Native Hawaiians Want To Halt A Massive Telescope Project. Here's Why

[bitterross]

5. I agree. Religion (mythology) should typically yield to Science

The greater good of ALL humanity is served by science. It is not served by the wishes of one religion. However, there must be other places we can build this telescope.

The reason this question is so difficult for me is this, of course, brings up the question about the Native American lands and things like oil exploration and fracking. When we first started to exploit the Native American lands for oil and other mineral resources we didn't really know we were destroying the climate.

That means, if I kept consistent in my opinion I'd probably have been one of those people saying that we needed to ignore the Native American traditions in favor of progress. It's easy to say we should honor the Native American traditions and burial grounds now that we know what harm we do to the environment.

In reading the article it seems we would be encroaching on burial lands and lands where endangered species live. Just as with the Native Americans the US Government has not kept promises and has acted in malicious ways.

I'm up in the air on this and would love to hear other thoughts. I'm leaning toward siding with the Hawaiians. Surely we can find another place or way to do this research.