Honolulu that will be shown on HBO
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Aug/14/il/508140305.html
(NOTE TO IMMATURE READERS: I am NOT attracted to transvestites. Just because I mention their existence doesn't mean I'll date them.)
Anyways, some will say that film will scare tourists away from Hawaii.
Nevermind that
1) transvestites exist worldwide
2) a person has to got to be Mega-Stupid if he/she let a film about Hawaii transvestites think that they dominate Hawaii's population.
3) Those transvestites only hang out in Hotel Street (in downtown Honolulu) and in Waikiki. (NOTE TO IMMATURE READERS: this is a well known fact, just because one knows about it doesn't mean one is into it) Those areas are probably less than 1% of all land space in Hawaii.
Now, how do you think the folks in LA feel when outsiders think of their city as gangsta-land? How do you think the folks in Alabama and Mississippi feel when outsiders only know those places as KKK territory? How do you think the Middle East people feel when outsiders only think of their place as the land of terrorists? How do you think Africans feel when their continent is portrayed as a land of eternal warfare and eternal famine?
Everyplace got their problems! It does no good to sweep it under the rug!
So if I was to make a film/book/record about Hawaii, I'll discuss many things. The nice beaches, the trade winds, the nice forests, the plate lunch restaurants, the Polynesian music, the great parks, the friendly people with the Aloha spirit, etc.
But I'll also mention about the crystal meth labs, homelessness, the poverty in both rural and urban areas. I'll discuss cultural conflicts ( ie. Caucasians vs. Native Hawaiians, Samoans vs. Asian immigrants, Samoans vs. Micronesians)
Some say mentioning those things will scare away tourists. Whatevers! I rather keep it real. Plus, if I was living in (for example) Iowa, I want to know all about Hawaii. I dont just want to know about the beaches, the ukuleles, volcanoes, hula festivals, etc. I also want to know what are controversial problems occuring in Hawaii. I want to know all the facts.
Me, I'd like to visit Miami. I know that city has a problem with crime. I know that city has had racial conflicts. But that doesn't keep me from being interested in visiting Miami. I'm interested in Miami because it has a similar climate to Hawaii, but is also culturally different from Hawaii. Whereas Hawaii is dominated by Asians and Polynesians, Miami is dominated by Latinos, Carribean blacks, African Americans, Jews, Caucasians, etc.
A lot of people in Hawaii visit Las Vegas. Did the fact that 2pac was killed in Las Vegas stop people from visiting Las Vegas? No!
So Hawaii residents should stop worrying about football fights, Hotel Street transvestites, etc scaring away tourists
Everytime something goes wrong in Hawaii, there's always a whiner who say it'll scare away the tourists.
For example, when the University of Hawaii football got into a fight with the players from Cincinnati (2002) and Houston(2003), a bunch of letters to the editor said it'll scare away the tourists.
Nevermind that fights happen at sports events worldwide.
Now, there's this film about transvestite hookers in downtown Honolulu that will be shown on HBO
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Aug/14/il/508140305.html
(NOTE TO IMMATURE READERS: I am NOT attracted to transvestites. Just because I mention their existence doesn't mean I'll date them.)
Anyways, some will say that film will scare tourists away from Hawaii.
Nevermind that
1) transvestites exist worldwide
2) a person has to got to be Mega-Stupid if he/she let a film about Hawaii transvestites think that they dominate Hawaii's population.
3) Those transvestites only hang out in Hotel Street (in downtown Honolulu) and in Waikiki. (NOTE TO IMMATURE READERS: this is a well known fact, just because one knows about it doesn't mean one is into it) Those areas are probably less than 1% of all land space in Hawaii.
Now, how do you think the folks in LA feel when outsiders think of their city as gangsta-land? How do you think the folks in Alabama and Mississippi feel when outsiders only know those places as KKK territory? How do you think the Middle East people feel when outsiders only think of their place as the land of terrorists? How do you think Africans feel when their continent is portrayed as a land of eternal warfare and eternal famine?
Everyplace got their problems! It does no good to sweep it under the rug!
So if I was to make a film/book/record about Hawaii, I'll discuss many things. The nice beaches, the trade winds, the nice forests, the plate lunch restaurants, the Polynesian music, the great parks, the friendly people with the Aloha spirit, etc.
But I'll also mention about the crystal meth labs, homelessness, the poverty in both rural and urban areas. I'll discuss cultural conflicts ( ie. Caucasians vs. Native Hawaiians, Samoans vs. Asian immigrants, Samoans vs. Micronesians)
Some say mentioning those things will scare away tourists. Whatevers! I rather keep it real. Plus, if I was living in (for example) Iowa, I want to know all about Hawaii. I dont just want to know about the beaches, the ukuleles, volcanoes, hula festivals, etc. I also want to know what are controversial problems occuring in Hawaii. I want to know all the facts.
