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Protesters Block Effort To Restart Work On Controversial Hawaii Telescope

sciencehabit writes: An attempt to restart construction on what would be one of the world's largest telescopes was blocked yesterday, after state authorities escorting construction vehicles clashed with protesters blockading the road to the summit of Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano. Officers from Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and construction workers for the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT), turned back from the summit shortly after noon Wednesday, citing concerns for public safety after finding the road blocked by boulders. The withdrawal followed several hours of clashes with Native Hawaiian protesters blockading the road, culminating in the arrests of 11 men and women, including several protest organizers. The protesters have said the $1.4 billion TMT would desecrate sacred land.

305 comments

  1. let's trot out the sacred land meme. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tired.

  2. In other words by dwywit · · Score: 4, Insightful

    $Bignum will appease the gods.

    --
    They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    1. Re:In other words by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's a little sad to see people fighting so hard for the cause of ignorance... not that it's so rare, I guess. It's almost more depressing if you consider that some of them are probably sincere, instead of simply wanting either payola or publicity.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    2. Re:In other words by MobSwatter · · Score: 2

      There is that risk that the effects of a black hole could be amplified through a telescope optic potentially sucking the viewer right through the optic so no one would be around to warn anyone. Building this would certainly anger the volcano gods potentially triggering an occult anarchy situation. All hell would break loose starting a tsunami that takes out the entire pacific rim before sucking half the earth through the optic.

    3. Re: In other words by Maleko · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture. It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

    4. Re: In other words by russotto · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture. It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

      Now they know how Southerners feel.

    5. Re: In other words by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 0

      Oh? How many native Hawaiians live on the summit of Mauna Kea?

    6. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It is sad that people do not respect the beliefs of others.

    7. Re: In other words by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They're opposing the building of a modern institution of science and learning for the sake of "sacred land". I can't think of a better way to describe this than "ignorance". Or, they could admit this is a political issue of the separatist movement, and not really a cultural one.

      The Hawaiians had their nation stolen from them about five generations ago. US citizens overthrew the Hawaiian constitutional monarchy, then the US annexed the territory. I feel bad about, and even the US government has apologized at this point. Yes, I have some sympathy with those who feel disaffected because of this, but after five generations... sorry, we're not going to hand the state back to the native Hawaiians.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    8. Re: In other words by BlackGriffen · · Score: 0, Troll

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture. It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

      Now they know how Southerners feel.

      Oh, woe is me! Just because we violently rebelled and seceded because we was afraid the gubmit would take our property (enslaved black people), the gubmit viciously fought back and took our property (enslaved black people). Why, it's almost as if them Yankees thought our property (enslaved black people) had rights like they was gen-you-wine people. Why would they launch a war of Northern aggression when alls we was doin' when we attacked them forts was protectin' our God given states' rights (to enslave black people)! /sarcasm

    9. Re: In other words by Uberbah · · Score: 2

      Now they know how Southerners feel.

      Except the Hawaiians aren't a bunch of willfully ignorant racists, unlike the dumbfuckers you're referring to. Protip: you're as free today as you were last month to fly a symbol of oppression and chattel slavery, even if your state government isn't doing it for you.

    10. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Beliefs can be problematic when they don't jive with actual reality, wish though we may.

    11. Re: In other words by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 4, Interesting

      On top of that, the native Hawaiians, and even those of mixed ancestry, constitute a small minority of the state population (5.9% according to the 2010 census). Interestingly, the largest ethnic block is Asian at about a third of the population, and Euro/White at around a quarter, and multiracial at a quarter. Do they deserve considerations because their ancestors got screwed over? Yes, absolutely. But that doesn't mean absolute veto over everything. At some point they need to compromise with the rest of the population.

    12. Re: In other words by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture.

      Their land? I was unaware that land could be racially owned, I'm sure that xenophobic nutjobs around the world will be overjoyed to hear that. I have French genetics in me; does that mean I can tell a Frenchman of Nigerian descent what they can and can't do with 'my' land because he is not of the native ethnicity?

      And sovereignty? Sovereignty is derived form the will of the people, not genetic happenstance. If people want to claim that Hawai'i should declare independence, they're free to do it. I don't see that though, I see a push for race based nationalism, and that's always a bad thing.

      It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

      Bad shit happened in the past, and that was wrong, but you know what? Two wrongs don't make a right. The villains and victims are dead. And even if we do accept that point of view, what the hell does that have to do with a telescope? And furthermore who, exactly, is going around stealing the land of Hawaiian people and preventing people from freely expressing Hawaiian culture? Because you should report them to the police.

    13. Re: In other words by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      I don't understand why you're writing that in a pseudo-Ebonics dialect? Many of the dialectic features you've toss out there are really primary features of AAVE, not so much SVE (though there is of course overlap).

      I've got to say, if your goal is to make Southerns--even those of us whose families are transplants, who don't fly the confederate flag, and who don't have an accent--want to stand up for southern culture--mission accomplished! And no, being a fan of southern culture does not mean you love slavery or hate black people.

    14. Re: In other words by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

      I respect the beliefs of people, even if I myself do not hold them. For example, I will respect the Islamic principle of abstaining from alcohol, even if I myself do not hold that view. However, if someone tries to stop me from drinking a beer on that basis, then we have a problem.

      Some people feel that the Mauna is sacred, and you know what, I agree with them. It is a sacred place, and it should be treated with respect. However, it does not follow that building this telescope, which has been positioned with just that point of view in mind, is desecration, or that the blocking of the telescope is justified. I understand the sacredness aspect, and while people should be mindful of history and culture and the environment, that just isn't sufficient justification for what we're seeing.

    15. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're a conquered people, and frankly they need to adapt to become irrelevant.

    16. Re:In other words by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

      It's not just about money; it's largely about the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. There are people who believe that the State of Hawai'i is not a US state, but rather an occupied kingdom, and that the islands should become an independent Kingdom of Hawai'i again. They are using this to draw attention to themselves. Not that holding science hostage for the petty power struggles and race based nationalism make makes it any better, in fact, I would find it less distasteful to deal with appeals to religion or demands for payouts, but there it is.

      The beauty of this whole thing is they picked a target which benefits all of humanity, one which they have no legal grounds whatsoever to block. So when they rightfully lose, the leaders get to point to their followers and claim Hawaiian voices are not heard and claim oppression.

    17. Re: In other words by BlackGriffen · · Score: 1, Troll

      Why do you assume that just because I did a poor job at imitating a Southern accent that it was "ebonics?" Frankly, I was trying to use the character Huckleberry Finn's dad as a reference, and apparently mixed things up *shrug*.

      And why would making fun of someone crying that one state government won't be flying the symbol of those who committed treason in defense of chattel slavery cause you to support said crybaby? I, personally, think that the retailers have gone overboard. I would love for every ignorant f*ck who thinks the South rebelled for any reason other than to maintain its "peculiar institution," and wants to support that banner of savage traitors, to wear it willingly. That way they'll have a nice, big, scarlet letter that will let everyone else know that they're somewhere between ignorant fools and bigoted scum.

      Angry rant over.

      Have a link to an image and a post that sum up how I feel about the only things that make "Southern" culture distinct from American culture. Excerpt from the post:

      "That was Sherman’s advice to the South before the war even began. And he was, as usual, absolutely right. But he was talking like a grown-up to people who didn’t want to think like adults. Their whole society was based on horrible lies—“a bad cause to start with”—which gave them a deep aversion to cold truths. So they stuffed themselves, as Mark Twain said, with copious doses of the worst “chivalrous” nonsense they could find, like Walter Scott’s pseudo-medieval novels, and went off to cause the biggest slaughter of their fellow Americans in history, a body-count far higher than the sum total of all Americans killed in all wars with other countries."

    18. Re: In other words by The+Raven · · Score: 1
      1. It's not their land.
      2. They are not sovereign.
      3. And I never understood the deal with fighting for culture.
        That's like fighting to ensure your kids believe the same thing you do. With violence. The same argument is made when Christian folks bemoan the lack of church attendance. You don't have a right to force your meme's down everyone's throat, but that's what 'defending culture' means. It means you want the guarantee that your children will believe the same thing you do by removing dissenting beliefs. It's bullshit.
      4. I'd like to clarify that I don't think Hawaiian culture is bullshit. But the method of promoting your culture by forcibly removing other viewpoints is a shitty tactic. If your culture is worthwhile people won't need to be coerced into practicing it.
      --
      "I will trust Google to 'do no evil' until the founders no longer run it." Hello Alphabet.
    19. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have French genetics in me

      This makes no sense. A French company did gene therapy on you?

      The French do not have a shared ethnicity... historians do not even know who the Gauls were, which were just one of many groups that came through and settled throughout the past.

    20. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have French genetics in me; does that mean I can tell a Frenchman of Nigerian descent what they can and can't do with 'my' land because he is not of the native ethnicity?.

      That is exactly correct.

      And furthermore who, exactly, is going around stealing the land of Hawaiian people and preventing people from freely expressing Hawaiian culture?

      The United States Government, the Hawaiian State government and countless other [American] organizations.

    21. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh fuck all that. Saying something is sacred is just a bullshit excuse to exert your will. What we're seeing here is a bunch of idiots looking for a quick payday by attempting to extort others. Fuck them, and fuck their "culture".

    22. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Teaching the next generation the culture, customs, and history of society, is the job of all members of that society, and is arguably the most important job of that society. If a society fails in this task for a generation, then the culture, customs, and history can be lost to time. It's less likely to disappear completely today than in years past with things like the internet and computers, but it is still a possibility. At the very least the society's way of life dies out due to a lack of living people actually practicing it; becoming another topic for the world history classes of the future.

      To that extent I can understand why the people in Hawaii would object to the telescope's construction. They don't want another piece of their culture taken from them, pushing their way of life that much closer to irrelevance in the modern context. That telescope would be the embodiment of their way of life's destruction. It's not ignorance, in fact it's the exact opposite. They want their way of life to thrive, and for that to happen, it requires knowlegeable active participants.

    23. Re:In other words by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 1

      A sovereign Hawaii wouldn't last a week. That's more deluded than the red state secessionists who think they'd be better off without the blue states subsidizing them. It would be interesting to see them try though.

    24. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some particular reason it seems unthinkable to hand the land back? Why? Because national pride? Stubbornness? You admit the land was stolen (and not exactly by government policy either but by corporate manipulation of government policy. In other words, an invasion prompted by rich people.)

      Oh, I know: doing something like that would mean that rich people would lose things they weren't entitled to in the first place. We can't have THAT now can we?

      The stubborn refusal to not do the right thing unless forced to is an American trait we can all do with less of. It's not like these people suddenly made up a religion for political purposes, and calling those who want to respect sacred land ignorant is absolutely stupid.

      I'm nowhere near Hawai'i and I'm not Hawaiian, but I've been there and actually, you know, talked to people. There's to this day a strong resentment of the injustices done to them by American rich people and they want that addressed. They also happen to be in the right on this one, and those who call them ignorant are serious dumbasses.

      Funny thing is if you deal honestly with people they tend to treat you ok and respect you. Too bad the US has wanted none of that through its history of dealing with other nations.

    25. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, fuck you, you ignorant basement dwelling twerp. Just because you have no real beliefs in life except greed and taking whatever you can get doesn't mean you understand the motivations of others who actually have less stunted brains.

      I can't believe we're the same species, seriously. The notion that someone obviously capable of using a computer can be that ignorant is astonishing.

    26. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I imagine that even many atheists may be upset if, for example, the grave of a family member were dug up because someone wanted to build a power plant or casino or parking lot. Same deal. It's not ignorance - it's an important place to them and they don't want something built there.

      The Hawaiians, like most native people, have been crapped on quite mightily, and it continues to this very day. You should read up on the history of Hawaii. IT's absolutely tragic.

      History and culture matter. Obviously it doesn't matter to you - you don't seem to give a crap - but you seem to have the wonderful situation of having absolutely nothing to lose. It's easy for you to criticize and throw out insults and point and laugh.

      You may call them ignorant, but I call you insensitive.

      That kind of attitude is what makes this world so shitty most of the time.

    27. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're an idiot, your mother should have had an abortion.

    28. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture. It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

      Now they know how Southerners feel.

      Oh Noes! Wonder how your black slaves felt?

      Seems a lot of "southerners" have an entitlement issue. They feel entitled to own other humans, and entitled to force their religion on others. And when they can't remove other people's rights, they claim it is removing one of their rights.

      Cry me a river.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    29. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      You're an idiot, your mother should have had an abortion.

      We see yours did, and despite all that, you learned to write.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    30. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      I imagine that even many atheists may be upset if, for example, the grave of a family member were dug up because someone wanted to build a power plant or casino or parking lot. Same deal. It's not ignorance - it's an important place to them and they don't want something built there.

      Not as many as you might think. Old organic material is just that.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    31. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      Their land? I was unaware that land could be racially owned,

      Lawyers have demanded that Europe must be returned to it's rightful owners - the Neanderthals, Britain to the druids, and North America to the small camel like creatures who once lived there.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    32. Re: In other words by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      On top of that, the native Hawaiians, and even those of mixed ancestry, constitute a small minority of the state population (5.9% according to the 2010 census).

