Hawaiian Autonomy

After reading Liliuokalani''s book, Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen, I would have to say that my favorite sentence of the work is actually the last one found in Chapter 57: "As they deal with me and my people, kindly, generously, and justly, so may the Great Ruler of all nations deal with the grand and glorious nation of the United States of America." This sentence particularly stood out to me because underneath the simplicity of the sentence resonates great power. While the sentence in plain language can be interpreted as peaceful and a blessing to the United States by readers, the voice of the speaker underneath the surface meaning is bitter, allowing the sentence to be interpreted as a warning to readers. Liliuokalani's use of Christian ideology ("Great Ruler of all nations") and pervasive, glorifying language used in reference to America and its grandeur (glorious, justly, kindly) appeals to American readers reading her book, but also warns readers of the divine and/or colossal consequences of unjust actions taken against Hawaii's people. This clever entendre illustrates the power of the language utilized by Liliuokalani and the large impact one simple sentence can have on persuading others.