They’re not foes
Twice in the last two weeks, the Tribune-Herald has published articles that named the opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope as “foes.” This language is unacceptable for neutral news reporting.
The word “foe,” as opposed to “opponent,” insinuates “enemy” or “hostility.” This linguistic framing is entirely incorrect.
Those who oppose TMT do so in aloha. Leaders of the opposition regularly emphasize the importance of standing for what you believe in with love in your heart. As I have been silently watching the unfolding of this conflict for about a year now, I’ve consistently seen TMT opponents portrayed by the media as radical insurgents. But what I’ve seen from the other side is quite different. These are people who care deeply about the Earth and our ability to know the natural world through multiple cultural lenses (which is part of what they are protecting — ancient ways of knowing nature are as a valid as scientific ways).
These are people who sing and dance peacefully for higher guidance and grace. These are people who regularly look inside of themselves to find peaceful pathways. Their opposition is in no way as an enemy, but as a people who have the right to protect what is sacred to them through peaceful means.
I am asking that, in the name of neutral reporting, the Tribune-Herald never use the words “foe” or “enemy” for TMT opponents again.
Finally, I am requesting there be a special article written where TMT opponents are specially interviewed (in their humanity) about why they care so deeply about TMT and how they define “kapu aloha.”
Alana Miller
Hilo
‘Lesson in kindness’
In his recent press conference, President Trump said,“The deal is the whole story!” But it’s not.
The whole story is how we treat each other. That’s why Hilo is the best place on Earth.
There’s laughter at the bank, hugs in the supermarket, and beautiful children who aren’t afraid to smile at strangers. People stop to let you turn left in wall-to-wall traffic, they remind you to look at the sell-by date on perishable food, and might even give you a recipe.
Teenagers are polite and helpful and call old ladies my age “Auntie.” And then there’s my sainted mechanic who was recently seen lying on a piece of cardboard under my car in the spitting rain as he banged out a nasty ding in my bumper and then wouldn’t charge me for it.
When politicians like Trump give me the willies, all I need to do is drive to Hilo. Guaranteed, I’ll come back home to Mountain View with a lesson in kindness, a warm feeling and a story to tell.
Lynne Farr
Mountain View