      So it's OK to fuck people over because you moved in on their land and made them a minority? MIGHT MAKES RIGHT RAH RAH RAH!

      Do they deserve considerations because their ancestors got screwed over? Yes, absolutely.

      Make up your fucking mind.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    33. Re: In other words by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Their land? I was unaware that land could be racially owned,

      So you're not familiar with reservations, or Israel? Just never heard of either one?

      Bad shit happened in the past, and that was wrong, but you know what? Two wrongs don't make a right.

      Yeah, that's the argument against your side.

      The villains and victims are dead.

      So this telescope will be built by the dead, and is being protested by the dead? Wow, I've got to see that! Watch out for Zombies! They don't move that fast, so they're serious road hazards.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    34. Re: In other words by cmdr_tofu · · Score: 1

      If you are comparing the plight of "slave-ownership-is-a-right" supporting white southern secessionists to the plight of indigenous people of Hawaii (and why not the Americas), then I'd recommend a prescription of Howard Zinn. Reading is not a crime.

    35. Re: In other words by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      This Hawaiian says you're full of crap:
      https://twitter.com/mailanster

    36. Re: In other words by cmdr_tofu · · Score: 1

      It's sortof like clearcutting yellowstone national park (or some other place of natural treasure) for a large pork-barrel project which can be done anyplace else.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      The fight is not just on sacred land grounds, but on the environmental impact assessments. Just because politicians want to ram a project through and bandy about the term "science", does not mean we should support it. It seems like this area is a treasure of biodiversity and preserving it benefits furthering of human knowledge possibly more than the telescope.

      I'm curious why no alternative sites are considered. I suspect this is not because of advantages of the site, but because some organizationall well-placed scientists (not from hawaii) want to have their funding organizations send them to Hawaii regularly.

    37. Re: In other words by thrich81 · · Score: 1

      Native Southerner here -- born in Texas, also raised in Louisiana and Alabama. I don't know if you are trolling or not, but we just went through all this a couple of days ago. Here is what Southern culture was in 1860 -- in South Carolina there were more slaves than free people. So that's it, for the MAJORITY of S. Carolina's residents their culture consisted of being enslaved. SOME of the people who weren't slaves had a pretty good life, being rich and owning other people. That is what the Confederacy seceded to preserve and if you dig down to the root of it that is what the Southerners flying the Confederate Battle Flag now are celebrating, that plus their resentment from the 1950's and 60's when they were forced to dismantle much of the segregation and legalized oppression which they managed to maintain for 90 years after losing the war. So, other than a bunch of 1% ers even worse than today there is nothing to celebrate about Southern culture if you look at the reality of it rather than the lies and bullshit.

    38. Re: In other words by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

      It was chosen because it is one of the best, if not the best, site in the northern hemispheres for observation.

      The environmental impact statement, which is freely available for all to see, was conducted over many years and came back clean. If you wish to claim that it is ecologically damaging, you are completely wrong. The claim of ecological destruction simply does not hold up.

      If you think that astronomers, of all people, are part of some grand money making conspiracy to spend millions building telescopes on mountain tops so they can get a vacation, completely ignoring how much of this stuff is done remotely anyway, then I just don't know what to tell you.

    39. Re: In other words by oobayly · · Score: 1

      As an atheist I would prefer to see the advancement of mankind. As a Christian, my father sees graves as a mere shell - it slightly surprised me when he told me th that, but in hindsight I shouldn't have been.

      The concept of sacred ground is simply something I don't understand.

    40. Re: In other words by oobayly · · Score: 1

      I don't think the gp has seen the conditions those astronomers have to work in - it can be bloody cold and the lack of oxygen at those altitudes (Chile anyway) can be downright dangerous as it can impair your mind.

      If there was a conspiracy surely they'd be building telescopes by at sea level close to bars and strip clubs.

    41. Re:In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is that risk that the effects of a black hole could be amplified through a telescope optic potentially sucking the viewer right through the optic so no one would be around to warn anyone. Building this would certainly anger the volcano gods potentially triggering an occult anarchy situation. All hell would break loose starting a tsunami that takes out the entire pacific rim before sucking half the earth through the optic.

      Kind of like Howard the Duck, only in reverse. Interesting.

    42. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't this what the Israeli settlers do?

    43. Re: In other words by lhowaf · · Score: 1

      Hey, leave me out of this! No matter how correct you may- or may not- be (and I think you are), you don't have the right to speak for everybody.

    44. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except the Hawaiians aren't a bunch of willfully ignorant racists

      I see you've never lived in Hawaii.

    45. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, pretty much, might makes right.

    46. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      I will say that when the Southern States seceded from the union it was technically not treason. At the time there was no provision against secession. That's basically what the war ended up being about. Slavery was a key reason for the war but far from the only one as it's painted in today's revisionist history. In all reality the rich bastards that drug the South into the war were responsible for slavery ending at least 2 or 3 decades earlier than it would have otherwise. The one good thing to result from the war was the end of slavery. Sadly so much else was lost. They set the stage for the monstrous bastardization that is today's Federal government.

    47. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      It's what everyone does. The Cherokee Indians in Georgia got screwed unbelievably. More civilized than their white neighbors they had the bad luck to have gold discovered on their land. Off to Oklahoma on the trail of tears. No one gave them anything. US history is filled with such stories. What's done is done and there is no way to fix it now without even bigger injustices. Eventually you have to move on.

    48. Re:In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes it is sad. I have frequently lambasted the /. posters trying to point out how ignorant and misled they are. However they continue to think they are the smartest people in the world. It would be one thing if they were being paid off by the big $$$$ behind Al Gore and his homosexual climate change agenda. But no they honestly think they are doing their best to save the world from religious fundamentalists. There is just no arguing with some people. Their opinions were formed early in life and there is no argument you can make to make them realize how silly their beliefs are.

    49. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Might always makes right. God is on the side of the winner, and the winner write the history. If you are alive it is because your ancestors were genocidal maniacs who took over from those who were on the land b4 them. The real native Americans were the dinosaurs. Everyone else Is in invader

    50. Re: In other words by BlackGriffen · · Score: 1

      You don't think the attack on Fort Sumter was treason? If launching a surprise attack on an army base isn't treason, wtf is?

    51. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They are fighting for their land, sovereignty, and culture. It's all being stripped from them day in and day out. Not 500 years ago, still today.

      Tough shit.

      They're lucky we didn't just kill them all when we took over.

    52. Re: In other words by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 1

      There's a lot of room between "give them complete and absolute sovereignty over the islands" and "screw them, they don't matter, run roughshod over them." Look, there was a lot of horrible shit done throughout human history, and we've got a long list of it that the USA (including some of my ancestors) did. I didn't do it, but that doesn't mean I didn't indirectly benefit in a lot of ways from what they did. So what do we do?

      We certainly can't ignore it and go "alright, no more discrimination but you guys have to forget all that past stuff." At the same time we can't just say "Okay, we're just going to give you everything." Yes, the native Hawaiians probably deserve a lot of financial assistance, set asides, and consideration for culturally important sites. At the same time, as members of a pluralistic society now, there's a lot of people it would be horribly unfair to give them absolute control of the islands again.

      A lot of the same principles apply with Americans of African/former slave/etc descent, or Native American tribes, etc. We should be working to make things better for them, but at the same time we have to do so within the context of the democratic society we have (even if that means we have to figure out a way to outvote certain racist segments of the population to do so).

    53. Re: In other words by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I am part Micmac, enough to be a First Nations person and have Canadian citizenship as well as my US citizenship. Who did I, or my people, commit genocide against? No, we did not (regardless of the rumors) kill the dinosaurs. In fact, by most (I have not read all so I will not say all) accounts we were a peaceful people with no record of major conflicts in our oral history. We maybe did some raping and murdering (who has not, I ask you that) and stealing babies but, in our defense, we were simply ensuring the survival of the species by spreading our genes around and did not actually commit acts of genocide or anything close to it.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    54. Re: In other words by KGIII · · Score: 1

      We have already given it back to the gigantic sloths. I know. I have been to a trailer park. I have even parked my RV in a Wal*Mart parking lot in Georgia - and I have gone in to use the restrooms and buy some beer. The gargantuan sloths live on a reservation in the south. They are slightly faster in the north - it is colder up here.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    55. Re: In other words by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Are you sure they are not sovereign? I know I have land where it, and I, are sovereign in two countries (Micmac tribe as I mentioned earlier and have mentioned earlier when the subject arose). I am, of course, subject to various laws but have a bit more leeway when I am on the reserve - more so in Canada. I had thought that Hawaiian natives had the same thing, complete with reserves which were set aside as sovereign lands? If not they should look into it. I say that the US government should uphold the many treaties they signed over the years. I do not know specifics about Hawaii but I suspect that, if history is any indication, they _may_ have some legal precedence there.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    56. Re: In other words by KGIII · · Score: 1

      It is not that hard, especially today. Now? It just works.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    57. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure everyone is free. By your logic. There was never such a thing as slavery in the s. states. There was just a voluntary agreement between the blacks and whites, whereby the blacks would agree to work/ clean / cook for free. In return the whites would agree not to kill the blacks. In a similar vain, the Southerners are free to fly their flag. In return the U.S. is free to imprison / make fun of / burn / the people flying the flag. I would like to shove a big stick of freedom up your ass.

      The U.S.ian language is great. You can make any word mean anything you want to. Alternatively you can construct a sentence with every single word you can find and it will mean absolutely nothing.

    58. Re: In other words by KGIII · · Score: 1

      What you say is pertinent. Very much so. However, just because it is the best site in the entire hemisphere does not mean that the second best place will not have to do. I am torn. I am very pro-science and astronomy is a bit of a minor passion of mine. (I attended a preparatory school that had its own observatory, I learned to truly appreciate the effort and the findings then.) At the same time, I advocate for natives to have the chance to maintain their culture and have some sovereignty. There needs to be some sort of real compromise and that should have been done long before the site was shovel ready. Compromise does not mean that the government simply says that they should screw off and build the telescope as is. Compromise does not mean that the natives should absolutely not allow scientists access without any consideration. Perhaps they can make some sort of pledge to minimize impact to the land, to keep the land open for the native people, and to ensure that the land stays undeveloped, and other changes that can make things more appealing? Maybe they can offer educational resources there as well? I am unsure of which would be most effective and I am not at liberty to speak for the Hawaiians or the scientists.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    59. Re: In other words by ahodgson · · Score: 1

      I still want the land the Saxons stole from my British ancestors. And let's not even mention the Romans and Vikings.

    60. Re: In other words by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      From South Carolina's point of view it was ridding their territory of an occupying force. Once they seceded they felt that it was time for the US army to leave. Failing a voluntary departure they forced one.

    61. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      I still want the land the Saxons stole from my British ancestors. And let's not even mention the Romans and Vikings.

      Basically that's all it in a nutshell. How on earth do we determine ownership of land. Land lasts a long time, and we don't. Dynasties come and go. Sometimes terrible atrocities are committed, like the "smallpox blankets" matter.

      But the fact remains, at this particular moment, that is US land.

      And if the Hawaiians wish to claim native status, I would have to say unless they owned the land for all time, they are not natives. Can they prove there were no humans there ever before they arrived?

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    62. Re: In other words by BlackGriffen · · Score: 1

      So, because they said, "We're going to commit treason," before they did it makes it not treason? Sorry, but allowing unilateral opt out of government by any individual or group makes government meaningless. So, saying, "You're not the boss of me!" first doesn't alleviate the charge of treason.

      I'll grant, that makes George Washington and all the other founding fathers guilty of treason, too. But there is a huge difference between committing treason and rebelling in self defense of freedom to live your life, and doing so because you want to continue committing brutal crimes against your fellow human beings for the sake of the profits. In the antebellum Southerners' minds it may have been phrased, "I'm rebelling for my freedom!" But their myopic focus on the "my freedom" part doesn't eliminate or excuse the implied, " to treat my fellow human beings as property, to split up families through the sale of human beings, to brutally beat them to enforce their obedience, and otherwise deny them their freedom."

      Short version: treason can be a justified rebellion if the state is committing crimes, it's just treason when done to continue committing crimes.

    63. Re: In other words by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Why do you assume that just because I did a poor job at imitating a Southern accent that it was "ebonics?" Frankly, I was trying to use the character Huckleberry Finn's dad as a reference, and apparently mixed things up *shrug*.

      That's why I was confused! Perhaps you have never actually talked to someone who has a southern accent?

      And why would making fun of someone crying that one state government won't be flying the symbol of those who committed treason in defense of chattel slavery cause you to support said crybaby? I, personally, think that the retailers have gone overboard. I would love for every ignorant f*ck who thinks the South rebelled for any reason other than to maintain its "peculiar institution," and wants to support that banner of savage traitors, to wear it willingly. That way they'll have a nice, big, scarlet letter that will let everyone else know that they're somewhere between ignorant fools and bigoted scum.

      You know how you hate southerners and think southern culture is reprehensible? That's why. I don't support statehouses flying confederate flags, but I sure as crap support retailers, ebay sellers, etc, selling them. I remember being disgusted when I read about how Nazi memorabilia or historical items were banned from resale in Germany--history-avoiding pansies. Well, now here we are. In fact we're worse--you can still buy Nazi gear, but mention of a confederate flag is verboten!

