An open letter to the people of the CNMI

In a few recent Letters to the Editor, the issue of the military’s proposed plans for Tinian and Pagan is framed as choice between a casino industry and patriotism. This is not the first time I’ve heard this line of reasoning used to justify why we the people of the Commonwealth should support any military live fire training exercises on the islands of Tinian and Pagan as presented in the CNMI Joint Military Training Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (CNMI Joint Military Training DEIS). Given that so many of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers, and mothers have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy our freedoms, this call for patriotism cannot be left unanswered.

It is true, that as American citizens, patriotism means putting love of country first. But that is not all that it means. When America sends our troops to war, it is in the name of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. These were the values that we welcomed when we were negotiating the Covenant. These are the values that our sons and daughters are willing to die for on foreign lands. It was the promise that was made in the Declaration of Independence 200 years ago that the role of our government must be limited to safeguarding peace and preserving our freedoms. It was the promise that we as a people have the right to question our government, to protest, to rally against a bad policy and to change bad laws. Patriotism is living up to those ideals and exercising our freedoms to uphold and preserve those values. This means that putting country first not only means sacrificing when our country calls for it, but also fighting to protect the very values that makes this country what it is.

The military’s plans to use the islands of Tinian and Pagan as presented in the CNMI Joint Military DEIS is not a choice between a casino industry and patriotism. The call to protect our islands and to reject a plan that is harmful to our people, our lands and natural resources, our economy and our inherent right to self-determination is one of the most patriotic actions that we as U.S. citizens can take. Our freedom to resoundingly say no to bad policy is one of our most cherished liberties and the most “American” thing to do.

DoD’s proposed plans is a bad policy that will have long-lasting detrimental effects on the lives of the people of the CNMI, most especially my people of Tinian and those who plan to return to their home in Pagan. Let’s agree to disagree about whether or not the military should use our islands for what will surely be destructive to our people, land and waters. But, please. It is not being ungrateful or unpatriotic for not wanting our children to grow up in a simulated war environment. It is not being ungrateful or unpatriotic for wanting to feed our families from the bounties of the land and the sea. It is not being ungrateful or unpatriotic for wanting to build an economy that will provide jobs for our people. It is not being ungrateful or unpatriotic for simply wanting to go to bed at night before 10 p.m. without having to hear the sounds of rockets, missile launchers, hand grenades and God knows what the military plans on detonating between the hours of 7am to 10pm as proposed in their plans. Let me be clear about what this is. This is a fight to stop a plan that will hurt my community. This is a fight to stop an unjust plan that will deprive the people of Tinian of our most basic freedoms.

As we celebrate Independence Day this 4th of July, may the bells of freedom also toll for the people of Tinian and Pagan. God bless America and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Joey Patrick San Nicolas
Mayor of Tinian & Aguiguan