‘Could happen here’
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof … .”
The U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to legislate from the bench, in direct conflict with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with their ruling in favor of workers who ask for religious accommodations.
Most interpret this just to mean “freedom of religion,” but they would be mistaken. Remember that the American Founding Fathers were mostly of English descent.
Ever since King Henry VIII established the Anglican Church in 1534, all the way up to the American revolution over 200 years later, there had been violent struggle in England between the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and the various Protestant churches of the day.
The worst of it was the English Civil War during the years 1641 to 1651. There were pitched battles, murders, executions and worse. King Charles I was captured and executed during this time. It would be as extreme as if a mob were to invade the U.S. Capitol, capture the members of Congress and execute those they didn’t like.
But that could never happen, right? This was Christians killing Christians, as well as those other Christians. They all worshiped the same Jesus, read the same Bible, and worshiped the same God.
One could say much the same today between the conservative fundamentalist Christians and liberal Christians who have compassion for the suffering of others as their purpose. Except they aren’t killing each other yet.
The purpose of the First Amendment was not just to allow people to worship as they chose, but more importantly, to prevent the kinds of violent struggle that England had experienced for over 200 years.
The Jan 6, 2020, invasion of the U.S. Capitol demonstrates that this could also happen here.
Russ Button
Pahoa
Managing tourists
This is regarding the pono behavior in Keaukaha article on July 12.
In it, Ilihia Gionson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority said, “But a lot of times, it’s the small numbers. It’s not the 9 million visitors, it’s the nine people who went somewhere they weren’t supposed to go. If we can do something about those nine people, maybe we can see changes.”
“If” and “maybe” seem to indicate they don’t know what to do.
Many, many agree that we have a problem, verging on desperation, with too many tourists. I happen to agree. Too many. Especially in small areas frequented by kama‘aina.
TV news showed minivans dropping tourists at Richardson Ocean Park. Tourists are taken there by “local” tour companies. Are the tours time-coordinated? Are tourists educated? Informed?
Why not walking tours of downtown Hilo? Bayfront? Clean up Banyan Drive, and go there? Lili‘uokalani Gardens? Hilo, with rocky shores and cold water, is definitely not the best place for inexperienced tourists to try snorkeling.
Get creative. Communities, especially small ones, should decide where groups of tourists are allowed to visit. Set limits on times and numbers. Work with guides to educate them to educate their guests.
Groups such as the Ioane Foundation are excellent resources and must be compensated for their knowledge. Stewards must be compensated for their work.
Take funds out of the HTA advertising budget to pay for these endeavors. Cruise ship companies must also contribute.
Bobby Camara
Keaau