      History is written by the victors. We know who the victors in the civil war were. By the time of the civil war war, every one of my ancestors had been in the US for at least one generation. I'm fortunate enough to have the diary one of ancestor who participated in Sherman's march to the sea (he was from Ohio). Completely harrowing stuff. On another side, another ancestor fought for the south at Gettysburg (he was from the high mountains of VA/NC area). He lost six brothers in just two days at Gettysburg and was severely wounded. Interestingly enough, not a single ancestor I have tracked down who fought for the confederacy ever owned slaves (at least that I can tell). Most of them are from the mountains, where slavery was never as big. Slavery was the raison d'etre of the civil war for elite on both sides. That's not why the commoners fight. Commoners never fight for the real reason a war is being fought (or rarely, at least), they fight because they are whipped up into some kind of group-fervor. It's clear that even today the northern/southern culture divide exists and is pretty damn pungent.

    64. Re: In other words by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      So, because they said, "We're going to commit treason," before they did it makes it not treason? Sorry, but allowing unilateral opt out of government by any individual or group makes government meaningless. So, saying, "You're not the boss of me!" first doesn't alleviate the charge of treason.

      I've got to say, I hate the idea that if you join the US you, it's eternal on pain of death. I'm pretty much universally for the devolution of powers and rights to smaller political entity. Just look at countries ranked on the wellness and happiness scales. People have far greater trust in government institutions in smaller countries.

      I believe states should be able to secede, regardless of reason. I'm not saying the southern secession followed a good protocol in deciding when to secede, but I think you would be very surprised if you actually read some of the history of how the transition took place. Think about everything that has to switch over. The federal government was far less monstrous 150 years ago, but courthouses, judges, tax officials, military installations, etc, all had a transition to go through. Many were very straightforward. Courthouse employees came to work one day as US employees, the next as Confederates. IMO, once the secession took place, the view of the north was the treason already occurred.

      Short version: treason can be a justified rebellion if the state is committing crimes, it's just treason when done to continue committing crimes.

      No, completely wrong. Treason can be justified IF YOU WIN, in which case, it's no longer treason.

    65. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Their land" = "tourist revenue"
      "Sovereignty" = "they are the only people that can profit
      "culture" = "An excuse to keep things the way they are (so they can continue to profit)"

    66. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Here is what Southern culture was in 1860 -- in South Carolina there were more slaves than free people. So that's it, for the MAJORITY of S. Carolina's residents their culture consisted of being enslaved. SOME of the people who weren't slaves had a pretty good life, being rich and owning other people.

      Crikeys. Put like that, there is a context and rationale behind the 1% outlook. All of the seeming irrationality of the idea that most of us need to be as poor as possible, and the significant concentration of wealth in a relatively few people, and someone having the Oliver Twist like nerve to ask for "more soup please" is immediately met with howls of "class warfare!"

      Kinda falls into place. It all falls into place

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    67. Re: In other words by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      However, the typical white idea of moving on is to maintain power, not let Indians control the resources that nominally belong to the tribes, and use the established imbalance of power to take what more they want. The Federal government is defaulting on treaty obligations all the time.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    68. Re: In other words by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · · Score: 1

      Stereotypes are fun!

      --
      Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.
    69. Re: In other words by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      The old Hawaiian government was overthrown by private US interests, and never restored despite court orders. I don't know that there ever were any treaties (not that the US government has done a good job of living up to treaties with the natives). I don't see this as reason to continue to mistreat the natives.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    70. Re: In other words by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      People like having tradition, even if they pay no attention to it in daily life. It gives us role models, a sense of belonging in history, and other things. I'd be upset if English and Swedish cultures were utterly destroyed, and my grandparents were born in the US.

      Since Hawaiian culture was largely destroyed by force, and Hawaiians were disenfranchised by force, it seems reasonable that there are still bad feelings.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    71. Re: In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of the same principles apply with Americans of African/former slave/etc descent, or Native American tribes, etc. We should be working to make things better for them, but at the same time we have to do so within the context of the democratic society we have

      In all likelihood, every human being has ancestors of former slave descent.

      For those with Slavic heritage, where do you think the word "Slave" came from? Viking slavers operating in Eastern Europe.

      For those with Western European heritage, well, there was more Viking slavery going on in Western Europe.

      For those with Mediterranean heritage, well, there was a huge amount of slave traffic going TO Africa. The Arabs, the Italians, the Byzantines were all quite active in this traffic. Earlier, the famous silver mines of "democratic" Athens were worked by slaves. Then there is Rome.

      Lots of places in Asia had slavery as well. Some of them even had human sacrifice of slaves.

      Then there was indentured servitude, which persisted in the British empire in some places until the early 20th century, and in many cases wasn't much different from slavery (with people being kidnapped, whipped, and even killed).

      We can't correct all the bad things human beings have done to one another. The Japanese aren't going to give Japan back to the Ainu. The Turks aren't going to give Turkey back to the Greeks (or the Hittites). The enormous variety of peoples currently living in the USA aren't going to give that land back to the descendants of the various former native peoples, including the Hawaiians.

      Nobody alive today participated in those past actions. Where do we draw the boundary between compensating those victimized in the past and victimizing current and future generations?

      In the case of the African Americans, I'd say the best we can do is compensate those people still alive who were around when the Jim Crow laws were in effect, since those laws were certainly a highly illegal violation of the Bill of Rights. Those people, after all, were directly harmed by the US legal profession's refusal (for multiple decades) to recognize its ethical and legal obligations. Doing more than that just doesn't make sense: that's already going back more than 20 years. Time to move on.

    72. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Stereotypes are fun!

      So are Anonymous cowards - what's your point?

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    73. Re: In other words by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · · Score: 1

      I'm not an AC, but thanks for playing. My point is that a lot of Southerners don't feel that they're entitled to own other humans; in the past, certainly, but Northerners did a lot of that too. The vast majority of Southerners would violently oppose the return of slavery. Most of them do like their religion, but that's hardly exclusive to Southerners.

      --
      Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.
    74. Re: In other words by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 0

      I'm not an AC, but thanks for playing. My point is that a lot of Southerners don't feel that they're entitled to own other humans; in the past, certainly, but Northerners did a lot of that too.

      Then you need to be shouting that from the rooftops. Because down south you are electing people like Rick Perry, and active hypocrite traitors like Canadian Ted Cruz. People who would stop the Government (an act of treason in my book, then go on the program they stopped government for.

      That's who people are voting for, and electing to the highest state offices and they are shaping the South's image. And that is the image the South presents to the world. You have a Governor in Florida that won't allow mentioning of Global Warming, you have elected people in Oklahoma who would put biblical or Crystal or Astrology non-science as legitimate science class courses. You wave that second place finish flag like it was your primary one.

      One fascinating thing, is that in Texas, apparently they cannot force a women to not eat her placenta. Personal freedom you know. The freedom to self cannibalize.

      http://www.npr.org/sections/he....

      And they passed a law! Global warming is fake, but eating your placenta is great science.

      Copraphagics are next in line for the personal freedom train? I'll pass.

      Am I foolish enough to think that 100 percent of the people down south think that way? Hell no. But enough do that you present that image to the world. Don't want that image? Change it. Don't blame anyone else for your image - it's well earned.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    75. Re:In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The interesting thing is that the Native Hawaiians apparently worship construction equipment. You know that's true because anywhere a bulldozer shows up is immediately proclaimed to be the most sacred spot on the island.

  3. M.O.N.E.Y by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No doubt once someone starts talking $$$ the natives sing a different tune very quickly. We deal with this same kind of bullshit in Canada.

  4. It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It isn't any more sacred than a church is. The people doing this protesting are no better than those who would block laws being passed in a country because they didn't go in line with their religion.

    1. Re:It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except in this case it's almost certainly for the purpose of receiving a handout in exchange.

    2. Re: It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Hey, they always need the money, buying vowels ain't cheap even in bulk

    3. Re: It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And if your church were being torn down for a telescope?

    4. Re: It's not sacred by ihtoit · · Score: 4, Funny

      I worship giant mirrors, you insensitive clod!

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    5. Re: It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a Christian - the church building doesn't matter. The church is "the people". Christianity has very few sacred sites, such as the church of the incarnation. But that's different than this since few people believe it's really where Jesus was born.

    6. Re: It's not sacred by Kyusaku+Natsume · · Score: 1

      You won the internet today.

      --
      Mexico: 100% conservative's America now!
    7. Re: It's not sacred by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Try razing Jerusalem to build a telescope. 2/3 of the world will be after your blood. It makes no sense to me too. But I will bet my full wealth that it will happen.

    8. Re: It's not sacred by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      Most people worship a god that is just a reflection of themselves. You've just found a more direct route.

    9. Re:It's not sacred by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 2

      It isn't any more sacred than a church is. The people doing this protesting are no better than those who would block laws being passed in a country because they didn't go in line with their religion.

      Never underestimate the religion of a group of people, it's very important to them and nothing you can say will sway them. It drives their life and tells them what happens after they die, all their questions are answered in bliss and eternity. The Alaskan Aleut believe when they die they come back reincarnated as animals (a friend of mine, an Aleut does expect this). An example of how different it is from your own beliefs.

      How many have claimed we screwed the Indians. The Spanish conquest of central America robbed them of their religion and beliefs under threat of death. Even a staple (small bean) was outlawed as it was used in religious ceremonies, famine was the result, and many died. To be welcomed one allows the beliefs of that area, and works with it.

      We take their Hawaiian gods home as decorations, but to them it's serious stuff, more so for the elderly. They may very well have grounds in their ancestry to make a claim for that area, and or what it's to be used for. That they were screwed out of the land goes without saying, if not read up on how we (The United States) used then acquired Hawaii.

    10. Re:It's not sacred by loonycyborg · · Score: 2

      The problem with religion is that it's inherently logically inconsistent, so they can arrive to any conclusion they want. They could as well decide to make the telescope itself a sacred symbol instead or just consider this irrelevant. To all of this theological justification can be made. The fact that they chose to close it down at any cost suggests that underlying driving force of their behavior is anti-intellectualism.

    11. Re: It's not sacred by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      I'd be supplying the TNT.

      Science trumps idiocy. And twice so when religion is involved.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    12. Re:It's not sacred by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Our atoms will return and be re-used so, in some respect, it could be considered reincarnated. I do not think those atoms will have any memory of their history, of course, but they will return and be in another life at some point. I am reincarnating as a star.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    13. Re:It's not sacred by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      Our atoms will return and be re-used so, in some respect, it could be considered reincarnated... I am reincarnating as a star.

      Going full circle eh.

      My son's dog I was keeping was run over, having to bury it, I drove till I found soft soil but could only dig down about two-three feet.

      I saw my son on the weekends when he would stay with me, so had to make "that call". I wasn't going to say he's in a better place or something against my view. I told him the truth, Coyotes would most likely dig him up, eating him. This being a good thing as he would live on forever, through the Coyotes.

      While almost a awful thing to tell him at that age, it was the truth, a very real possibility and I didn't lie to him.

    14. Re:It's not sacred by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I think it is always better to tell the truth. Your child will be grateful for it someday. Well, unless the mother turns them into a raging religious nutjob.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    15. Re:It's not sacred by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Nobody is forcing you to marry someone of the same sex. As far as churches go, they're sacred while in use as churches, but there's no problems with leaving a church building and building another one. Some cultures have sacred land, which isn't really something other cultures understand, and there are problems with swapping out land.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  5. Protestors said theTMT would desecrate sacred land by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

    You know what? You throw a stick in the air around here it falls on some sacred fern.

  6. Irony by BlueCoder · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They block the very thing that would likely keep the area underdeveloped. I think it likely they actually want more development and more money.

    1. Re: Irony by Maleko · · Score: 2

      That was a rationale used the build the first dozen observatories.

    2. Re:Irony by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You say that like it's the first time religion tries to keep the people stupid and ignorant for its own gains.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shouldn't this read, Extortionists Block Effort To Restart Work On Controversial Hawaii Telescope? I would call them luddites, but's it's not about technology. This is hijacking science for profit in the name of religion and their naked greed needs exposed for the shakedown that it is.

    1. Re: Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      You guys have no clue what it's about, money is the LAST thing these people want.

      What they want is to control the lands that their birth gave them, and was taken away by Samuel Dole and his canons and guns.

    2. Re: Corrected headline by ganjadude · · Score: 4, Insightful

      i had no idea simply being born gave you property rights.

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    3. Re: Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "control the lands that their birth gave them"

      sorry. the "you can't own the sky, how can you own the land?" crowd doesn't get to call birthright ownership.

    4. Re: Corrected headline by blue+trane · · Score: 1, Insightful

      So who gave the observatory the land? Your christian God?

    5. Re: Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In a very real sense, yes: guns are what gives one property rights.

    6. Re: Corrected headline by blue+trane · · Score: 1

      And guns protect scientific truths? If my gun is bigger than yours, you have to believe in what I say? Poppycock. We are mere stewards of the land, and the native americans were better stewards.

    7. Re: Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i had no idea simply being born gave you property rights.

      Apparently, it only does if you are American Indian.

