Culture of lawlessness!

Sentenced to a year in jail former governor Gov. Benigno R. Fitial could walk “Scott Free” just as soon as Gov. Eloy S. Inos commutes and pardons his friend. Never mind that Fitial was convicted for the commission of crimes in the highest office of the land. It’s the wildebeest effect where one follows the crowd, rightly or wrongly. Reasoning turns academic.

Inos’ intention was preconceived or made two days before Fitial’s sentencing. Thus the political calisthenics at the multi-purpose center is an exercise in futility. It’s heavily inundated with political camaraderie over upholding the integrity of the legal system. There’s no room to secure point of clarity on what’s at issue.

Nonetheless, it’s the perfect opportunity to promote acceptance of the new culture of lawlessness! It’s permissible by the apparent abrogation of a legal system that works. We don’t want justice for all but the “few.” You could feel the arrogance in the grand sense of entitlement where the politically powerful violate the rule of law and still get away with it. A violation of law is a violation of law. Why do we wish to undermine the legal system? What happens to the innocent without the right political connections? Do they get flushed out of the gate of convenience and ignored?

Woefully troubling the fatal message we’re sending to our young people on the commission of crimes. You’re saying it’s okay because incarceration could easily be sought, commuted, and pardoned with the right political connection. Is this the right path to fostering strong governance or self-government? Isn’t this a mockery of our democratic republic arrogance in full bloom on the faces of blind political loyalists? In brief, corruption must be removed from our midst once and for all. The stench is despicably unbearable so shamefully humiliating for the young ones trailing immediately behind us. How could you have missed this vital point?

Is this island safe for our people? Has the disappearance of four young girls and cold-blooded murder of six Chinese and a security guard been resolved? Aren’t these criminal incidents slowly morphing into cold cases, if not, already? Didn’t the new sheriff in town say he was going to get to the “bottom” of it? Have any of these cases been solved?

On top of these fearfully unresolved heinous crimes the politically powerful want us to accept the new “culture of lawlessness” as the immutable innovative business as usual paradigm? Isn’t this the more egregious violation of trust against the innocent you purport to represent in our governmental institutions? What’s our future under a government upon which was founded fiat and lawlessness?

My son who spent seven years in El Paso, Texas, a city historically considered the “Wild West,” which during his time there was across the border from the deadliest city in the world said it’s ironic that he returned home to the very lawlessness that he only saw in Westerns. He said the number of heinous crimes committed recently to which none has been solved makes murder here practically legal! Be that as it may we remain vigilant to recapturing the principle of justice in a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

In this case, it’s vital that we seek a moment of clarity to arrive at the truth. Please remember the majesty of the mountain—it “never bows to the sea”—stand up tall and let’s end the arrogance of political entitlement and corruption in government forthwith!” Let’s end the culture of lawlessness!

Sentimental journey
Music was an indelible part of my life. Through it I was able to support my parents and siblings through the hard days of the ’60s. It was really gratifying and humbling though being able to help in my little ways—through music.

I made more as a musician supplementing dad’s $20 monthly salary from a construction firm. Those were the rough days in the abyss of abject poverty when the minimum wage here was $.16 per hour. Most families had to toil the soil or fish along the shore or in the lagoon.

Through it all, I recalled sentimental melodies my saintly mom would sing on dark nights when a heavy rainstorm knocks out island power completely. I used to ask her to hum a certain melody I eventually wrote into “Flores Mayo.” I medley it with another tune and recorded it. It’s a song that is embedded in my mind, heart, and soul. Her voice still echoes in my ear though a distant melody in the heavens.

I also heard dad sing Eskatminan Guinaiya, a love song of commitments made that took the turn of fading into the sunset. It was a beautiful song he sang sentimentally. It was his mom’s favorite ballad. I learned it later because of its lovely melody and depth of expression.

On family gatherings around the holidays, grandpa and my Auntie Kita would lead the song they wrote in both languages (Mafañagu I Ñiño Giya Bilen). Grandpa wrote it many years ago the original melody hailing from an atoll in Chuuk. It’s a legacy he left behind including land for what’s now the San Jose Church in Oleai. The harmony in our music depicts familial unity at its best.