Me, I'd like to visit Miami. I know that city has a problem with crime. I know that city has had racial conflicts. But that doesn't keep me from being interested in visiting Miami. I'm interested in Miami because it has a similar climate to Hawaii, but is also culturally different from Hawaii. Whereas Hawaii is dominated by Asians and Polynesians, Miami is dominated by Latinos, Carribean blacks, African Americans, Jews, Caucasians, etc.
A lot of people in Hawaii visit Las Vegas. Did the fact that 2pac was killed in Las Vegas stop people from visiting Las Vegas? No!
So Hawaii residents should stop worrying about football fights, Hotel Street transvestites, etc scaring away tourists
Monday, August 15, 2005
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Race, Unity and Disunity in Hawaii
1) There were rallies in Hawaii defending Kamehameha School's one-race admission policy.
Why can't everyone just learn to integrate already? This is the 21st Century!
2) Honolulu Advertiser had an article on Samoan and Micronesian ministers trying to get the kids to get along. There have been fights between Samoan and Micronesian kids, and the ministers are trying to stop that.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050806/NEWS01/508060328/1001
I think both groups have been impacted by the wider, dominant groups, or cultures, in Hawai'i," said the Rev. To'o'olefua Paogofie, who heads the Nu'u Ministry, a special ministry sponsored by the Hawai'i Conference, United Church of Christ.
"They are having difficulties readjusting and, out of that frustration, I think they've got to vent out their frustration," he said. "And sadly, they've taken it out on each other's immigrant groups."
Paogofie said he has seen tensions rise between Micronesian and Samoan youths during the past two to three years.
The rivalry came to a head last October with a fatal stabbing near Mayor Wright Homes. A 21-year-old half-Samoan man was stabbed to death during a fight between Samoans and Micronesians.
[skip paragraphs]
"There was apprehension and trepidation among the pastors whether this was going to work, but then they decided that it was their responsibility as community leaders to take this initiative and to bring these youth groups together, to find a point of reconciliation," Paogofie said.
1) There were rallies in Hawaii defending Kamehameha School's one-race admission policy.
Why can't everyone just learn to integrate already? This is the 21st Century!
2) Honolulu Advertiser had an article on Samoan and Micronesian ministers trying to get the kids to get along. There have been fights between Samoan and Micronesian kids, and the ministers are trying to stop that.
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050806/NEWS01/508060328/1001
I think both groups have been impacted by the wider, dominant groups, or cultures, in Hawai'i," said the Rev. To'o'olefua Paogofie, who heads the Nu'u Ministry, a special ministry sponsored by the Hawai'i Conference, United Church of Christ.
"They are having difficulties readjusting and, out of that frustration, I think they've got to vent out their frustration," he said. "And sadly, they've taken it out on each other's immigrant groups."
Paogofie said he has seen tensions rise between Micronesian and Samoan youths during the past two to three years.
The rivalry came to a head last October with a fatal stabbing near Mayor Wright Homes. A 21-year-old half-Samoan man was stabbed to death during a fight between Samoans and Micronesians.
[skip paragraphs]
"There was apprehension and trepidation among the pastors whether this was going to work, but then they decided that it was their responsibility as community leaders to take this initiative and to bring these youth groups together, to find a point of reconciliation," Paogofie said.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Kamehameha School Ruling
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Kamehameha Schools admissions policy is illegal.
To be admitted to Kamehameha Schools, one must have some Native Hawaiian ancestry.
People already think that policy is a joke. Why?
Just check out the Kamehameha Schools yearbook (you can check it out at the main state library in downtown Honolulu, just go to the Hawaii-Pacific section and ask the reference desk)
You can find many students who look 100% Asian or 100% Caucasian. So it appears not many people take the Kamehameha admission policy seriously.
Plus, the state already has charter schools that emphasize Native Hawaiian culture but is open to students of all races.
When I was at UH-Manoa, I had friends and acquaintances who graduated from Kamehameha Schools. So I 'm not against the students there! I just don't think the admission policy was a good idea to begin with.
By the way, I don't like those one-gender schools either! My greatest times in adolesence including flirting with some girls in my class. Every teenager should have such similar opportunities.
So if I have children, I'd send them to a school that is multi-cultural and co-ed.
Forget one-ethnicity schools. Forget one-gender schools.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Kamehameha Schools admissions policy is illegal.
To be admitted to Kamehameha Schools, one must have some Native Hawaiian ancestry.
People already think that policy is a joke. Why?
Just check out the Kamehameha Schools yearbook (you can check it out at the main state library in downtown Honolulu, just go to the Hawaii-Pacific section and ask the reference desk)
You can find many students who look 100% Asian or 100% Caucasian. So it appears not many people take the Kamehameha admission policy seriously.
Plus, the state already has charter schools that emphasize Native Hawaiian culture but is open to students of all races.
When I was at UH-Manoa, I had friends and acquaintances who graduated from Kamehameha Schools. So I 'm not against the students there! I just don't think the admission policy was a good idea to begin with.