    8. Re: Corrected headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about a certain country in Middle East?

    9. Re: Corrected headline by davidbofinger · · Score: 3, Informative

      Native Americans and Native Hawaians aren't really related. But they both caused lots of extinctions when they arrived, and if they did less than the West it's largely because they had less capability to do anything. What makes you think either was a good steward?

    10. Re: Corrected headline by SuricouRaven · · Score: 2

      If the native americans had invented mass-production and industrial machinery first, they would have been just as destructive.

    11. Re: Corrected headline by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Ain't you afraid of some slippery slope here? What if the "first nations" decide that, hey, all of the US, Canada and so on is actually ours, GTFO assholes!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    12. Re: Corrected headline by thrich81 · · Score: 1

      Maybe you consider it unfortunate, but throughout human existence (longer than recorded history) the people with the bigger guns got to decide events and the outcome of disagreements. That is why the mid-20th century cultures of Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany no longer have any say in world affairs. It is still true now and will remain so that the cultures with the smaller guns (or none) continue to exist only at the forbearance of the stronger cultures. You don't have to like it, but that is the way it is, it's practically a natural law. Now what gave the European societies of the 15th through 20th centuries their bigger guns? That would be their continuous development of technology during that time, all kinds of technology, including bigger guns. Their pursuit of knowledge about the natural world and its forces (science) is what enabled the technology. Technology and those who wield it will have the final say in how things come out -- you can't rail against that any more than you can rail against gravity. And for "stewards of the land" -- the Land couldn't care less, it was here before the Native Americans and European Americans were here and will be here long after people are gone. It was here during the Cretaceous and saw the dinosaurs and their entire ecosystem wiped out -- the Land doesn't care.

    13. Re: Corrected headline by surd1618 · · Score: 1

      I really really don't think this is true.
      "...smelting, soldering, annealing, electroplating, sintering, alloying, low-wax casting, and many other metallurgical techniques independent of any Old World influences", ..., zero, ... incredibly accurate calendars (and not just in Mesoamerica), many of the commonest vegetables at the market, lots of useful animal breeds in general, not just rubber but vulcanized balls, sandals, balloons, rubber syringes, bigger cities than Europe, canals, lots of agriculture... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      Western European belief systems, by and large, gave the okay on all sorts of conquest (for god and salvation), whereas native American mythos by and large speak of a relationship with nature. That's not to say that there wasnt plenty of millitant behavior in the pre-Columbus Americas. But it looks like overall, the natives of North and South America were more interested in making lots of food and medicine than making bigger weapons and ships.

    14. Re: Corrected headline by KGIII · · Score: 1

      This is new to me. What extinctions did the arrival of the first Hawaiians cause?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    15. Re: Corrected headline by KGIII · · Score: 1

      We already decided that and have treaties for it. Now if you will uphold the treaties we will be all set. Thanks. (Otherwise we will be forced to take your money via Bingo and building casinos. We have the technology.)

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    16. Re: Corrected headline by samwichse · · Score: 1
    17. Re: Corrected headline by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Thank you for the link. I am inclined to believe your link's information as I have not done any additional reading on the subject. Thank you for understanding that it was a legitimate question. We could question what is and what is not 'natural' with this. As humans are creatures created by nature and doing natural things, like eating and creating habitats, this extinction could be considered quite natural. However, that is not important really.

      The person who made the claim was saying it with the connotations that it was a bad, pertinent, thing and I suppose it is something we could argue about but it has nothing to do with the actual topic, it is barely tangentially related. I was actually just curious about which species had gone extinct and how they drew the conclusions that humans were the cause. It seems there are some assumptions being made in the research and some extrapolation going on (favoring a larger result, no less) but, again, that is not relevant.

      So thank you, again, for the link and it was an interesting read. I will probably look into it more later and see what else I can find.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    18. Re: Corrected headline by samwichse · · Score: 1

      Even more fun is the huge die-off that occurred when humans first arrived in north america. Not just birds there, but many large mammals too.

      It has always tweaked my brain if that is a "natural" extinction event too. I lean toward "yes," as the humans back then were basically hunter-gatherers. Then again, even spears and pit traps are technology...

      Sam

    19. Re: Corrected headline by KGIII · · Score: 1

      If a bird uses a stick to get a piece of fruit is that not natural? This is, at this point, purely philosophical and has no bearing on the subject at hand.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    20. Re: Corrected headline by samwichse · · Score: 1

      No bearing on the subject? Didn't you say this: "We could question what is and what is not 'natural' with this."

    21. Re: Corrected headline by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Yes but our line of conversations (is interesting) has damned little to do with Hawaii, and some folks trying to save their sacred mountain, at this point. We could say, I am not sure that we should say, that pollution is man-made, man is natural, what humans do is thus natural - even if it means using tools, and thus conclude that pollution is natural. That was what my line of thinking was. I was not very clear about it, I suck.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  8. Sacred cows by penguinoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    make the best hamburger.

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    1. Re:Sacred cows by blue+trane · · Score: 1

      People make the best Soylent Green.

  9. Par for the course for religion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's about time for religious groups to be informed, in no uncertain terms, that religious freedom is always constrained by the rule of the law. Until recently, religion was the law. Not any more. Learn to live with it.

    1. Re:Par for the course for religion by blue+trane · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What law gives the government the right to destroy sacred land?

      From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

      The project "is predicated on this idea that we have some permission to take over these spaces and use them for scientific research," Adam Burgasser, an associate professor of astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, told BuzzFeed. "Even though I benefit greatly from that professionally, I don't think we can make that assumption that we have rights to this mountain," he added.

    2. Re:Par for the course for religion by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      What law gives the government the right to destroy sacred land?

      I had to study law just enough to survive, and did rather well, I came across a statement I can't remember in it's entirety (I'm old and can get away with it) but there are two things law can't make you do, one is to decide who you are to marry, and one other I just can't come up with. and the first one is debatable.

      Three cities make up here, Lewis and Clark passed this way (You could walk on the backs of Salmon to cross the river), any island you dig on your most likely going to hit Indian artifacts, The Kennewick Man was found here by two sneaking unpaid into an event. -In effect the entire area is sacred land.

      Don't get me wrong I agree with where your going with this. The cities were here long before I was.

    3. Re:Par for the course for religion by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      The fact that the government makes the laws. Don't like it, vote it out. Can't vote it out? Then I guess the majority doesn't give a shit about the pebble.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Par for the course for religion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, for one, what is and is not sacred is entirely subjective. The Hawaiians claim that Mauna Kea is sacred is no more meaningful than my claim that my vegetable patch is sacred.

    5. Re:Par for the course for religion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sacred land? Just because a bunch of people say that something is sacred it does not make it so. Is Mecca sacred to you?

      That's exactly one of the many problems with religion.

    6. Re:Par for the course for religion by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Which means that the majority can just trash on the culture of the minority. Considering what happened to Hawaii and its previous culture, I can't blame the descendants for being sensitive.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  10. What is more sacred... by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 1

    Then a telescope?

    1. Re:What is more sacred... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      A grammar book.

    2. Re:What is more sacred... by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      An antenna

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    3. Re:What is more sacred... by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

      Some errors are more common among native speakers than foreigners.

  11. Road blocked by boulders by PPH · · Score: 2

    But ... those are sacred boulders! They shouldn't be rolling them around willy-nilly across white man's roads. If the natives aren't going to respect every last little part of Mauna Kea, then why should we?

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:Road blocked by boulders by blue+trane · · Score: 0

      Yep, constructing an 18-story building is exactly the same as moving a boulder. That's what your science tells you? No wonder the natives are suspicious of you.

    2. Re:Road blocked by boulders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it is conceivable that the boulder is sitting right where you want to put your building. So the two aren't necessarily totally completely unrelated. Excavation is part of the show. But, yeah, they probably can put away the dynamite when actual construction begins.

    3. Re:Road blocked by boulders by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

      These are the same people who cared so little they brought invasive ants up with them; I can't say disturbing the site surprises me.

    4. Re:Road blocked by boulders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is also the inconvenient fact that the Native Hawaiians, before contact with evil European cis-male explorers, operated a large rock quary at high elevation on Mauna Kea (http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/Asian_American_and_Pacific_Islander_Heritage/Mauna-Kea-Adze-Quarry.htm) . Oh, I can *feel* the sacredness of that mining operation.

  12. They want to build... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A casino instead.

  13. A better compromise by presidenteloco · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The governor of Hawaii tried a compromise where they would decomission 4 old telescopes, to be able to build this new one.

    It was rejected.

    My suggestion is, ante up on the compromise. Promise to build the new one on the site of one of the old ones. In other words, don't create any more development on undeveloped land, which seems to be a big part of the what the protestors object to.

    --

    Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    1. Re:A better compromise by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      My suggestion is, ante up on the compromise. Promise to build the new one on the site of one of the old ones.

      Nobody would accept that compromise. The protesters don't really care if the telescope is built, they just want a payoff. Any compromise that does not include some cash, is not going to be accepted. They should have paid off these groups at the beginning of the process, not when they are ready to start construction. It would have been much cheaper.

      .

    2. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Another compromise.

      The Telescope goes up, but the Washington Monument gets bulldozed, or perhaps the Salt Lake Temple, or the Statue of Liberty. If not just US things then perhaps the Vatican, Ankor Wat, or other religious icons.

      Wait.... what is that..... it makes a difference when the things YOU value are under attack.

    3. Re:A better compromise by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      im not sure i agree with paying ransom to people to make them go away so you can get work done is the right way to go about things

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    4. Re:A better compromise by faway · · Score: 0

      Keep in mind that America's acquisition of Hawaii was no more the only valid then was Russia's recent acquisition of Crimea.

    5. Re:A better compromise by faway · · Score: 1

      ooops typo. I meant " no more legally valid than"

    6. Re:A better compromise by h33t+l4x0r · · Score: 1

      The Louisiana Purchase took place without consulting the natives to that area. Should we give that back too?

    7. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some asshats think so.

    8. Re:A better compromise by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Another compromise.

      The Telescope goes up, but the Washington Monument gets bulldozed, or perhaps the Salt Lake Temple, or the Statue of Liberty. If not just US things then perhaps the Vatican, Ankor Wat, or other religious icons.

      Wait.... what is that..... it makes a difference when the things YOU value are under attack.

      Makes no difference to me. I'd love to see the Statue of Liberty shipped off from New Jersey (because it's truly in New Jersey) back to Frnace.
      I'd be delighted to see Mount Rushmore obliterated back to a boring old rock. We don't need fucking pointless structures and monuments to stupid shit.

    9. Re:A better compromise by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Of course it wasn't Russia's "acquisition" of Crimea was perfectly legal. It belonged to Russia already. The separation from Russia was illegal.

    10. Re:A better compromise by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Keep in mind that America's acquisition of Hawaii was no more the only valid then was Russia's recent acquisition of Crimea.

      Nonsensical comparison, as a superiority of the Hawaiian population did not vote to be incorporated into the United States. And there was no illegal coup backed by the U.S. against the democratically elected government of Hawaii.

    11. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The governor of Hawaii tried a compromise where they would decomission 4 old telescopes, to be able to build this new one.

      It was rejected.

      My suggestion is, ante up on the compromise. Promise to build the new one on the site of one of the old ones. In other words, don't create any more development on undeveloped land, which seems to be a big part of the what the protestors object to.

      My suggestion is to move the offended people to a new island with no development whatsoever.

      It's hypocritical to reap the benefits of modern technology and medicine, while simultaneously demanding that your sacred holy site be kept devoid of any development.

      Those protestors only have case if they live primitively. I expect that they don't.

    12. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why? It's a small number of people that have no legal right to object. If it were wacky Christians would you be so quick to appease them, but because it's "native hawaiians" it's OK?

    13. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On June 27, 1959, a referendum asked residents of Hawaii to vote on the statehood bill; 94.3% voted in favor of statehood and 5.7% opposed it.

    14. Re:A better compromise by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      People like symbols. Erecting symbols is an easy way for a politician to win some votes with a targeted demographic. It shows he is on their side, but doesn't have to involve actually doing anything with a practical impact.

    15. Re:A better compromise by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      This. BTW, Russia didn't exactly acquire Crimea, the Crimeans voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in March last year. The split from Russia and transfer of the territory to Ukraine occurred in 1954(?) under Kruschev. Basically from that point it became an annex under treaty, having been under Russian control for at least three hundred years previous to that.

      Byline from The Guardian: "16 Mar 2014 - Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine in a referendum that most of the world has condemned as illegal.".

      Of course, referendums are illegal. Uh huh. I have a big problem with that assertion, and that is that we have, individually and collectively, the born right of self determination, guaranteed by Constitution (in any former or current Colony or Commonwealth state including the United States) and *sort of* reinforced by Statute (see the Human Rights Act 1998 for a miserable failure of the Law to protect our individual rights - it doesn't even MENTION individual rights! Not only that, it pretty much tramples Magna Carta). As such, Crimea's referendum is not only perfectly legal, but according to THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION (if you apply Ukraine's Constitution to the situation, and please read it - don't take my word for any of this), it is legally binding. The Crimean people have as much right to vote to secede as did the Scots - we English didn't get a vote in the matter, why the fuck should the Ukrainians get a vote on Crimea??

