It’s their right

I recently read an article about a high school vice principal suing the CNMI in order to be allowed to vote on Article 12. While growing up in Maine I was indoctrinated into a Brahmin-style culture where it may take three to four generations for a family to be accepted and to be actually allowed to be involved in the local political process. After I left Maine I lived in more than six countries and I’ve come to respect the local people and to allow them to make their own decisions without my interference. I have only lived in one nation in Asia that allowed foreigners to own land. I have never told any government I have the right to own land, to vote, ask for the same rights as the locals, nor have I ever said I need the government to take care of me. I would be ashamed of myself if I had.

I truly believe that the Chamorros and Carolinians have 100 percent right to the land. Maybe the law needs to be rewritten a little, but those changes need to be addressed by the local population instead of me, a lawsuit, or by the U.S. government. As with the voting, it should be left to the Carolinians and Chamorros to decide on who gets to vote. After all, it’s their land, their islands, and their right. No one else’s. I have respect for the local population, due to my past and believe they will make their own decision without my help or anyone else’s. I would ask all those who are not Chamorro or Carolinian to show such respect also. Engaging in legal action only causes animosity, hatred and anger toward those who are pushing for that change. By forcing the locals to sell to outsiders you are telling them you want to take away the last piece of their culture that they hold dear. That is something I could never do.

This land belongs to them, their children and many generations to come and no one should take that away from them. Remember we are only guests on this island, we are not the dinner guest who doesn’t go home after eating or complains that the food wasn’t up to our standards and demands that the host change the menu or type of food. Neither do we take all the food home when we leave and show ungratefulness to our hosts. This is not our homeland and if you don’t like some of the laws on the island a plane is always available to take you home so you can live under the laws in your home country that you want to abide by and to ram down the throats of the people of the CNMI.