I’m politically moderate, and see things through a fiscal lens
I am nostalgic, I embrace history (although it’s currently undergoing reinvention by the internet), and I love all things old. But I’m a mutt, having a mixed bloodline from western Europe and native American, and have no culture to embrace as my own. Hence, I’m not overly sensitive to others who are trying to preserve theirs. And although Californian, I’m not the over-compensating Oregonian liberal type. What should happen and what can happen are distinctly different in my viewpoint, and I do believe that Hawaii is better off https://rapidloan.net/installment-loans-al/ being stolen by the United States than by Imperial Japan.
I see the comments in here by those claiming to be indigenous Hawaiians, and it does appear they are quickly/easily offended by things that were not only unintended to be unkind, but also never even expressed at all. An example of this is where one of them repeatedly referred to mainlanders doing stupid things, but only gave one example of such behavior and it wasn’t nearly as stupid as what would normally be needed to draw such a demeaning title. In the world I live in, labels themselves do not make valid arguments.
This thread has been a rich source of material
I grew up in silicon valley and have never had a problem with diversity. But in reading what they have to say themselves, and not because of anything others have said about them, I wonder if the Kanaka (who may be offended by my use of the term for some reason that I never even imagined) have their own version diversity. As expressed unashamedly throughout this thread: The white people from the mainland are perceived as trespassing thieves, but their counterparts from the other side of ocean are not. So although the Japanese and Chinese sit beneath them in the pecking order that was spoken of, it appears the fall from second place to bottom (where the white mainlanders lay) is a pretty steep and far drop.
It’s not in my nature to interview badly, or self destruct subconsciously when faced with uncertainty or adversity, so I’ll do well when given the opportunity next week. It’s not in my nature to push back against change, especially when I know change can be difficult. So I’ve resolved to make the move out there if HA wants me. But I’ll do so with the knowledge that I cannot change others, and so I’ll accept the terms and conditions associated with living where it’s warm and lovely. Thank you all for enlightening me further on the topic.
Wow, this is a difficult discussion to see here but illuminating to me to see the attitudes and perceptions people have of ‘locals’ and culture. I see so many comments that blow my mind, even if I have heard those things before, because it’s like a don’t even know where to begin, whether someone is saying that history doesn’t matter or even hearing certain demographics utilizing language like “bigotry”…or just seeing absolutely nothing potentially missing from their worldview…it’s really tough. For example, Jerry’s long post. If he got the job, I wish him the absolute best. But honestly, for all the comments about being a quality person I hope he gets another equally great position in a great place mainland or CA (who wouldn’t want to move to Santa Cruz if possible! wow!) reading his worldview and perspective show what I consider a very typical majority white *cultural* perspective about culture! Not realizing that being part of the majority culture, one ironically sees other cultures as something distinct, but their own not as a specific culture, but as just the norm. This is an incredible thing to take for granted, and it’s understandable, but if you don’t begin to consider that you actually *DO* have a culture that has allowed you to move in the world in a certain way so as to not see that you have power that comes with it…honestly, as much as I hear people scoff at this, the fact that it’s so hard for people to hear and consider makes me wonder how they believe they can move to another culture as a foreigner and not expect to encounter cross-cultural problems (unless they have the kind of position/wealth/power that can shelter them from dealing with it).