      There is NOTHING in International Law that outlaws referendums. There is also NOTHING in International Law that prevents a country, region, town or a HOUSEHOLD from seceding from its parent State according to the documented will of the majority.

      Per the ICJ advisory on the independence of Kosovo of 22 July 2010: "international law contains no 'prohibition on declarations of independence'".

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    16. Re:A better compromise by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Those are all sites that I'd like to see preserved because of their historical value, not because they are sacred. Well, if the site of the Washington Monument turns out to be an exceptionally good spot for a telescope, they can have it. However if they propose to bulldoze a site with ancient cave drawings, I'd say no... but I would not object if those drawings would/could be moved and preserved.

      You know what's sacriligious? Demolishing the beautiful old home down the road of here, in which 5 generations of one family have lived, just so a new highway can be built. The difference? One family isn't as politically noisy as a whole group of protesters, especially if the protesters are all from an easily identifiable minority group. In both cases we can't stop all progress just for sentimental value, but personally I feel more sorry for that family.

      One could argue that demolishing the family home is just what's being done on Hawaii, but be honest: at best they are ruining the view, or tearing down a beloved site. And as much as I would like to see such views and sites preserved everywhere, it isn't always possible, and in that case the Hawaiians can suck it up just like the rest of us. Don't use religion to claim an exemption.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    17. Re:A better compromise by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      It was the nature of the referendum, not simply the fact of it being a referendum.

    18. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wonder if it would make more sense to invest in another space based telescope and let them have the mountain and leave it undeveloped? I see a lot of people ridiculing these folks' belief system. Regardless of the reason it's important to them. Is there a better alternative out there? Why can't people figure out a win-win on this?

    19. Re:A better compromise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As such, Crimea's referendum is not only perfectly legal, but according to THEIR OWN CONSTITUTION (if you apply Ukraine's Constitution to the situation, and please read it - don't take my word for any of this), it is legally binding.

      You mean article 73 which states:

      "Article 73 Issues of altering the territory of Ukraine are resolved exclusively by an All-Ukrainian referendum." (emphasis mine)

      Sorry, you may disagree with that but the referendum did not include all Ukrainians. I don't see how your opinion or the Constitution of the US or a piece of legislation passed less than 20 years ago in the United Kingdom have to do with Ukraine.

      And that's before you even get to the question of whether or not the referendum was done legally outside of the fact that not all Ukrainians got to vote on it.

      You like self-determination? Sounds nice. What if I want to secede from the US? Didn't Peter Griffin try that in Family Guy?

    20. Re:A better compromise by Xifer · · Score: 1

      After reading the website http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org... and pondering the words of Keanu Sai, I would say that this conflict is more about point of international law and that the Hawaiians are very likely to compromise about the telescope if their sovereignty is respected, but they would like to assert their sovereignty which according to binding executive agreement between Liliuokalani and President Grover Cleveland was never extinguished. He was out of office before he could get marines back from the Spainsh American war to restore the multicultural Constitutional Monarchy which was the legal government of the islands in those days. The sugar issue was the American planters issue, the six planters that our marines set up as a faux government was not the government of the people. Our governments issue was that they wanted Pearl Harbor as a coaling station for the Pacific and because Liliuokalani's predecessor David Kalakaua had been forming alliances with other Pacific suzerains for economic unions that we would not be able to manipulate. Our treaties of annexation were with the faux government and were removed from the Senate before they could be ratified when Grover Cleveland sent congressman James Henderson Blount to check out the situation and he reported in favor of the queen. The Hawaiians also provided 20,000 signatures to Washington DC saying they objected to being annexed. In international law, that would prove that there was opposition to the annexation and void it. Two houses of Congress passed a law to annex Hawaii, but Congressional laws do not have any standing outside of the US borders although the pirates in Washington DC would like to change that. At present the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the federal judges there have no authority beyond the 200 mile limit of California and the real governor of Hawaii should be the commander of Pacific fleet who occupies the country as an agent of the United States. As an occupied country, it should be governed under its own laws which are the laws of the last constitution not under duress. At the very least maybe we need to negociate with them and amend our flag to contain 49 stars and a crown since they are still a legal monarchy. I will also say that i am an interested party as my grandmother was a schoolteacher in the islands in the teens of the last century and went to tea with the old Queen and her report was that she remained a ruler of her people until her death. It does not appear that there are any of her line named to be a new sovereign if the monarchy is restored, but there is provision in the constitution for the constitutional assembly to name a new monarch usually from the ali'i

    21. Re:A better compromise by KGIII · · Score: 1

      Around here, it is actually mostly people who have moved here "from away" such as myself but I am not a part of this, they do not use religious claims. Instead they argue about the view being destroyed and the subject is windmills. They do not seem to mind cell phone towers unless they are really close. Then they have "concerns" because they "feel" that the radiation from the towers might make them sick. That tower is fine when it is five miles away on somebody else's property and they have no complaints about using a cell phone.

      Fortunately they are still in the minority here. Sadly they are almost always people who moved here who seem inclined to try to change things to their liking. I moved here because I felt that I would fit in well and I spent time living here before making that choice. I am not sure why other folks attempt to do the opposite. It is not like they came here for the bustling job market, this is Maine.

      Anyhow, I do feel for the people who lose their property due to eminent domain. It is even worse when the government forces the people to sell, not for a government project but for a private corporation. That kind of crap really needs to stop. I could almost justify violent protests over that seeing as the land is being taken by force. But, as always, we are wandering off-topic. If you, or anyone else, is unaware of this then searching for "eminent domain private corporations" should give you some more information.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    22. Re:A better compromise by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      The referendum was taken after the Anschluss, and was conducted under Russian supervision only. The 98% vote for incorporation into the Russian Reich is extremely clear evidence that it's bogus.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  14. Re:Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Note the huge error, the denial of those persons, their culture and their heritage "sacred sites in Hawaiian religion and culture". This repeated denial of equal existence by Immigrants that stole the land but deny the people. It is not "sacred sites in Hawaiian religion and culture", a denial that they are American, it is "sacred sites in Hawaiian American, religion and culture". They are meant to be Americans, their culture and religion are mean to be American culture and religion and not somehow be publicly defined as be foreign and those people are being foreigners. This is repeated again and again in immigrant dominated societies, the complete denial of those original inhabitants as being real citizens, they are foreigners in the own land, who hold foreign non-Immigrant cultures and beliefs and whose history is not Immigrant America, it is foreign to Immigrant America but the immigrant capitalists of course still want that land whilst they was want to denying the people and who those people are. Hawaii culture and religion is 'American' culture and religion and you are horribly racist and prejudiced if you believe any different (one element of it, of course, not the totality of American culture and religion). They are meant to be Americans and hence their culture and religion are meant to be American and not denied by immigrants as being somehow foreign to those immigrants and thus denied in a country now predominately occupied and controlled by foreign immigrants.

    Hawaiians are Polynesian; ethnically, culturally, linguistically... Long before they were Ameican. No reason why they should deny that heritage in order to conform to your definition of 'American'. That word is already quite well defined.

  15. Re:Glaing Error by chipschap · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You have an interesting viewpoint. I (too?) live in Hawai`i and I can agree with some of it.

    But one thing often said here by those in favor of continuing with the TMT is that the ancient Hawaiians themselves, as master celestial navigators, would have readily embraced something that advanced scientific knowledge. Is the idea of the TMT out of line with Hawaiian spiritual practice? As I understand it, not at all.

    There are already about a dozen telescopes atop the mountain. Will one more desecrate the `aina (land) so much more? I'm not qualified to answer that, but it's hard to believe that it's such a make-or-break issue.

    Fundamentally, it isn't the telescope or the `aina or spiritual practices that make up the issue. Instead, it seem that it's about an indigenous people resenting the very real slights and persecutions of the past and projecting them into the present; it's also about the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. But in today's Hawai`i, it is most certainly not the haole (general meaning today of Caucasian, though that's not really what the word means) who rules and runs the show.

  16. Re:Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Doesn't seem that Hawaiian culture is American culture, because American culture has no concept of sacred land outside of cemeteries and their church building of choice. American culture certainly does not have any respect for volcano gods or protesters stopping working-class people from doing what they are paid to do.

    So yes, they reject American culture in favor of their own. And yes, some cultures are better than others. Nazi culture is considered bad by nearly everyone for a hyperbolic example. Whether Hawaiian culture is better or worse than American culture would be an interesting discussion.

  17. A little late to complain by Dereck1701 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are over a dozen telescopes at the same site where they intend to build the TMT, some of which have been there since the late 60s. Their complaints that their "most sacred site will be desecrated" seem to be a bit late. I think there has already been an agreement to remove quite a few of the current telescopes to revert a significant portion of the site to a more natural state. There is another larger mountain on the same island, something tells me if they began building telescopes on that mountain it would suddenly become a "most sacred site". This to me smells much more like a NIMBY group using vague religious/cultural references to try to get there way.

    1. Re: A little late to complain by Maleko · · Score: 1

      Actually, the Hawaiians have been protesting the telescopes since the 60's. And Kaho'olawe bring blown apart too.

      Just because you haven't heard about the protests, doesn't mean they aren't happening.

    2. Re:A little late to complain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These protests are not new, it's been occurring since the first telescope went up.

    3. Re:A little late to complain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Mauna Loa is NOT larger than Mauna Kea, and is not quite dormant, so it's not a suitable site for astronomy. Not all of Mauna Kea is considered sacred, but the new telescope is on a part that is. As far as the other telescopes being up there fifty years ago, native Hawaiian's views were largely ignored back then. Seems they have finally found their voice.

    4. Re:A little late to complain by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Mauna Loa is over ten times the size of Mauna Kea. Kea is only higher by 107 feet, as measured from its base in the Hawaiian Trough. Loa is 9700 cubic miles of stretched shield volcano, while Kea is only 770 cubic miles.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    5. Re:A little late to complain by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      Mauna Kea is larger in the sense that it is higher, and that's the only sense that matters to a telescope. How much area it covers is utterly irrelevant.

    6. Re:A little late to complain by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      higher by a few dozen *feet*. Not enough to make a real difference. The important bit here is a: accessibility to the site, which is already "there" as the area is crisscrossed with service roads, and the fact that the mountain is toward the edge and receding from the Hawaii Plume at the rate of about an inch a year. Loa is still fairly well over the middle of it, hence very much volcanically active. Kea is pretty dormant, its last recorded eruption having taken place four millennia ago.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  18. Re:Glaing Error by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 0, Troll

    My grandparents were forced from their lands - had to flee to america or be deported to Siberia.

    Can you tell me how to regain my ancestors homes and religious areas? Can you also explain why you never cared about my ancestors, and why I should care about yours?

    Thanx in advance!

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
  19. Politicising science for profit by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    should be fucking outlawed.

    I REALLY want to go off on a rant here, but I think that sums it up pretty well. I'm fucking sick of the NIMBY crowd, I bet they don't even live in sight of the mountain.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    1. Re: Politicising science for profit by Maleko · · Score: 1

      You can not live on this island, without seeing this mountain. It's visible from everywhere.

    2. Re:Politicising science for profit by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Rant away. What the fuck else is Slashdot for?

    3. Re: Politicising science for profit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      one could even argue the mountain is the island

    4. Re: Politicising science for profit by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      what, even from the far slope of the *other mountain*?

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    5. Re: Politicising science for profit by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      For example, from Kau Forest Reserve?

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  20. Re: Glaing Error by jmac_the_man · · Score: 1

    American culture certainly does not have any respect for... protesters stopping working-class people from doing what they are paid to do.

    For a disturbingly large part of American culture, that isn't true. See: Occupy Wall Street.

  21. loud vocal minority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    That sad thing is this isn't even all native Hawaiians or even a majority. It's just a small minority of extremely loud native Hawaiians. Plenty of native Hawaiians have no problem with the observatories and actually want them built

    1. Re:loud vocal minority by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      thats how everything works these days

      look at the ruling that took place today or amazon and wallmarts decision to stop selling a flag (while still selling other items that represent hate)

      the louder you are, the more power you have, even if you make up a rounding error worth of a percentage

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    2. Re:loud vocal minority by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      the louder you are, the more power you have, even if you make up a rounding error worth of a percentage

      Welcome to the world. You don't get a manual, but you do get a bunch of pithy sayings, like "The squeaky wheel gets the grease". However, you also get "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down"

      At some point, you may become angry enough about something to stand up and shout, too. Will you get greased, or hammered?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:loud vocal minority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shoot them. Shoot them both.

    4. Re:loud vocal minority by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The best part about pithy sayings is there are two polar opposite sayings for any given situation! That way you get to do whatever the fuck you want and cite folk wisdom to support your case.

    5. Re:loud vocal minority by drinkypoo · · Score: 0

      The best part about pithy sayings is there are two polar opposite sayings for any given situation!

      There might be, but that's not what's happening here. The two sayings have meanings which are not diametrically opposed. The first saying says that problems don't get solved if they don't get noticed. The second saying says that if you stand out too far, you'll be punished for it. The subtext, which I am not surprised to see you miss since you're too stupid to find the login link, is that you shouldn't have to stand out to have your needs cared for. But I'm sure you're afraid to come to that conclusion, just like you're afraid to let people know who has these stupid fucking ideas of yours.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re:loud vocal minority by PPH · · Score: 1

      At some point, you may become angry enough about something to stand up and shout, too.

