We Have Issues
“We have issues. We have issues with people using American law to steal our land. We have issues with people using American law to grave-rob our ancestral cemeteries. We have issues…”
Armitage, Kimo took a brave step in his story of Onelauena, a proud man who fights for the separation of Hawaii and America. As the protagonist, Onelauena, describes the events with dramatic symbolism, a familiar tone,and his character develops to reveal a final resolution. Through the depiction and understanding of this Hawaiian male, Kimo Armitage successfully encourages Hawaiians to educate themselves to make a difference in Hawaii by revealing to us that with knowledge comes change. Through the use of symbolism, Armitage exploits the major …show more content…
Why should we?” (Armitage 2) He mocks the thought process that he believes American’s possess in a very satiric way. Agreeing to build a dump in Kahala, but not too close to where a Japanese investor is renting houses to Hawaiian families, but to put it next to an illegal wedding business. His sarcastic tone also causes his points to stand out, as he begins to speak for the Americas, “We have the right to dig up the skeletons of your ancestors and put them in boxes… We have the right to ban your language and sever the oral traditions that have been your cultural right for the last three millennia. We have the right to not pay you any lease rents for the property that we stole from the Hawaiian government after it was overthrown, illegally annexed, and unethically made into the 50th state.” (Armitage 2) As Onelauena’s focus moves on about American “rights,” he is able to expose all the upsetting events that have occurred in his eyes. At this point, Armitage has successfully riled up the readers and has the focus on separating from America. He makes a large turn when his character begins to …show more content…
His realization reveals the truth and thesis as he stood in the remains of the tragic aftermath, “Note after note of this outpouring of affection and this unbearable loss as big and wide as the Pacific Ocean. And I felt it. I understood America. I have known her all my life, it is the only thing that I have known. And, I found my understanding of her amid this desolate, destroyed, chaotic, bombed New York about 5000 miles from the land that I love, Hawaii… That was big for me. It made me visualize the country that I wanted,” (Armitage 3). Finally after this turning point in his speech, Armitage had cleverly set up his work to be an emotional roller coaster that ends with his thesis, “I made myself read and learn. I no longer get my understanding of political events from newspapers; I get them from bills and laws - the documents that show the guts of these things. I have taught myself the difference between news and propaganda, news and bullshit. I have taught myself the difference between capitalism and government because they are supposed to be separate,” (Armitage 4). Onelauena became the example for readers, just as Armitage had desired. He then realizes that he needs true knowledge to have a stance in any political matter. Onelauena also continues on to inspire readers and focus on his Native situation, “And I fight for my people
“We have issues. We have issues with people using American law to steal our land. We have issues with people using American law to grave-rob our ancestral cemeteries. We have issues…”
Armitage, Kimo took a brave step in his story of Onelauena, a proud man who fights for the separation of Hawaii and America. As the protagonist, Onelauena, describes the events with dramatic symbolism, a familiar tone,and his character develops to reveal a final resolution. Through the depiction and understanding of this Hawaiian male, Kimo Armitage successfully encourages Hawaiians to educate themselves to make a difference in Hawaii by revealing to us that with knowledge comes change. Through the use of symbolism, Armitage exploits the major …show more content…
Why should we?” (Armitage 2) He mocks the thought process that he believes American’s possess in a very satiric way. Agreeing to build a dump in Kahala, but not too close to where a Japanese investor is renting houses to Hawaiian families, but to put it next to an illegal wedding business. His sarcastic tone also causes his points to stand out, as he begins to speak for the Americas, “We have the right to dig up the skeletons of your ancestors and put them in boxes… We have the right to ban your language and sever the oral traditions that have been your cultural right for the last three millennia. We have the right to not pay you any lease rents for the property that we stole from the Hawaiian government after it was overthrown, illegally annexed, and unethically made into the 50th state.” (Armitage 2) As Onelauena’s focus moves on about American “rights,” he is able to expose all the upsetting events that have occurred in his eyes. At this point, Armitage has successfully riled up the readers and has the focus on separating from America. He makes a large turn when his character begins to …show more content…
His realization reveals the truth and thesis as he stood in the remains of the tragic aftermath, “Note after note of this outpouring of affection and this unbearable loss as big and wide as the Pacific Ocean. And I felt it. I understood America. I have known her all my life, it is the only thing that I have known. And, I found my understanding of her amid this desolate, destroyed, chaotic, bombed New York about 5000 miles from the land that I love, Hawaii… That was big for me. It made me visualize the country that I wanted,” (Armitage 3). Finally after this turning point in his speech, Armitage had cleverly set up his work to be an emotional roller coaster that ends with his thesis, “I made myself read and learn. I no longer get my understanding of political events from newspapers; I get them from bills and laws - the documents that show the guts of these things. I have taught myself the difference between news and propaganda, news and bullshit. I have taught myself the difference between capitalism and government because they are supposed to be separate,” (Armitage 4). Onelauena became the example for readers, just as Armitage had desired. He then realizes that he needs true knowledge to have a stance in any political matter. Onelauena also continues on to inspire readers and focus on his Native situation, “And I fight for my people