Last part of a series

So you see, NMD’s argument was never about personality although it was necessary to put a human face on the issue to directly link the party personally responsible for pushing such contentious, polarizing and divisive agenda before Congress. Politically charged comprehensive immigration reform legislation was made a necessary agenda by a curtained political party in the United States because of its potential block vote effect in the upcoming elections and in particular the presidential election of 2016. According to the Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends Project, undocumented immigrant population from Mexico, Central America, Europe and Asia is 13.7 million, and as the economic condition of the U.S. improves, this number will increase significantly. So you can imagine the profound political interest on these groups of people due largely to their potential voting power for changing the election outcomes that will determine which political party controls either or both houses of Congress. U.S. politicians have their own reasons for taking on the issue of comprehensive immigration reform; their social, political, economic and cultural situations are distinctively different than ours here in the Commonwealth, and we should not be meddling in their political kettle. In the first place, the Commonwealth should never have been included in S. 744 political debate because Public Law 110-229 sufficed. Besides, we are not legal participants in presidential elections to matter anything at all. Considering all these facts, one wonders what is the real deal behind the rush for inclusion in S. 744 and HR. 15. If the CNMI’s Commission on Federal Laws were still operational, they would have totally rejected such attempt because Congress has already adequately addressed immigration matters for aliens living in the Commonwealth.

As to allegations of racism leveled against NMDs, Chamorro and Carolinian, nothing could be further from the truth. No one ever claimed that Chamorros and Carolinians are superior over other cultural groups. I never knew that asserting your own cultural rights and “internal sovereignty” over your homeland is racist. Since when is it racist to challenge an idea or issue that poses a real threat to the long-term interest of our cultural survival? NMDs are not just protesting simply for the sake of igniting unnecessary controversy with our delegate to Congress. It is all about intent, process, and consequence and the absence of appropriate education and consultation. Had the good delegate engaged the Chamorros and Carolinians in this debate prior to the introduction of the two immigration bills, our energies could have been spent on other pressing matters facing our people today. But because he miscalculated the resolve of his Chamorro and Carolinian sisters and brothers, that is why the matter of adjusted immigration status and pathway to citizenship issue is going further than he anticipated. What we are also protesting and adamantly opposed to are for foreign aliens to use the NMDs as their “gateway” for their self-interest and “walk on our backs” to achieve it. Chamorros and Carolinians are living souls and have emotions too. So it is particularly hurtful to continue to be generous and sympathetic after our reputation is maligned and the graciousness of our Commonwealth is repeatedly vilified during foreign aliens’ public demonstrations. NMDs are not against the pursuit of happiness for all foreign aliens so long as they don’t infringe upon our rights and give little respect to our traditional values and way of life. In business, politics and in life, adhering closely to cultural etiquettes of any community is a must and failure to do so or blatant disregard and ridicule is considered offensive.

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people,” said Mahatma Gandi.

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