A demonstration of NMDs consumer power

Editor’s Note: Due to its length, this letter is being published in three parts.

Someone showed me editorials published by Marianas Variety implying that the passionate intent of our Northern Marianas Descent Corp. members on issues dearly important to our traditional, cultural and political survival are purely a showcase of Trust Territory mentality. Because I do not buy and read Marianas Variety as I used to, I had to go back and review previously published editorials and sure enough Zaldy Dandan was highly critical of NMDC members for their steadfast refusal to support Delegate Gregorio C. Sablan’s unilateral attempt to fast track the granting of adjusted immigration status and pathway to citizenship for more than 14,000 foreign aliens residing in the Commonwealth.

No amount of prejudicial and misrepresentative editorials, name-calling or obsessive irrelevant political labeling will distract or discourage NMD members in focusing on our mission, and asserting our collective rights to live in our homeland with dignity. Slanted editorials coming out of Zaldy Dandan and other political commentators grossly mischaracterize the real reasons behind NMD’s refusal to rally behind any immigration legislation, giving adjusted status and citizenship to thousands of foreign aliens in the Commonwealth. The friends of granting adjusted immigration status and citizenship to thousands of foreign aliens are desperately trying to portray and make it look like members of the NMDC are just a bunch of morons, because some are former public service holders previously connected to different political associations. Obviously this is Zaldy at his usual best, “prejudiced political commentary.” While entertainingly amusing to some of his own kind of readers, NMDs never take him as a credible editor because he has never proven his objectivity and never earned our trust. As someone who is paid to write, and he must write, for a commercial newspaper that depends on consumers for its survival, he is free to continue his political parody about NMDs ’til his face is blue. However, NMDs have special powers of their own that have never been effectively used before in the economic history of the CNMI. We are consumers as well, and we will use this power strategically and discriminately against any and all businesses or organizations hostile to our interests and prejudicially dismissive of our rights, particularly the biased Marianas Variety. NMDC members have a clear and targeted plan to execute this power. Nobody takes NMDs seriously, not the newspaper editors, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, political pundits and commentators, including our political leaders, because of our inclination to accept things as they usually are. Businesses and political leaders have long exploited our complacent tendency.

Well, 5,000-plus NMD petitioners finally realize that their trust has long been taken advantage of for someone else’s interest. We are no longer going to be made a mockery of by deceitful, calculated, and conniving businesses, as well as any political leader who is insensitive and dismissive of our cause and movement. We will not take things as usual henceforth. Chamorros and Carolinians will not allow themselves to be treated as cadavers for businesses and public officials’ laboratory experiments or guinea pigs. We will slowly rid these islands of unscrupulous businesses and political chameleons. Marianas Variety editor Zaldy Dandan has a knack for editorializing personality and he is darn good at it because he comes from a place that glamorizes celebrities (personalities) and the world of “make- believe.” NMDs, however, take exception to false and inaccurate depiction of our cause and motivation, in our outright refusal to granting adjusted immigration status and pathway to citizenships for foreign aliens in the Commonwealth. For someone who has never lived our life experiences as Chamorro and Carolinian, does not understand our emotional and psychological struggles through years of colonial subjugations, one who has not earned our trust to “politicize” our position in protecting cultural rights and traditional values, to deliberately try to cast aspersions on our motive and movement is totally reprehensible.

Coming from the most corrupt country in Asia and a nation riddled with public contempt as a way of life, to preach to us about fiduciary duty, ethics, righteousness and other human virtues is just arrogantly insulting, and may even be “tickled funny.” A “journalist” with questionable objectivity and little faith in “facts” who uses journalism’s protected right to malign well-meaning undertaking is not worthy of our acknowledgement. Besides, Zaldy Dandan has absolutely nothing to contribute to NMDC’s cultural and traditional pursuit for respect. If Zaldy Dandan wants to engage in a war of words and ideas NMDC will take him on. Though Zaldy Dandan has the overwhelming advantage through the shield of Marianas Variety versus NMDC as passionate believers of traditional and cultural rights without similar means, definitely we will engage. With no free access to the same platform, we will take him on through a different and effective means—shut down Marianas Variety through patronage boycott. We will use Marianas Variety as a demonstration of NMDs consumer power. Five thousand and growing Chamorro and Carolinian petitioners cannot be influenced by a grossly subjective newspaper. I will initiate relentless pursuit for another petition drive against your advertisers through Chamorro and Carolinian consumer efforts. Political leaders and business operators, be on the lookout for the emergence of a small group of Chamorro and Carolinian people harnessing their consumer power and political vote power together. The CNMI will slowly witness the explosive and lethal power of these two forces.

Daniel O. Quitugua
Acting president, NMDC
Kannat Tabla, Saipan