Re-charting our journey

Without sugarcoating self-inflicted setbacks to make sense of our confused journey in the fragmented discussion on self-government, a conscientious friend and I revisited this and other collateral issues to gauge events that have unfolded.

We started digging into the origin of our mounting pile of self-generated redundancy in disorientation. Is it in the lack of vision and leadership? Is it that these issues are situated “below” our nose and we simply refuse to lower our eyesight so we see them clearly? Or just what’s the stumbling aspect of our prized inability to see with a sense of vision?

Is the vacuum of obvious disconnection the result of negligence? Whose negligence? Let’s look closely at the concept of self-government and how we’ve ignored its very essence.

Taxpayers—you and I—pay income taxes that pay for the cost of operations of the NMI government. Therefore, it is a must that our tax money is spent wisely and carefully to ensure that public services are delivered effectively and efficiently.

Debts or otherwise known as “deficit” isn’t allowed under the Constitution, though miscalculations occur. But the Constitution says deficits must be paid in the second year under a new administration.

What are the three most important services we’re paying for? They are healthcare for our people through CHC, education for our children via PSS, our safety through DPS and other services as well. Do you think we’re getting the services we’re paying for dearly? You think this question through and discuss it over coffee with friends and family.

We know the NMI government’s budget has decreased significantly as a result of revenues taking a nosedive in recent years. It’s struggling to pay its debt with CUC, court-ordered payment to the settlement fund (retirement), cost of operations for the Commonwealth Health Center and other obligations. It’s a tough situation that requires critical review and constructive contributions forthwith.

In short, it is our obligation as taxpayers to proactively partake in fostering a fiscally strong government. It’s called self-government! The success of the Inos administration is ours to share, its failure equally the same. Constructive engagement is direly needed now!

Is submission a culture?

We left self-government to review what’s happening with our people in the villages. We wanted an informed view coming straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Most folks we talked to have some sense of what’s happening but refuse to air their views publicly. Is it submission? It must be our ancestors’ way of appeasing their colonial masters’ dictates. Survival meant submission to protect the future of Chamorros.

Our parents taught this form of behavior that includes not talking back to your elders—respect—for purposes of harmony. No wonder it is so ingrained in our people. It literally suppresses personal freedom of expression. Silence doesn’t mean we don’t have a mind of our own. But this is handled elsewhere in more casual gathering of folks, young and old.

Through the years we’ve learned to exit submission. It opens up more room for discussion among members of the community. Its retarding effect, though, is still very strong even among the young and educated. But time and education should slam the door of free expression even wider. I know we have a lot of good minds that could contribute positively, explaining civics issues. I encourage you to do so.

We went back to the days of brotherly safety net where community members pitch into helping and protecting the wellbeing of everyone in the neighborhood. Having grown up in the late ’50s and early ’60s, we checked if family novenas customarily said during the holiday season is still alive. Sadly, it has disappeared steadily over the years.

We regret how it has gone south, its role as a cementing fiber of the local community has slowly lost footing at the base. It has served as a foundation in the spiritual growth and development of our children. It is sturdy discipline that leads into the development of good citizenry. We miss the prayerful gathering, joyful novena songs, kissing the hands of our elderly, and the blessed dinner at the end of the three-day novena.

Truly enjoyed listening to our elderly, especially the tactful use of highly mindful language in their expressions. I especially miss my grandfather’s words of wisdom and grandma’s or graceful laughter of aunts, uncles and cousins.

The erosion of cultural tradition sails with every tidal shift into the open sea of change. Perhaps our people want it this way. Or in the despondence and indifference part of the indigenous confused equation? It’s in dire need of vision and leadership, right?

Granted there are a lot of competing influences that have slowly changed our lifestyle. In the process, we have dangerously adopted some loose attitude in our disposition of most everyday familial issues. Herein lies the greater challenge in terms of how do we regroup to address and hopefully regain our balance atop a bull cart that has been dislodged and careening dangerously in heavily congested traffic.

There are more divorces, drug use among our young people and parents struggling to pull the family together. There are seemingly future prospects for more chaos. Like objects in your rearview mirror, there disappears the days of brotherly safety net. Local discipline of kids has snapped off our grips.

Information technology has also changed the mindset and daily activities of kids everywhere. Coupled with the powerful influence of television and you could tell why the slip in the spiritual and cultural development of our children. Take a closer look at technological gadgets whether in fact it helps kids improve basic core skills in reading, language and math.