Umanidat in the Marianas

Theology in the Middle Ages was the queen of the sciences. In our time, we have discovered that theological statements are best understood when desacralized from their Olympian heights into their anthropological import. The gods are most alive when immanently invested with human qualities. Conversely, humanum is at its sunnum bonum when elevated into transcendent heights so that its transparent qualities are comprehensively and broadly magnified. Not surprisingly, Chalan Kanoa Archdiocese’s journal is titled “Umanidat” in respectful celebration of the wholesome spirit in the humanities.

Divinity schools no longer command the preeminence they once held in the universe of learning. Divines are now retired to archiving the mythological symbols of the past. The Humanities has become dominant in liberal education. The human face has been democratized, proceeding into the common yet universal politics of endless self-identification. The United States is challenged to give form to the rich tapestry of its diverse population. Even here in this little string of limestone upcroppings and volcanic islands we call the Marianas, the global village has descended. To create a picture of the indigenous face is to project a series of PowerPoint images of the various members of the global community.

To be sure, the Chamorito profile and the face of Caroline reach back to the etchings of lapita in the Coral Sea, the latte form of the Bodhisattvas of Jogjakarta, the Austranesians of the land bridges, with whispers of Malayalam from the Dravidians. Thanks to the Iberians, the mask had taken in features of the Olmecs and the Mayas from the east. DNA of the Malayo-Polynesians of the south, and the Indo-Chinese in the west joined the gene pool. The galleon trade and the whaling ships brought us shades of olive from the Tuscan sun, a waft of red hair from the Rhine, and a whiff of Gaelic nose from the Rhone. In the last census, there are now more than 50 nationalities represented in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

We pause this month of October to celebrate our common humanity. Each year in October, the NMI Council of the Humanities recognizes those who have, through disciplined scholarship, manifest intellectual prowess, and creative imaginal energies, advanced understanding of our common human heritage, most especially the history, philosophy and literature arising from the Marianas experience. The measured pace of that human journey, swayed by the ocean tides for a millennium, has accelerated in the last five decades as the urban, secular and scientific milieu of the American adventure has come to roost on our shores. The winds of the metawal wool that once brought proas to Garapan blow mildly in Lino Olopai’s memory, and will soon be forgotten if its wisdom is not handed down to the navigating skills of the next generation. Georg Fritz’s meticulous attention to details will be lost if we cannot even institute such measures as zoning ordinances and quadrennial economic development plans into our system of local governance. Matsue’s statue will remain just as a transit station for migratory birds if we forget that we already have within our native midst the power to meet our own requirements. The largesse of Emperor and Uncle Sam are useless when received as a dole rather than as an enabler of goals.

The 6th Grade focus on Social Studies in the PSS is on Ancient Civilizations, with sidebars of NMI history and geography, and liberal sprinkling of American “We, the People” civics. This month at SVES, 6th graders will be singing their fundamental lesson:

The flower in Death Valley is greeting the sun;
the rainbow in Tinian stands tall.
We gather together to sing as one:
our island belongs to all.

All of the goods of the earth,
and all decisions of history,
And all the inventions of humanness
belong to each one through me.

The pole of the bamboo is leafy and green;
the mangoes are ready to fall.
And somewhere our glory awaits unseen:
our village rejoices for all.

The cries of the innocent sound in their pain,
the tyrant still vanquish the small.
Let wisdom and caring be free from chain:
my world belongs to all.

A dream of the future is beckoning me,
a vision has captured my soul.
The morning is coming when all will see:
the earth belongs to all.

Oh brother, oh sister, humanity’s power,
let children be summoned to call;
come gather together to haste the hour,
the earth belongs to all.

* * *

Vergara is a Social Studies 6th grade teacher at San Vicente Elementary School and writes a regular column for the Saipan Tribune.