Uphold Hawaii’s welcoming way for immigrants

Recent discourse regarding immigration, both nationally as well as locally, begs the attention of every American, and particularly, every Hawaiian.

With the exception of the few survivors who initially welcomed us, we are in fact all immigrants, including, for that matter, the U.S. government. For the feds to now threaten our community with reprisal for not endorsing their draconian behavior regarding recent immigration policies I say how dare you?

Americans and especially Hawaiians have welcomed and accepted all who come and in general have honored this tradition for a very long time. Now, with fear-mongering the standard of Washington and specifically administrative rhetoric, it’s time to take a stand. Hawaii, by way of leadership from individuals such as Judge Watson and Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, is making it clear that humanitarianism is not subject to ransom.

One of the “red flags” that inspired this leadership comes from an awareness that when someone accuses another of not being truthful there is a high probability that their real objective is to deflect the focus from their own lie.

Specifically, when Virginia Kice declares that charges against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), who she represents, are not true (WHT March 28) we need to bear in mind that she takes orders from an administration in Washington that is yet to tell the truth about anything.

When she states that the “entire concern over what ICE is doing here in Kona is unfounded” she is extending the deceit projected by that agency and we all need to be both aware and vigilant. Note that law in our democracy is made by the legislative branch of government and not by agencies like ICE or the police, regardless of their assertion. Any deviation from this procedure is simply unconstitutional. Let’s understand though that our constitution is merely a document of understanding, only secure if the people representing it are secure – and that security is today at best questionable.

However, beyond the constitution, and the law that may come of it, there is a basic construct of right and wrong and America and especially those of us from this place of aloha, need to remind ourselves that we in fact are first and foremost descendants of immigrants. It is who we are, and an attack against any of us is an attack against us all.

Kelly Greenwell is a resident of Kailua-Kona