      The trick is to get angry about something that makes a real difference. I can bitch about continental drift all I want. But nobody is going to follow my bumper sticker's advice and re-unite Pangea.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    7. Re:loud vocal minority by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I am working on it, alone - thank you, but it is going to take some time. Also, I am not quite sure that I can get things back to the way they were so we may have to settle for some reconfiguration. However, you needn't worry. I will get it done for you. Unfortunately, America is heavy.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  22. Let a D-9 Cat and two fire engines lead the parade by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The Cat should make short work of the piled-up rocks, and the high-pressure hoses would be ready in case the demonstrators start throwing anything.

    Now that science itself is under attack, we need to be prepared to defend it.

  23. Sacred Volcano by david999 · · Score: 1

    Sacred volcano where the natives threw people into.

  24. The protesters complaints are NUTS!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The protesters are claiming things like pollution from the telescope will kill fish in Hilo bay. WTF? You can't even sneeze on the MK summit w/o a permit. All the facilities up there get regular inspections, and can get in trouble for even a wayward piece of trash. Construction vehicles must be parked on plastic to catch oil drips. Not so on the rest of the island. Hell, when they change the oil in cars around here, they just dump the oil on the ground. They don't give a damn. Yet they'll claim the telescopes are killing fish half way across the island? They claim it's a watershed, yet the site's chosen b/c of 300 days/year of clear skies, and how dry it is?

    Hmph. Nutcases.

    1. Re:The protesters complaints are NUTS!!! by blue+trane · · Score: 0

      In Arizona, Baboquivari is a sacred site. It stands out, it is very distinctive from large distances away. Next range over has Kitt Peak Observatory, which is ugly and destroys the natural mountain's ridge line. Screw Kitt Peak. Just say no to earth-bound observatories. Put 'em in space. I bet the scientists would like that too.

    2. Re:The protesters complaints are NUTS!!! by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

      Next range over has Kitt Peak Observatory, which is ugly and destroys the natural mountain's ridge line.

      When I saw the telescopes on Maunakea a while back I didn't think that at all. It took nothing away from the beauty of the Mauna. If all you can focus on are percived flaws, and not the beauty of the whole, maybe you're the one with the problem. At any rate, good thing we live in a society where aesthetics and legality are separate.

      Just say no to earth-bound observatories. Put 'em in space. I bet the scientists would like that too.

      I'm sure they would. Do you have any idea at all how insanely much that would cost? The Hubble Space Telescope has a 2.4-meter mirror and cost $10 billion. This one is has a 30 meter mirror. Do the math.

  25. Stop complaining by maryjanety3 · · Score: 1

    The telescope is the eyes on the world watching http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...

  26. The Dothraki are against the TMT by jd2112 · · Score: 1

    Jason Momoa A Hawaiian native, has posted a YouTube video in opposition to the TMT.
    Seriously, You don't want to mess with Khal Drogo!

    --
    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
    1. Re:The Dothraki are against the TMT by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      According to this very link Momoa is not native Hawaiian. His ancestry is Samoan, German, Irish and mainland Native American.

    2. Re:The Dothraki are against the TMT by jd2112 · · Score: 1

      Correct. I need to stop posting near bedtime.

      --
      Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  27. Re:Glaing Error by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 4, Informative

    The protesters call themselves kanaka, the working class of precolonial Hawaii. Did you know that in that culture only the ali'i, the hereditary nobility, were permitted to go above the treeline on Mauna Kea? Thus by the laws of their own culture, the protesters at the 9,000 ft level, are there illegally.

  28. Re:Screw those morbidly obese slope heads. by faway · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just because someone is self desecrating and a walking slab of lard does not mean they don't have a valid argument. Your logic is fallacious.

  29. Not Really by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the old days they used to be able to pay off some local leaders to make the resistance go away. Now, they're absolutely bending over backwards, funding education initiatives, etc, and the protestors won't go away. Why? Two reasons. First, they made the mistake of breaking ground on a day that drew more attention because the activists were also doing something that day. Second, with Twitter and the internet the True Believers don't need local leaders to stir them up and connect them, they can do it themselves.

    Basically, they're trying to placate a bunch of implacable Luddites and Fanatics who won't be placated. Nothing but complete surrender or martyrdom will satisfy them.

    It's infuriating.

    1. Re:Not Really by sexconker · · Score: 1

      In the old days they used to be able to pay off some local leaders to make the resistance go away. Now, they're absolutely bending over backwards, funding education initiatives, etc, and the protestors won't go away. Why? Two reasons. First, they made the mistake of breaking ground on a day that drew more attention because the activists were also doing something that day. Second, with Twitter and the internet the True Believers don't need local leaders to stir them up and connect them, they can do it themselves.

      Basically, they're trying to placate a bunch of implacable Luddites and Fanatics who won't be placated. Nothing but complete surrender or martyrdom will satisfy them.

      It's infuriating.

      Luddites? Maybe they need more apps.

  30. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

    Technically, the acquisition of Hawaii was botched and it is not legally part of the United States.

    You birther's are simply not going to go away, are ya?

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  31. Re:Glaing Error by sexconker · · Score: 0

    Considering they would have all been Japanese by now if it weren't for the evil Americans, I think they should sit the fuck down, shut the fuck up, stop believing in retarded volcano gods, and maybe strum a ukelele.

  32. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ask a grownup to explain the concept of "fait accompli" to you.

  33. ignorance is not bliss by swell · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Around the world, religious nutcases impede progress. In every case that I am aware of, some individual gains power and authority by restricting the rights of others, in most cases restricting the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of their followers and the world around them. Do the Aztecs, the Maya, the Vikings or the American Indians have the power to carry on this foolishness? No, because there is no crazed leader nor is there a body of ignorant fearful followers. But in some Muslim, Jewish and certain other areas, primitive religions defy science, common sense and public safety for ideals that are tenuous at best.

    Find out what person or group benefits from this charade and eliminate their incentive to protest the telescope. Debunk the mystical nonsense that they use to indoctrinate their followers. In most (all?) cases the followers are motivated by fear, and the leaders are experts at exploiting that. Empower these ignorant people to understand the real world, which may not be quite as scary as they think.

    Educate everyone. No, not the job training that passes for education these days. Real education in the ways of the world, history and wisdom. Give everyone the tools for survival and excellence.

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
    1. Re:ignorance is not bliss by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      Find out what person or group benefits from this charade and eliminate their incentive to protest the telescope. Debunk the mystical nonsense that they use to indoctrinate their followers. In most (all?) cases the followers are motivated by fear, and the leaders are experts at exploiting that. Empower these ignorant people to understand the real world, which may not be quite as scary as they think.

      And why the first thing the Americas did were to send Christian missionaries everywhere to educate the heathens (one must know of god before being allowed into heaven - the key). The Spaniards sent Catholic missionaries, who had the backing of the pope and power, (Why in South America to this day east of a latitude one speaks Portuguese to the west Spanish, all to end a squabble.

      All sent to debunk existing thinking, and to what was the truth (to most), but it's a timely process. Christians practice peace so a long time, the Catholic's were mostly converted warriors spending little time explaining what was very important to them, by setting examples; faster but still taking generations.

    2. Re:ignorance is not bliss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Around the world, religious nutcases impede progress.

      Which is why Linux is still a non-starter on the desktop, amirite?

  34. Re:Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    #49999999

    How does it feel to fail that hard?

  35. Re:Protestors said theTMT would desecrate sacred l by blue+trane · · Score: 1

    Let's turn every fern into a no trespassing sign. Privatize photosynthesis!

  36. Re:Screw those morbidly obese slope heads. by sexconker · · Score: 0

    Just because someone is self desecrating and a walking slab of lard does not mean they don't have a valid argument. Your logic is fallacious.

    Sure it does, when their "argument" is about how things must not be desecrated. Judging by everything you've posted on this page, I can only assume you yourself are "self desecrating and a walking slab of lard".
    Your logic, and your grammar, is fuckdingoretardedbad.

  37. Re:solution? by blue+trane · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Why not just smoke a peace pipe with them? Those bulldozers cause a lot of damage. Scientists need to mellow out, get high more, look at the heavens from a more spiritual point of view. Fuck the observatory. Just go camping, get back in balance with nature.

  38. Re:Let a D-9 Cat and two fire engines lead the par by sexconker · · Score: 1

    The Cat should make short work of the piled-up rocks, and the high-pressure hoses would be ready in case the demonstrators start throwing anything.

    Now that science itself is under attack, we need to be prepared to defend it.

    The scoops are coming. The scoops are coming.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  39. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by sexconker · · Score: 0

    You keep saying that and you keep being fucking wrong.
    Crimea was part of Russia before they "invaded".
    Hawaii was legally annexed.
    This may sound preposterous, if you're a retard.

  40. Re:Glaing Error by blue+trane · · Score: 0

    And scientists should mellow the shit out, fucking think what the fuck they're doing to the natural environment, just enjoy nature for what it is, look up at the skies with their natural eyes, and fuck off someplace else for their telescopes. Send em to the moon.

  41. Re:Glaing Error by sexconker · · Score: 1

    Scientists would love to go to the moon, build a telescope, and use it there.

  42. Re:Glaing Error by blue+trane · · Score: 1

    So you had to walk uphill in the snow both ways to and from school, so everyone else has to too?

  43. Re:Glaing Error by blue+trane · · Score: 1

    Exactly. Win-win. Give the scientists the funds to do it; have the Fed finance it with created money. It's in the General Welfare, why would it cause inflation?

  44. helocopters by Karmashock · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I live in california where we always have some group of hairy drugged out morons protesting something. And the construction companies out here just expect it.

    They plan for it... they say"well, we need this much cement, this many men, so many machine... and oh yeah, bolt cutters and an overtime budget to bring people in at midnight to do the job when all the hippies are sleeping.

    The college campuses for example can't knock down trees on the premises during the school year. So they wait until the summer break then knock the trees back. The hippies come back and possibly see a stump. No discussion. No protest of consequence.

    In Canada they had a bridge that needed to be widened. And some trees to the right of the bridge needed to be taken down. Of course the fucking trees were swarming with dreadlocked buffoons. So the city said "you win, we won't take the trees down, everyone go home"... hippies cleared out... and at midnight that very night the city just cut all the trees down that were in the way of the bridge.

    And this is what the social discussion is at this point.

    The stupid mountain in question is covered with fucking telescopes. Go up there and look at it. There are loads. Saying "oh not one more or it will anger our impotent god!'... please.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    1. Re:helocopters by blue+trane · · Score: 0

      It angers me, because those telescopes are ugly and ruin the natural landscape.

    2. Re:helocopters by Moridineas · · Score: 1

      Trees? That's nothing. In Chicago they bulldoze entire airfields at night.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meigs_Field

      If you want an omelette...

    3. Re:helocopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yup. It's sad how this whole thing caught the astronomers off guard. So many are academic liberals that they want to be inclusive and refuse to accept that they are dealing with anti-science wack-a-doodles. There's clearly no compromise to be had here. These protestors want every single telescope removed from the mountain, nothing less. It doesn't matter that doing that would put a huge dent in the island economy, they are willing to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

      The telescope will get built soon enough. No way native Hawaiians will camp out in sub freezing temps for long.

    4. Re:helocopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      There's an obvious reason that won't work here: working at night would disturb all the other telescopes trying to work at night.

    5. Re:helocopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So do wires. Why not stand up for your beliefs and boycott electricity and the internet. I don't expect to see you post again.

    6. Re:helocopters by Karmashock · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Shut up.

      This is what the telescopes look like:
      https://upload.wikimedia.org/w...

      You can't even see them unless you squint and they blend in with the snow mostly. So I don't know what you're talking about.

      They only become obvious when you're getting close to them. And there's no reason to do that in Hawaii. The islands are f'ing paradise. Why would anyone want to climb the frozen lava rock that is so high the oxygen gets low? What exactly is the point?

      I can understand the astronomers going up there. I do not understand why anyone else is going up there. Possibly some crazy people that want to ski? I don't know. That's about it. Its ugly up there... because its just bare lava rock and snow. That's it.

      Seriously... why do you think the telescopes are bad. I mean... actually? Did an astronomer fuck your sister? Because it can't possibly be what you said.

      Look at that picture I posted. That is what the telescopes look like from off the mountain. You can't even see them really. And they don't look bad even when you do. Your comment makes zero sense.

      Unless you give me a more concrete reason... I am assuming there was a dramatic love affair between one of your relatives and an astronomer and you have some misplaced aggression on the issue. That's all I've got unless you want to tell me why you ACTUALLY don't like the telescopes.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    7. Re:helocopters by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

      It angers me, because those telescopes are ugly and ruin the natural landscape.

      You should see what my natural landscape looks like now - much different than 5 years ago.

      To the South are many hills that wind whips over, this is a windy area. For as far as they eye can see the very top of each hill is covered with equally spaced wind turbines - so you get to see the turbine in it's entirety . To a town (Walla Walla) the turbines follow the highway and they go on forever, I'm sure there's an end but I haven't seen one. Photo from Google Earth http://www.panoramio.com/photo...