By the way, I don't like those one-gender schools either! My greatest times in adolesence including flirting with some girls in my class. Every teenager should have such similar opportunities.
So if I have children, I'd send them to a school that is multi-cultural and co-ed.
Forget one-ethnicity schools. Forget one-gender schools.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
I was Right - Reverend Bill Graham was just joking!
I mentioned that I think Graham was just joking with Bill Clinton, not making an explicit endorsement for Hillary Clinton as President.
I was right!
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/7/1/101106.shtml
Rev. Billy Graham said Friday that he didn't intend to endorse Hillary Clinton for president when he told her husband at a massive New York City revival meeting last weekend that she should "run the country."
His son Franklin Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tells the Charlotte Observer:"For a long time, my father has refrained from endorsing political candidates and he certainly did not intend for his comments to be an endorsement for Senator Hillary Clinton."
"My father, of course, was joking," the younger Graham said, when he hosted the Clintons onstage and told the crowd of 90,000. "They're a great couple... He should be an evangelist because he has all the gifts and he could leave his wife to run the country."
Although Billy Graham has called himself a Democrat, Franklin said that didn't mean he supported the former president, saying, "His political views, as well as mine, are quite different than the Clintons." The Clintons, however "remain good friends," he added.
On my 7/1/05 post on Reverend Billy Graham, I mentioned that some conservatives were upset that Graham said the following
"I told President Clinton that when he left office, he should be an evangelist because he has all the right gifts for it, and he should leave his wife to run the country."I mentioned that I think Graham was just joking with Bill Clinton, not making an explicit endorsement for Hillary Clinton as President.
I was right!
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/7/1/101106.shtml
Rev. Billy Graham said Friday that he didn't intend to endorse Hillary Clinton for president when he told her husband at a massive New York City revival meeting last weekend that she should "run the country."
His son Franklin Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tells the Charlotte Observer:"For a long time, my father has refrained from endorsing political candidates and he certainly did not intend for his comments to be an endorsement for Senator Hillary Clinton."
"My father, of course, was joking," the younger Graham said, when he hosted the Clintons onstage and told the crowd of 90,000. "They're a great couple... He should be an evangelist because he has all the gifts and he could leave his wife to run the country."
Although Billy Graham has called himself a Democrat, Franklin said that didn't mean he supported the former president, saying, "His political views, as well as mine, are quite different than the Clintons." The Clintons, however "remain good friends," he added.
Friday, July 08, 2005
London bombed
Yesterday, the subways of London was bombed. Total dead is not yet known.
There are several possible motives for the bombing.
1) To intimidate the G-8 summit taking place in Gerthshire, Scotland. The G-8 summit is the meeting with the leaders of the 8 wealthiest nations on Earth (USA, Great Britain, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia). The G-8 summit was to discuss topics like Islamic terrorism, poverty in Africa, and environmental pollution.
2) It was only days earlier when it was announced that London was to host the Olympics in 2012. Other cities that were considered for hosting the 2012 Olympics included New York, Paris, Madrid and Moscow. It is possible that whatever city was announced to be a host for the Olympics was to be bombed. Meaning if Moscow won the hosting rights, it would've been bombed. If it was New York, we'd be hearing about another attack on NY.
So why attack the Olympics. The Olympics was supposed to be about bringing people together through athletic competition. Islamic terrorists don't like that. So they could've bombed London for the purpose of intimidation.
3) Al Quaida's retaliation for the USA and the UK for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. But remember, the USA and the UK are the good guys in the War on Terror. So we shouldn't use the London bombing as an excuse to back down!
Remember all this stuff about the Guantanamo Bay prison. Some wanted it to be shut down. I say this bombing reminds us why we need Guantanamo Bay prison!
Yesterday, the subways of London was bombed. Total dead is not yet known.
There are several possible motives for the bombing.
1) To intimidate the G-8 summit taking place in Gerthshire, Scotland. The G-8 summit is the meeting with the leaders of the 8 wealthiest nations on Earth (USA, Great Britain, France, Japan, Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia). The G-8 summit was to discuss topics like Islamic terrorism, poverty in Africa, and environmental pollution.
2) It was only days earlier when it was announced that London was to host the Olympics in 2012. Other cities that were considered for hosting the 2012 Olympics included New York, Paris, Madrid and Moscow. It is possible that whatever city was announced to be a host for the Olympics was to be bombed. Meaning if Moscow won the hosting rights, it would've been bombed. If it was New York, we'd be hearing about another attack on NY.
So why attack the Olympics. The Olympics was supposed to be about bringing people together through athletic competition. Islamic terrorists don't like that. So they could've bombed London for the purpose of intimidation.
3) Al Quaida's retaliation for the USA and the UK for fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. But remember, the USA and the UK are the good guys in the War on Terror. So we shouldn't use the London bombing as an excuse to back down!
Remember all this stuff about the Guantanamo Bay prison. Some wanted it to be shut down. I say this bombing reminds us why we need Guantanamo Bay prison!
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