All minorities feel resentment for past and current oppression. Resentment eats at your soul, leads to anger and negative energy, and never accomplishes anything positive. As Malachi McCourt said, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Opposing the Thirty Meter Telescope is like cutting off your nose to spite your face and will deprive future generations of Hawaiians of so much.

A few years ago, we were all so proud of the Malama Honua voyage, as Hawaii gave the world a lesson in conservation and aloha. The Hokule‘a, a replica of an ancient sailing canoe navigating by the stars, was accompanied by the Hikianalia with its modern scientific equipment. They sailed side by side in harmony. This should be the model for Mauna Kea, allowing the practice of Hawaiian culture side by side with world-leading scientific exploration of the universe.

Young people are moving to the mainland due to the lack of jobs in science, IT and high-tech. Losing the TMT will accelerate the breakdown of the Hawaiian ohana. Is this what the TMT opponents want?

Donald Rostow

Hawaii Kai

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.