      Further insulting, this area is known for it's cheap hydro electric power. Dams along the Snake river and Columbia river, which only allow the strong salmon to survive (a barb - but one mention of the dams and it normally comes up).

    8. Re:helocopters by Chas · · Score: 1

      But only when "da mare" wants it!

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    9. Re:helocopters by Psychotria · · Score: 1

      I live in california where we always have some group of hairy drugged out morons protesting something. And the construction companies out here just expect it.

      They plan for it... they say"well, we need this much cement, this many men, so many machine... and oh yeah, bolt cutters and an overtime budget to bring people in at midnight to do the job when all the hippies are sleeping.

      The college campuses for example can't knock down trees on the premises during the school year. So they wait until the summer break then knock the trees back. The hippies come back and possibly see a stump. No discussion. No protest of consequence.

      In Canada they had a bridge that needed to be widened. And some trees to the right of the bridge needed to be taken down. Of course the fucking trees were swarming with dreadlocked buffoons. So the city said "you win, we won't take the trees down, everyone go home"... hippies cleared out... and at midnight that very night the city just cut all the trees down that were in the way of the bridge.

      And this is what the social discussion is at this point.

      The stupid mountain in question is covered with fucking telescopes. Go up there and look at it. There are loads. Saying "oh not one more or it will anger our impotent god!'... please.

      Your argument is flawed. First you use the word "hippies" in a derogatory way to evoke emotion. This is demonstrated by your entire post. So, from the start I can see your argument is on weak ground -- if the argument was solid you would not need to resort to such tactics.

      In the case of the Canadian government lying to get the protesters away... yeah, great example. At least the so called (in your words) "hippies" have seemed to have some ethics and morals! The Canadian government in your example: they were the ones who acted like fuckwits and "buffoons".

      Same thing with the college campuses. They dismiss people's concerns and values and just do what the fuck they want.

      Who are you to dictate people's beliefs and their values? You're as bad as the idiots in the two examples you gave. Grow up and learn some respect. Falling back onto lies, loaded words ('"hippies" that all have dreadlocks, are stupid and buffoons') and other such juvenile and transparent actions to that just demonstrate your ignorance, lack of empathy and unstable stance makes me think that you are the one who needs some guidance. Your glee at governments and organisations to say one thing and then do another is... actually, I won't say what I was going to. It's sad and pathetic.

    10. Re:helocopters by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      Them being smelly, hairy, or drugged out of their minds was not central to my argument. Thus my argument did not rest upon whether that was true or not.

      My argument was therefore not ad hominem. You could argue pathos but the pathos was optional. My argument retains its integrity with or without those comments.

      They are null to the actual position. You decision to be influenced by those statements was your own choice.

      As to morals, not really. The protesters had no right to stop the construction. We do not have mob rule in the US or Canada despite what people like you apparently believe. If you want to effect the political system then you can show up at council meetings and vote for people that hold your values as well as vote on local inititives that support your views.

      However, in all these cases the degenrates in question are in the minority. They however don't care if they are in the minority. they create human shields and such to impose their will in contravention of democratically derrived rules that they are opposing.

      What is more, the government was under no obligation to tell the truth to what were in effect criminals

      Consider that police officers lie to criminals all the time. The police officer might say "if you say X, we'll go easy on you."... even though the police officer either has no intention of doing that or has no authority to make that kind of promise in the first place. This is an upheld practice which the courts have approved repeatedly. Police do not have to tell the truth to suspects or criminals.

      If I am going under cover to find evidence against a criminal gang, and the gang asks me "are you a police officer" I don't have to tell them the truth. I can say "of course I am not." and that is entirely legally valid.

      These people in the Canadian case were trespassing at the very least.

      As to dictating other people's beliefs or values. Oh dear... are you one of those stupid hippies? I expect you are because you just said something really really stupid. I did not say what idiots must believe or not believe. I simply pointed out that people that live amongst morons like this have learned to deal with them. That means coming prepared. Lying to the idiots because they're gullible and not very clever. And generally exploiting all their weaknesses because often as not they will swarm you location out numbering you in that location. Understand, they are not the majority... they're merely concentrating in one place.

      And so you need to distract them so you can do your job without letting them actually stop you.

      If you have anything more to say, I'm quite happy to continue ripping your arguments to fucking shreds.

      You have no superiority over me. You don't have the intellectual high ground. You don't have the knowledge high ground. You don't have the moral high ground.

      I do. And am very happy to piss on your argument from a very lofty height. ;)

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    11. Re:helocopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKEZoY-TMG4

    12. Re:helocopters by Karmashock · · Score: 1

      Which has what to do with stupid hippies protesting a bridge getting widened?

      Oh that's right... I forgot, hippies don't need logic. They just have feelings.

      Everyone has feelings. And no one has to care about them. Give me a coherent argument. Not some crap youtube video that apparently is more about vietnam than anything.

      --
      I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
    13. Re:Helocopters by sudon't · · Score: 1

      Unless you give me a more concrete reason...

      The gods, (or spirits, or whatever), aren't a good enough reason?

      Seriously, I'm all for respecting people's religious sensibilities, (and that's what this is about), especially native peoples who've been fucked so hard, in so many ways...up to a point. But when you want to give a burial to a five-thousand-year-old set of bones? C'mon, now. I can understand not wanting mining on "sacred" land, because that really does desecrate, by anyone's definition, any land it's done on. But a telescope?
      There has to be some limit, because the religious imagination is unlimited.

      --
      -- sudon't

      Air-ride Equipped

  45. Re:Glaing Error by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 1

    Nope.

    Just asking honestly - when people are driven from their lands from 1920 to 1948 and lose everything, and in my case lose an uncle to drowning and another uncle sent to siberia - and have a portion of my family deported to australia during that time - I'm asking an honest question as a first generation American.

    How does my family get everything back in Lithuania? Why do the people protesting a telescope refuse to care about my families plight, and with that asked and answered - why should I care about theirs?

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
  46. Re:Screw those morbidly obese slope heads. by Gaygirlie · · Score: 2

    Chowing down on dozens of pounds of pork, spam, and pineapple and turning your body into a quivering tub of flaps of lard is no way to go through life, son.

    Enjoying yourself isn't the way to go through life? Considering you only have one life to spend why shouldn't you want to enjoy it?

  47. Re:Glaing Error by the_Bionic_lemming · · Score: 1

    wow..

    --
    _ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
  48. What a lot of horse?shit by wnfJv8eC · · Score: 0

    The native claim that this is the first mountain in the chain and where the 'goddess' first set foot. Really. They are as bad as bible thumpers demanding fossils a million years old are not so. Hawaii is the last island in the chain. There is a new one on the sea floor rising to the east of Hawaii. Science tells us, clearly, a tectonic plate is moving that has created the islands. Their beliefs are easily proven false, just as some many others are. I have no respect for 'traditions' that cannot be reconciled with reality. Christian, Islamic, Jewish or Hawaiian. Anyway, as the Hawaii natives didn't arrive there until a few centuries back, how the hell would they know which island was first?

    1. Re:What a lot of horse?shit by Aardpig · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You really are a monumentally stupid cunt, aren't you?

      --
      Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
    2. Re:What a lot of horse?shit by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      except Hawai'i isn't at a plate boundary, in fact it's two thusand miles from the nearest one: this is pure volcanism, Hawai'i is riding a mantle plume which is currently 25 miles to the South East of Loa, under the Loihi sea mount.

      Citation: Jackson et. al., 1972

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    3. Re:What a lot of horse?shit by ihtoit · · Score: 1

      Oh, and the chain actually starts in the Aleutian group, several thousand miles to the North.

      --
      Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
    4. Re:What a lot of horse?shit by PPH · · Score: 1

      How do you know you're not just as wrong now as scientists were about tectonic plate theory?

      We could be. So we construct telescopes to observe and get closer to the truth.

      Tomorrow you might suddenly find out the Native Americans are right after all.

      If someone looks through the telescope and sees the goddess holding up a sign that says, "Get off my mountaim" we will comply.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    5. Re:What a lot of horse?shit by samwichse · · Score: 1

      I love that this comment got +4 Insightful.

      When else is calling someone a "monumentally stupid cunt" ever going to be so insightful again? Probably only in the comments on a vaccine story.

  49. Re:Glaing Error by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    But one thing often said here by those in favor of continuing with the TMT is that the ancient Hawaiians themselves, as master celestial navigators, would have readily embraced something that advanced scientific knowledge. Is the idea of the TMT out of line with Hawaiian spiritual practice? As I understand it, not at all.

    Tautologies are neat that way. Ancient Greeks were great at mathematics...so modern day residents of Athens shouldn't complain if a nuclear power plant is built on the Parthenon! To supply energy to people who don't even live in the city!

  50. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by Moridineas · · Score: 2

    That's a bad argument. The US says they annexed Hawaii and built military bases there. Nobody stopped them. Ergo, Hawaii is part of the US.

    Russia says they annexed Crimea (with a popular vote even [allegedly]) and built military bases there (technically already had military bases there). Nobody stopped them. Ergo, the Crimea is part of Russia.

    Actually, the Russian claim to the Crimea goes back far longer and probably has more substance.

  51. Re:Glaing Error by kuzb · · Score: 1

    They're not preserving nature with this act. Nature will be just fine even after the construction. This is just as it has always been - an excuse to get paid off.

    --
    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  52. Re:Screw those morbidly obese slope heads. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You YOLO people are ridiculous. You don't know any better than anyone else what happens when we die, so shut the fuck up!
    Enjoy your life? Yes, but, do it with less stupid, please.

  53. Religion.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And once again, the cultists are standing in the way of scientific progress. Sickening.

  54. Re:Glaing Error by ChromeAeonium · · Score: 1

    You're not alone in those observations. People say it is against Hawaiian culture and/or religion, but they never explain how or give any historical basis, and it seems like you're just not supposed to ask if you're not 'local.' I think it is funny that this protest really kicked up during the last Merrie Monarch festival, named for King David Kalkaua, who supported astronomy in Hawai'i. It really reeks of the whole 'there are parts of the Bible I like and parts I don't like' kind of hypocrisy that some groups like to use to justify whatever their present course of action happens to be.

  55. Re:Glaing Error by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    you're comparing an ancient manmade structure to a fucking volcano?? How does that work again?

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  56. Re:Glaing Error by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    awesome. So the police should know who to arrest, and just go do it already.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  57. Re:Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And what would have been the punishment?

  58. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

    Technically, the acquisition of Hawaii was botched and it is not legally part of the United States. This may sound preposterous but it has been reported on. Essentially the United States to control of Hawaii in the same way that Russia took control of Crimea.

    Almost, usually it's the last line in the article you read, it was annexed to stop the depression cheaper sugar caused.

    Around 1893 "Without Presidential approval, marines stormed the islands, and the American minister to the islands raised the stars and stripes in Honolulu. The Queen was forced to abdicate, and the matter was left for Washington politicians to settle. "

    "Hawaii remained a territory until granted statehood as the fiftieth state in 1959."

    First hit, they are all the same http://www.ushistory.org/us/44...

    Guam, Marshall Islands, Johnston Island, there are a lot of US territories, as you were referring to.

  59. Re:Glaing Error by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

    You're not supposed to understand their objections, just nod your head in pious assent. That's how most religions work. And in this case the protesters have a little "white guilt" to mix in, which generally goes a long way.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  60. Despite being a load of bollocks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the pandering to religions by the USA, as long as they're Christian, rather throws out any right they have to counter it.

    Hawaiians, THERE IS NO FUCKING GOD, GOT IT?

    Religon? Bullshit.
    Reverence? So the fuck what? Russians were reverent of Stalin. Do you give a shit, or do you want accuracy and criticism of him to be allowed by you? What about Hitler (note: Godwin doesn't say ANYTHING about having lost an argumnent, just the inevitability of a hitler comparison and that the thread will devolve into arguments about hitler not the original topic, so if you piss and moan about having Godwin'd, the only one doing that is YOU, you fuckwit), Germany damn well deified him. Should his reverence mean we should never speak badly of him?

    So, apart from that, what the fuck is left to your argument it shouldn't be built?

  61. They're razing the mountain?!?!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well fuck, if they're tearing down Mauna Kea to build this, then fuck, yeah, they should stop. Not because of any special site, but because that's a shitload of destruction just for a new telescope.

    What;s that? They're not blowing it up?

    Aaaw, fuck it, man, why the hell did you lie to me?!?!?

  62. The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by tlambert · · Score: 2

    The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States

    http://www.civilwar.org/educat...

    The specific primary issue was whether or not slavery would be prohibited in new territories when they became states, changing the balance of power between slave-holding and non slave-holding states. Prior to the election of Lincoln, the balance was maintained by inducting one non slave-holding state and one slave-holding state at the same time (paired statehood grants).

    The South was not fearful of the existing slave states losing their slaves, they were fearful in a change in relative power between the two power blocks, and the election of Lincoln made this inevitable.

    Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was in fact a punitive action relative to the secessionists only, and only applied to the ten states then currently in rebellion. It is widely regarded as the proverbial "straw that broke the camels back", and was issued under the president's war powers, and thus necessarily excluded those areas not in rebellion. In other words, of the 4 million slaves currently held at the time, about 1 million of them were *not* freed by the proclamation, as they were within states not in open rebellion.

