Culture and heritage

There has been a lot of talk about Article 12, especially since the 9th Circuit granted non-NMDs the right to vote on the issue. There were justifiable calls of “foul!” from the indigenous community, but it’s the law now.

The Chamorro (and other indigenous islanders) want to preserve their culture and heritage. They say that by allowing the non-NMDs to vote on Article 12 will further erode their status. After all, the CNMI islands belong to them, not to the United States.

I believe that the indigenous people have their priorities wrong.

The islanders are slowly killing themselves off; and, at some point, there won’t be any more Chamorro, Carolinian or other native islanders. They will all die of diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. If you see photographs of local gatherings—including the DPS, the legislature, even family barbecues—almost everyone is fat. They sit, like tubs of lard, giving the thumb-and-pinky gesture, smiling at the camera.

I wouldn’t say they’re clueless; they know the risks of being fat, of chewing betel nut, of over-eating, of not getting enough exercise, and (perhaps most of all) using methamphetamine. Nor would I go so far as to say that the locals have a death wish, but many are committing suicide on the installment plan.

I knew a wonderful man, Philip Camacho. He was older, and he had diabetes. When I first met him, he was fairly healthy, trim and in pretty good shape. I didn’t know that he had diabetes. Later, Philip was flown to Hawaii, where one of his feet was amputated. Then, after that, he lost the lower part of his leg. Not long ago Philip died in a Honolulu hospital. He was a fine, gracious gentleman, and now he’s gone.

So I ask you: when you’re being prepped for a foot amputation, does Article 12 seem quite so important? When you’re about to lose a leg to the surgeons, do you give much thought to your cultural heritage?

When you are posing for pictures with your cousins, do you think about the disease growing within your body? The mindset seems to be, “Live for today and don’t worry about what happens next.” If so, then you have given up on your own life.

As we know, many cram their mouths with processed meat, eat lots of white rice, chew betel nut, smoke, drink lots of alcohol and otherwise leave no stone unturned in destroying their health.

I know another guy. He is a merry fellow, always with a twinkle in his eye, and a gob of betel nut in his cheek. I used to tease him, saying, “Are you chewing betel nut, young man?” He would nod, somewhat sheepishly, as if to say, “Yeah, I know it’s a bad habit, but I like it.”

Today this wonderful human being has stage 4 oral cancer—all because he chewed. I pray that he survives. He’s just too valuable to lose. But, unfortunately, this is more the rule than the exception: people die because of their bad habits. What makes the bad habits even more painful is that those who indulge know exactly what they’re doing.

Long ago I was in Sunleader. A beautiful woman, accompanied by her adorable young daughter, was at the counter. She was buying two bags of betel nut. As gently as possible, I said, “That stuff can kill you.” She smiled at me and replied, “I know.”

Over the holidays I watched Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The message was both simple and profound: Save yourself while there’s still time.

Russ Mason
As Teo, Saipan