Elevate ‘We the people…’

Though change occurs daily, unstoppable at every turn, one thing remains powerfully at the base of our lives: culture! It is the sturdy foundation that defines us as a people, our land, sea and traditional way of life. It is the very aspect that gives meaning and value to our dignity and heritage.

Change may have hit in tsunami-like fashion, but at day’s end cultural tradition stood sturdy as the lasting backstop that brings us back home once more to that humble corner to regroup. This after every challenge is met with resiliency.

We’ve changed political even religious leaders but our culture remains the bedrock foundation that sustains us. Why its indelible strength?

“First, culture is almost identical to people or nation, as in French or other cultures. Second, culture refers to art, music, literature, educational television, and certain kinds of movies, an island professor explained of the uplifting and edifying aspects of culture as opposed to commerce.

“The link is that culture is what makes possible, on a high level, the rich social life that constitutes a people, their customs, styles, tastes, festivals, rituals, gods—all that binds individuals into a group with roots, in a community in which they think and will generally, with a people a moral unity, and the individual united within himself. A culture is a work of art, of which the fine arts are the sublime expression.

“In all of us there is a hunger marrow deeply rooted searching for who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness.”

In setting forth planning our destiny, we must not forget that the future isn’t about the career of politicians. Their role is strictly a distraction that arbitrarily removes the often overlook idea that power rests in three simple little words: “We the people.” What they secure came from, yes, “we the people”. It isn’t such a complicated issue, is it?

But when “we the people” changes to “we few” the tenor of representation changes. The lawmakers completely ignore the essence of “we the people” in a democracy. It severs daily conversations we used to have with them most everywhere we meet. We’ve been alienated. We no longer matter!

It’s time to use the strength and wisdom of our culture to shepherd home the message that it’s “we the people. Yes, they can drive our car but we tell them where to go and at what speed. After all, it’s our car! But we have to change drivers!

Let’s not victimize ourselves again by lazily surrendering to negligence. With clear-eyed vision we could benefit from the time-honored wisdom of our culture under the guidance of the torch of ancestral leadership. We must elevate “we the people” once more!

Theirs vs our interest
I’ve looked into research materials what’s the basis of Sino-investments in the Pacific and Asian Region. While there’s benefit in how China enlists allies via her economic arms, there’s one thing that stands out prominently: it’s about her political expansion not the interest of the indigenous people in host countries.

The beginning of this year wasn’t so kind to investors and China bears most of it, according to Helen Raleigh, author, a policy fellow and business owner. Said she: “China’s Blue chip stock index dropped more than 11 percent and triggered a worldwide selloff.” She related that the difference is in the way things are done: The West uses the free market system while China does it with a man-made market. The communist leadership isn’t necessarily in control but constantly meddling exacerbating market turbulence. The slowdown basically slaughtered global-wide investments.

A week ago the China’s economic bubble burst a problematic issue to rebuild. Curious of the fate of major Sino-investments here under the slow down in China’s economic growth in addition to the chilling crackdown of corruption in both sectors. Would money keep flowing in or would this be derailed by the slow down or corruption probe? It warrants careful review to see how new projects weather serious financial storms back home.

China could push the envelop elsewhere but there’s hardly any room in the NMI given the permanent relationship of the islands and our national government. But it’s good to take note that the world’s second largest economy is treading on unsteady path in recent days. Problematic!

Moreover, our national government has sovereign authority over the NMI. If you feel otherwise, take a quick glimpse at the Covenant Agreement. See Section 101 and if you can’t understand what sovereignty represents see if you could secure an explanation from one of the professors of history or political science at NMC.

The slowdown gives the NMI the opportunity to revisit tourism to see what this industry has done by way of assimilation into the local community beyond exclusionary ventures.

Serious health issues
There’s an increase in the number of our people contracting Type II Diabetes, kidney failure, heart problems, cervical and oral cancer. Tidings of a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer every seven weeks here should trigger the alarm bell.

While dialysis is a treatment that is available, I’ve seen how this treatment eventually works the heart to extinction. It’s your ticket to death!

Diabetics who reach the chronic level much sooner than later deal with sores that won’t heal. It leads to amputation of the infected area. I’ve seen two friends whose lower jaws were completely removed from oral cancer hailing from betel nut use. We should take stock and jointly address gear shifting for a healthier you!
•  •  •
Asked Magoo how to lose weight. Said he, “When you’re hungry, eat. If you’re not hungry, don’t eat!” Let’s begin making lifestyle changes. It’s our health!