    But nice try on your straw man argument.

    Note: as a technical note, free persons who commit criminal acts *could* in fact be made slaves today through court action, since you may deny someone their liberty through due process of law. We just don't use this particular loophole within our justice system.

    1. Re:The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

      Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was in fact a punitive action relative to the secessionists only, and only applied to the ten states then currently in rebellion. It is widely regarded as the proverbial "straw that broke the camels back", and was issued under the president's war powers, and thus necessarily excluded those areas not in rebellion.

      You gotta explain how the ""straw that broke the camel's back"" occurred in the third year of the war.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    2. Re:The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by tlambert · · Score: 1

      You gotta explain how the ""straw that broke the camel's back"" occurred in the third year of the war.

      It was more or less a series of border skirmishes (including a few port cities), until the proclamation.

      This map animation demonstrates it better than I could with just words:

      http://storymaps.esri.com/stor...

      The proclamation more or less gave a mandate to penetrate deeply into the Southern states in order to enforce it.

    3. Re:The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by surd1618 · · Score: 1

      Note: as a technical note, free persons who commit criminal acts *could* in fact be made slaves today through court action, since you may deny someone their liberty through due process of law. We just don't use this particular loophole within our justice system.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    4. Re:The Declaration of Causes of Seceding States by samwichse · · Score: 1

      That's some revisionist history if I've ever heard it.

  63. If my church were being torn down for a telescope by tlambert · · Score: 4, Informative

    If my church were being torn down for a telescope, I would of course protest.

    However, I would protest when they were first tearing it down in 1967, and not wait until 37 years later, in 2004, to start protesting.

    They've only been protesting about how holy the site is since about 2004. When it benefitted them in ways other than piety for them to do so. This is about trying to garner international attention for the monarchist movement in Hawaii, who would like to bring back the Kingdom of Hawaii, and are still pissed off about the deposition of Queen Liliuokalani, and the effective annexation of Hawaii in 1893.

    Protesting a telescope gets media attention, even though there are already 13 telescopes on the site, operated by 11 nations, and they are in fact already the largest astronomical observatory on the planet. The only thing new about this one is that it was easier to latch onto the media attention, since the telescope in question was going to be very large, and was therefore already getting media attention.

    Of course, assuming this was granted (thus setting the precedent for all non extinct indian nations to reclaim their lands within the U.S. as well), there would immediately be internecine warfare as to *who*, of the 10 groups claiming to have the "rightful" king or queen among their members, got to be the "official" one.

    See also:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  64. Re:Had no idea indians ever lived in Hawaii by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

    Custer surely would have never ever gotten that far. It takes a telescope to rile them up. Blankets? Do they need blankets?

    Depends upon how far back you wish to go.

    Hawaii was found by Polynesians who's DNA has proven them the discovers of America, I figure Columbus was the last person to of set foot on it's shore, yet gets all the credit.
    http://www.mnn.com/earth-matte...

    From South America they migrated along it's coast, to Central America, and spread out into North America, becoming the Indians we know today.

    This still agrees with the land bridge theory, yet A Clovis point was found to be allegedly older than possible by a land bridge crossing.
    http://america.aljazeera.com/a...

    The Kennewick Man was found so far out of place (and not and Indian), that made him so special. No reason there wasn't a spread of information by just that sort of person. History refuses to acknowledge the transfer of knowledge rather than inventing themselves.

    While mayhaps a bit off your topic, an interest of mine that I couldn't help but reply to.

  65. Basically "let's act like asshole children" by Chas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Okay. We've sued and lost.
    We've sued again and lost.
    We've appealed to every political figure available and lost.
    We've tossed up every roadblock imaginable and lost.
    So now, despite what the law says and the fact that it's obvious other people want this, we're still going to interfere and be assholes because we didn't get our way.

    At this point, I'm with the social darwinists. Just roll over the fuckers. You'll be doing the species good by ridding it of obvious mental defectives.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
    1. Re:Basically "let's act like asshole children" by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      Are you talking about the telescope protestors, or Congressional Republicans?

  66. If god doesn't like telescopes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why doesn't he just knock them down?

    1. Re:If god doesn't like telescopes by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      And it's not like it would be any kind of miracle considering the tectonic activity in the area.

      So if mommy goddess doesn't like use building telescopes in her sacred resting place, I guess she wouldn't have a hard time telling us in no uncertain terms.

      But she's oddly silent. Guess she doesn't hate people who follow in the footsteps of her own children, who were watching the skies keenly because it was a life-or-death matter to them to know the stars and their position because they were dependent on them for navigation. Maybe she even LIKES the idea that we put her creation to the purpose she originally intended? Because why else would she put a huge mountain on an island if not as a tool to make navigation and star observation easier?

      It's so terribly hard to really understand the will of the gods...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  67. Re:solution? by sys64764 · · Score: 1

    This is exactly what happened. When everyone was spaced out and staring at the star-filled sky one scientist said: "Dude.... what if we build a telescope right here?".

    The rest is history.

  68. Re: Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There was never any significant support for OWS outside of the people hired by George Soros, which is why it dried up after the presidential election and there was no longer a political need to impugn Romney.

  69. Re: Hawaii is not legally a part of the USA by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    You say that as if you thought it actually mattered.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  70. Re:Glaing Error by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    The standard punishment for violating kapu (taboo) was to have your skull broken with a large club.

  71. Re:Let a D-9 Cat and two fire engines lead the par by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

    buy a couple of those armored bulldozers the Israelis use to flatten Palestinian houses.

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  72. Re:Glaing Error by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    " Send em to the moon."

    Hawaiian Culture Troll, meet Space Nutter Troll.

  73. Re:Let a D-9 Cat and two fire engines lead the par by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    One small problem: anti-science wackjobs are just as much against space programs as they are against other applications of science.

  74. this isnt a rock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it will be the largest telescope thus it has serious value to scinece

  75. Re:Glaing Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No! The Moon (and most other celestial visible bodies ) were sacred to ancient people! We must never send things off our planet lest we offend the gods!

  76. It's not about telescopes. by hey! · · Score: 1

    There is nobody for whom the summit of Mauna Kea is their "backyard", so this isn't NIMBY. There are sincere religious and political reasons for opposing this.

    Imagine yourself in their position. If a conspicuous structure on the summit of Mauna Kea offended your religious sensibilities when the first one went up, then you're not going to feel less strongly about the thirteenth or fourteenth to go up. Likewise spreading the development to a second, pristine sacred site wouldn't placate you.

    The position that nobody's religious views should ever matter is one most people wouldn't agree with, but at least it's a principled position. Claiming (without proof) that views that stand in the way of something you want are insincere and should be disregarded strikes me as dishonest.

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    1. Re:It's not about telescopes. by Dereck1701 · · Score: 1

      "The position that nobody's religious views should ever matter"

      You don't know much about this case do you? Each site apparently has to be blessed, there are reams of paper work for cultural and "environmental" considerations that in TMT's case took over 7 years to complete. The proposal has cleared several court challenges. As I mentioned there has been a agreement to remove several telescopes and it has been mentioned by others that there are some rather crazy requirements (plastic sheets below parked trucks) to try to appease these people and its apparently still not enough. I don't know what more could be done.

    2. Re:It's not about telescopes. by hey! · · Score: 1

      I don't claim to know anything beyond what I've read in the news, which of course doesn't qualify me as an expert. But I'm fairly confident the fact that you find the accommodations made to Hawaiian religious beliefs annoying has no bearing on whether those beliefs are sincere.

      I agree that there's no way to satisfy some of these people. That doesn't make them liars or bad, it just means their interests in this situation cannot be reconciled with yours. It happens sometimes. As much as I believe in looking for win-win solutions, there are occasionally situations where one side or the other has to lose.

      And you won't ever get everyone on the other side to agree because that never happens. There are even Catholics who think the Pope isn't as Catholic as they are. So as soon as there were any questions raised about the religious dimension of this project it became inevitable that if they ever built this thing it would be in the face of protests. And as long as the project's leaders think what they're doing is right they should do it and take their PR lumps on the chin. But imputing, without any evidence, false and hypocritical motivations to the protesters actually undoes the work done to make this project possible. That actually *is* disrespecting native religious beliefs.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    3. Re:It's not about telescopes. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      You do not know what more could be done? Surely you jest, of course you know what could be done. They could not build the telescope there. You probably do not like that solution. However, that could be done and you know it. Your intellectual dishonesty is... disturbing.

      Now, for me? I am really at a bit of a loss as I see both sides of the argument. In this case it seems that there are already telescopes all over the place. One more does seem to matter to them. Perhaps, as they are going to be removing some anyhow, they could put this one where there was an older one? I'd hate to see them select the second-best site. I really think this needs to move forward. However, there is more that can be done - as I mentioned.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    4. Re:It's not about telescopes. by Dereck1701 · · Score: 1

      "They could not build the telescope there."

      Why? Because a small subset of religious/environmental/cultural zealots don't like it? I suppose all of the world should have just gave up on the heliocentric model when Galileo was convicted of heresy for postulating findings based on observation instead of reading religious texts? I suppose we should give up on teaching evolution in public schools because it offends the sensibilities of a small percentage of parents religious beliefs. I'm not saying that significant efforts shouldn't be made to avoid offending as many people as possible, but there are very few places on this planet where these kinds of things can be built and a very small part of one of many historical/cultural sites isn't an unreasonable thing to ask. "Just don't build it" is about as unacceptable as saying "don't challenge doctrine".

    5. Re:It's not about telescopes. by KGIII · · Score: 1

      It is an option and they most certainly could put the telescope in the second best place. However, you failed to either read or comprehend my whole post so I am going to assume you are mentally handicapped and not waste more time explaining. You, given the chance, would probably just try to eat the telescope.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    6. Re:It's not about telescopes. by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      A small subset of people who happen to live in the area, have religious believes about that land, and are really, really tired of having other people trample on their culture time after time.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  77. Their compromising their values by lericah · · Score: 1

    Apparently there aren't enough protesters to kill this development project, you know what might help? More well funded people that don't want development. But where do you find people that want an area clear of unnatural smog, light polution, and people? Astronomers? No clearly we just saw from Karmashock's post that they only want to ruin the island with their giant ugly telescopes.

  78. Re:Glaing Error by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Strange assumptions. One you are assuming that nobody cared or were somehow obligated to go to your homeland and get your land back for you. Even stranger is that you assume that your opinion matters because you think that you had something happen that was similar but was in no way related. Even more odd is that you assume that something that happens inside of the US is going to help you regain property lost to the USSR. You could potentially get your land back but it would likely mean you would have to purchase it. It may not be for sale. The land in this situation neither belongs to you nor does it belong to the scientists.

    However, having thought about this, there are already telescopes there. I am not entirely sure what difference an additional telescope is going to make at this point. This does not, of course, get you "your" land back. You will have to seek assistance in another country, a country that is not the United States - the country that took the land is the one you want to approach, for remediation. This may be a difficult situation for you to understand but the US is not responsible, it is not in the US, and the US is not obligated to assist you in getting your land back. Perhaps your relatives should have fought or purchased land in Siberia? Then you would not have to worry about it or you would, at least, be closer to the source of your ire.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  79. Re:In other words, give us money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a little sad to see people fighting so hard for the cause of ignorance...

    Has anyone bothered to ask them what they REALLY want? This project has been planned for at least a decade and they are only now starting to aggressively protest? This tells me this has nothing to do with sacred ground, they want a payoff of some kind. "$Bignum will appease the gods."

  80. Protester in the way? by villageelder1 · · Score: 1

    Grab the protesters and throw them over the side.

  81. Extortion by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    This is not new, and happens everywhere. It isn't so much a protest is it is an negotiation tactic.

    1. Re:Extortion by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      A negotiation tactic used by largely powerless people who resent what happened to their ancestors and culture and why they are powerless. They have legitimate gripes.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  82. Lies! by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    You just want to do a giant selfie don't you?!

  83. Re:Glaing Error by rtb61 · · Score: 1

    You are being purposefully obtuse. They are American hence their culture and religions are also American, not my definition of what is or is not American culture, theirs. They are American hence their culture and religions as also American. It is obvious that the only American culture celebrated in America is immigrant culture and native culture is excluded from public recognition and celebration. Every time they challenge actions based upon their native culture and religion, it is emphatically rejected by the majority of Americans and the American government as not being American. Nothing to do with what I define as being elements of American but everything to do with 'ALL' immigrant nations and how native culture, religion and history are not accepted as being the countries culture, religion and history but being separate from it.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  84. Re:Glaing Error by rtb61 · · Score: 1

    I am a non-native Australian and hence things like a 'Fair Go' http://www.theage.com.au/news/..., supporting the 'Battler' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/..., cause me some problem with regard to the treatment of the 'adjective' people of Australia (adjective as the Australian government refers to them via an adjective rather than the names of their appropriate nations) and just like other countries their culture and religion are somehow considered foreign to Australian religion and culture. So it is not the question of a particular cultural or religious element but how it is refereed to as not being part of that countries culture and religious elements.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  85. Re:Glaing Error by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    The point
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    Your head