Advice for the Adjutant of Acrimony

Thank God and Our Lady of Victory I’m off the hook! I do not need to face the written wrath of the “Anopheles of Antagonism,” that ‘Adjutant of Acrimony’ Mr. Ambrose Bennett. His letter of May 25th to both local papers states, “It’s just a matter of time before you and all my critics come to realize that Mr. Bennett was right” and he writes further to those who agree with Ms. Juanita Malone, “Don’t wait for a reply because the readers will know what you are about.” The Saipan Tribune’s copy of his letter does not contain the last sentence of Bennett’s diatribe printed the same day in the Marianas Variety. It reads, “If there are any more people that agree with Ms. Malone and you have never fallen short of being a perfect person, then throw the next stone – but don’t wait for a reply because the readers will already know what you are about.” Could this letter be the next stone albeit from a very imperfect reader?

I agree with Ms. Malone on most of her points but feel verbal admonition and censure would suffice in place of paddling since age and a lack of adipose tissue might lead to more harm than good in his case. I’m being facetious. One thing Ms. Malone got wrong, however, was the statement that, “Mr. Bennett has much influence over our youth…” I daresay Mr. Bennett has close to zero influence over most students in the CNMI and even less influence among his teaching colleagues.

As a Biblical scholar and judge of others, Mr. Bennett should realize he teeters on the brink of a hellish form of hypocrisy when he places himself alone on that path of righteousness. As “Zacatecas Mexico CNMI’s 2002 Scholar to Mexico Fulbright-Hays Program U.S. Dept. Of Education” as he titles himself in his teacher Rep report (received May 20, 2004 from our school’s teacher rep) Bennett does no—repeat NO—justice to any form of Western democracy when he tells even possible future critics that, “…readers will already know what you are about.” From whence does his prescience come? Has he looked into what constitutes a voting majority or plurality throughout the U.S. and Mexico? What alogical arrogance!

My praise and respect go to BOE chair Roman Benavente who seems to be a solid steerman taking the BOE on a course with the common sense goal of ‘students first.’ Thank you Senot Benavente. Mr. Benavente’s philosophy seems to echo that of our brother, Rodney King, who showed the world both closure and forgiveness of a profound nature when he asked the ultimate question that perhaps Mr. Bennett should ask himself when he looks in the mirror, “Can’t we all get along?”

On Jan. 24, 2004 the Saipan Tribune printed my constructive proposal for a new and fair Teacher Rep election to be held before the end of SY 2003-2004. Five, months later, with students graduating and teachers going on summer break, Mr. Bennett’s belated response has been to call for his first general teacher meeting since being elected. Elected—some readers may recall—by less than twenty votes less than 30 percent of all eligible voters! What a joke! He calls this meeting on the same day that more than 50 of his fellow teachers from the school where he formerly worked are involved in day-long SY 2003-2004 Promotion ceremonies. Now where is the genuine consideration for and desire to hear from those he claims to represent?

Many Teachers, Many Directions, More Elections! Estudiante Finena.

Joe Connolly


Koblerville, Saipan