An open letter to our youth

Help! The ship is sinking! What should we do? Should we abandon ship or try to save it? Our captain and his followers are having problems trying to steer it through these rough waters. Is there a youthful brigade that can save our ship? Help us!

We adults have handed down to you—the youth—a bleak future for you and for the CNMI. We have destroyed much of it by handing you a heavy debt of over $300,000,000.00; an insatiable cost utility operation; a government that at times is confrontational with our benefactor the United States; a bankrupt Pension Fund; a discouraged public labor force; a depressing drop in our tourists; a high number of people on food stamps; a sick health center; add to that the daily flight from our islands of citizens who have lost faith in our country. Meanwhile some of us are burying our heads in the sand trying to ignore the inevitable change that has taken place in the world and its effect upon us. We adults have really screwed up! On their behalf and mine, I apologize!

We need your help! Will you come to our help and to yours? Or are you going to lie down and ignore the problems and whine that they are not of your making? Or will you also flee to Guam or to another utopian place? Or will you also like many others get in line for food stamps? OR WILL YOU STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

Let’s examine some of the changes that have taken place in the last few years. One is “globalization.” Our world has become so much closer. The essence of globalization is the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital across national borders. Do we in the CNMI understand what this means and how it affects us here?

Another major change in our lives is the “information technology” or IT that has suddenly opened all parts of the world to us in seconds. We can see and talk to each other instantly. There are no secrets left it seems. But the most interesting aspect of this IT is that you, the youth, are better equipped to handle it than most of us older people. You are growing up with IT which has become such a vital part of our lives.

A third problem we must resolve is our energy consumption. Unless we learn how to better conserve our energy, we will be faced with a major, major problem. Again you, the youth must help solve this problem, because unless you do there may not be any energy left for you to use when you become adults.

Debt! Ever increasing debt! How do we cap this monster and begin to repay it before we become totally bankrupt? In the CNMI we talk about millions dollars of debt while in the United States the talk is of billions of dollars of debt! See what we adults have bestowed upon you? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

You and we must examine what we are doing incorrectly and what we should be doing instead. How is our political system functioning? Is it working as a unit or is it in a state of mayhem? What values are we living by? The saddest part to all of these problems is that we are not cooperating together in creating plans and goals to cope with them. Instead we point fingers at each other blaming the other guy.

I urge you, the youth, to jump in and begin to take control. The first thing is to seek a solid education so that you will be able to work with confidence. Our islands need many different professions and trades skill. You must become the backbone of the local labor force. After mastering a profession or trade, stay here and practice it. Become one of the pillars of our society. There are many professions and trades we require to rebuild our prosperity. One of the most effective ways to prosperity is through developing our brainpower—properly prepared and properly applied brainpower.

Over the years we have given away most of our small businesses to strangers. You with your new ideas and drive can recapture them. Become the entrepreneurs that will fuel our new economy. From there move on to take over the Legislature and Administration. Too many of our current leaders are still steeped in the “good old days” of the ’80s and ’90s.

Across the United States young elected officials between the ages of 18 and 35 represent 4.8 percent of all elected leaders in congressional, gubernatorial, legislative, and city and county commissions. Remember our voting age in the CNMI starts at 18 years old! It is estimated that over 50 percent of our population is between 18 and 40 years old. With a little effort, you—the youth, can take over.

All of you are growing up with the latest information technology that none of us older citizens enjoyed. We didn’t have computers, cell phones, iPods and all the other latest advanced technology. Your thinking is advanced and world-centered, not island centered. You accept the fact that we are part of the flat world in which seconds or minutes we can communicate with our fellow humans in all parts of the world. Wow! What a revolution I never knew when I was growing up.

Here are several questions we must ponder and reach conclusions if we are to prosper again. What and how should we do something differently to improve the lives and welfare of our citizens? What would make our islands a leading resort destination? What industries should we build besides tourism? Do you think agriculture can become a major food producer and industry here? How can we create jobs for ourselves? What type of nation do we want to become? These and more, you—the youth, must begin to answer.

I strongly urge you, the youth, of the CNMI, to begin thinking about forming your own political party. You can select young candidates to run for office in the Legislature and the Administration. Think of it—youth with fresh and courageous ideas pumping new vitality into our society! And one of the most exciting ideas is that you, the youthful candidates, will not be carrying prejudices because youth sees potentials in all citizens regardless of color and race. The CNMI is now a diversified society made up of many nationalities. Your youthful idealism will reign supreme. You are the hope and promise for the future.

Am I being too idealistic and asking for the impossible dream? But I am willing to meet and help any of you who have aspirations to accept the challenges presented here.

Recall the following except from the poem called “The Charge of the Light Brigade” written by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Someone had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in behind of them
Volley’d and thunder’d;
Storm’d at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell,
Rode the six hundred….

Honor the charge they made,
Honor the light brigade…”

I hope you don’t think I got carried away with the above quote. The time calls for drastic action. The above comments are meant to spur your thinking about the possibilities and power that you as youth possess. The future of the CNMI truly lies in your hands. It is a monumental challenge. It can be compared to our soldiers going off to war to preserve our society. You can decide to accept the challenge or decide that it’s not worth it. It is your choice.

I strongly suggest you go on the internet and see what other youth are doing to resolve problems in their communities. You—the youth—are the answer to our needs. Feel the power you possess. Do it! Our sinking ship awaits your reply. We adults need your help.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?