Constitution in Iraq

I think RexRed might be right. I think only a small minority in the western nations wants to see another religious regime in charge in Baghdad. What people in the West want to see, what Americans want to see is a true democracy. And the US government should maybe tell Americans that what we are seeing in Iraq at the moment is not a western style democracy. The US government should stop talking about "liberation", and replace it with "occupation". No "democracy" yet, but a "colony". No "free elections", but "experimental elections", just to find out whether Iraqis are already up to it. The administration should tell people that this wont be over in another year or two, but more likely in 10 years, or maybe 20. Or later. Yes, the American administration (and therefore the American people) should have a say in who is running its colonies. Not the people of these occupied countries. Otherwise, what's the point in invading them in the first place?

listening to NPR news this morning, i heard interviews with natives of hawaii who are seeking to separate hawaii from the united states and form an independent nation. when we visited hawaii last december we were quite surprised to hear a number of locals speak about wanting to form a separate state. even some of our tourguides - most of them claimed hawaiian bloodlines - spoke of their desire to re-establish a hawaii separate from the united states. in some locations the hawaiian flag was flown upside down - a sign of distress - and signs were posted reminding visitors that hawaii had been an independent nation before becoming a "colony" of the united states.
perhaps the united states might want to trade the "colony of hawaii" for the "colony of iraq". (but i'm not ready to visit the "colony of iraq" yet, but i wouldn't mind visiting the "kingdom of hawaii" again - beautiful, smiling people, beautiful weather ... )hbg

...HAWAII KINGDOM...

NPR?

And now a word from our sponsors... Michael Moore and George Sorros...

Rex is right -- unlikely we'd ever acquiesce to Hawaii returning to an independent kingdom status. Right now there's a bill in Congress, the so-called Akaka Bill, which would, at least, give native Hawaiians the same sort of semi-autonomy that Native Americans on the mainland enjoy. (Btw, did you folks know that Hawaiians don't have even that token bit of self-governance?) The Akaka bill has met such strenuous opposition, the supporters of it can't get it out of committee. Despite threats of all sorts from Hawaiian lawmakers, the bill seems doomed to die in committee.

The problem with Old Europe's suggestion (and I assume it was made, at least partly, tongue-in-cheek, even if Rex didn't catch that) is that the very words 'colony' and 'colonialism' have become not fit to be pronounced in mixed company. The code word to day is 'self-determination,' which can mean anything from friendly US advice to outright vote-rigging.

The word "colony" did throw me bit but I did agree with "old europe" anyway...

Why not call it what it is...

I think of it like training wheels...

We can do in Hawaii like is being done in Gaza...

We can pull out American interest bulldoze the resorts...

Then they can go back to their grass skirts, hula's and tiny bubbles...

RexRed wrote:

We can do in Hawaii like is being done in Gaza...

We can pull out American interest bulldoze the resorts...

Then they can go back to their grass skirts, hula's and tiny bubbles...

Yeah. Pretty silly idea. Would be like the English leaving Northern Ireland. Bloody Irish could go back to their potatoes, if that's what they want.

as i said earlier, we were surprised by the "opinions" stated by the hawaiians, but it was not easy to ignore the opinions, placards and flags.
btw we were "fat cat" tourists coming off a holland-america cruiseship - not on a political junket.
perhaps there is not much meat on this story, i just found it rather interesting that the tourguides were pretty outspoken about this subject - we rather enjoyed it, and "mainland" u.s. citizens on our tours voiced no objections.
hbg

I've been to the Netherlands, Amsterdam loved it too.