mrswdk wrote:jimboston wrote:The simple fact is that if the US tried to take over some country today, the way we did to Hawaii 117 years ago... it wouldn't work.
Now we're getting somewhere. So you recognize that the US's annexation of Hawaii was and remains illegal?
I recognize that by the STANDARDS OF TODAY we (generally, "we" human beings or even "we US Citizens) would not have approved of the way we treated with Hawaii. We also wouldn't have approved of what "we" did to the native Americans, what we did to Africans, nor even what we did to Japanese American citizens of residents in WW2.
I don't agree with the classification of "illegal", past or present, for a variety of reasons.
The legality or illegality of the actions of 117 years ago is moot.
I LIVE IN THE PRESENT. So if you want to repair the past, you;
1) Make every effort to avoid repeating those things that you are not proud of.
2) You look at the current situation on the ground as it is TODAY, and then you say "what is the best thing to do to repair that wrong and/or setup a situation whereby the most people will benefit / be happy.
-> The best thing to do with Hawaii today is to allow ALL people in Hawaii the opportunity to have open forum and conversation about the possibility of seceding / independence. Don'y have the vote tomorrow. Set it up for a year (or two) from now. Let people discuss / debate. Establish "rules" or a "process" whereby the US Gov't would agree to Independence; but would also retain lease rights to property (bases / scientific installations) where the Gov't has made investments (as I said in my first post). Proponents of Independence would have to have a basic Constitution and Gov't Framework ready... and there would be a timeline for transfer of power as well. Then... let the vote happen.
Based on the article posted. The Independence vote would likely fail. I'd be fine either way. I think Independence would be bad for the vast majority of ALL Hawaiian citizens... but I respect their right to make bad decisions.
BTW,,, I am not saying the US Fed. Gov't would do everything I suggest above; or elsewhere in this thread. I am saying that is what I think is the right thing to do.
mrswdk wrote:jimboston wrote:The people of the US would be opposed to it. However, it didn't happen yesterday... it happened 117 years ago, and the USA was mirroring the norms of other major powers at the time.
2015 - US does what it wants in the Middle East and doesn't GAF what the haters say, Russia just annexed Crimea, etc. If China is just mirroring the playboy lifestyles of today's major powers, does that make it okay?
USA hasn't annexed any of the Middle East. Not comparable.
We (the USA) is saddled with the burden of dealing with the Middle East. We do all the work, and get all the blame. We should have stayed away from that part of the world. The root of most Middle East problems stem from their occupation by Britain, and france. European powers cause the problem pre-WW2... we (the USA) got saddled with it post-WW2.
Regardless, it's not comparable and another thread entirely.