Ideology in My Controversy

Ideology in My Controversy 

There are many different types of sources that one can refer to in order to get information regarding a controversial issue. Regardless of the source, though, there is always a common ideology behind the debate. The following is the ideology of the Controversy over building the TMT, an innovative new telescope, on one of Hawaii's most sacred landmarks: Mauna Kea. 

Hirst, Paul. "The Night Sky and Keck laser for adaptive optics" 12/11/06 via wikipedia.  Creative Commons 

The main groups in the controversy are the astronomers hoping to build on Mauna Kea and the Hawaiian natives who consider that area of land sacred. The native people of Hawaii have forever believed that Mauna Kea is a sacred land specifically for the Gods and while they have watched a number of different telescopes be built they are making more of an issue about this massive one being created. While some of the astronomy community does value what the Hawaiian people are saying and stand by them in efforts to not build the telescope, a majority of the science community is promoting the building of such an innovative piece of technology due to the fact that it will help further optical science on such an extreme level. 

One major voice in the controversy is the University of Hawaii. There are many in the science and astronomy field there that are trying to find an equilibrium between the two sides of the debate in order to make all of the people content. In terms of the Hawaiian Natives, the community as a whole is a large driving force against the scientific advancements. Many of the people within the society believe that Mauna Kea is a sacred land and together they are all trying to make a difference by making themselves and their beliefs heard in the debate. 

The astronomers will be the ones using the TMT and have been provided with funding for this innovative piece of technology. This funding gives them quite a bit of power and in addition in the 1960s a 212 hectare reservation within Hawaii was set aside specifically for astronomy. Mauna Kea is within this reservation land and because of this the astronomers seem to have a foot up in the controversy. The natives, on the other hand, stick to their ideology and refuse to back down about the things they believe in. Because so much of the community has come together for this controversy the large driving force of the people gives them quite a bit of power and has been helpful in having their ideas hear and even getting the issue to make it to the Hawaii Supreme Court. 

The resources available to the astronomers are mostly in monetary form through funding for the TMT while the resources the  Hawaiian people have are fewer and farther between while they mostly come in the form of individual support compiled together through protests to bring attention against the building. 

The astronomers value the advancement opportunities in the world of optical science and they know that if the TMT were to be able to built then there would be vast strides made in the way of discovery of outer space. These discoveries would greatly help human understanding of our world as well as all of optical science. The people of Hawaii value their beliefs which have been passed down for generations. Specifically, in these beliefs, they value the idea of the God's having a sacred place to visit and that place is Mauna Kea. 

The evidence apparent for the astronomers and science community is that of all the scientific advancements that have been made previously because of creation of telescopes. The projected capabilities of the TMT also provides them with valid evidence for building the telescope. The people of Hawaii have evidence because of their lenience with having telescopes be built in previous years for the advancement of the sciences and having put up with it for long enough.

While the astronomers believe they hold the power because of the land and money granted to them in the past as well as the possibility for advancements in science, the Hawaiian natives believe they hold the power because of the fact that they have been there for many generations and it is their land. 

While there is some common ground in that a minority of astronomers agree with and feel for the natives and their beliefs there is mostly unacknowledged common ground in the controversy. For the majority of the issue the beliefs of the astronomers and the native Hawaiians differ. 

While many believe there is possibility of finding a common ground between the natives and the astronomers, thus far it seems that neither side can understand the other side's points. Efforts are being made to try to get both sides to understand the  other side's valid points but the astronomers, for the most part, heavily favor science while the natives believe in their ideologies above all else.