Why do we live here?

These are the times when we feel that the world is falling apart around us. Before we lash out and do something drastic, we should pause and re-examine why we live here. Once we do that, then we must fight for that reason against anyone who is trying to destroy it.

In spite of all the crazy things that are happening around us, I have to remind myself why I enjoy living in Saipan. Once my reasons are lost, it is almost impossible to rekindle them. We must remind ourselves about the why so we can keep our heads cool and weather the storms surrounding us.

This morning I want to recall why I am living in Saipan. In 1984, I discovered this land of enchantment, this land waiting to spring forth and become a budding flower of the Pacific Ocean. When I arrived in January, 1984, I marveled at Saipan’s beauty with its acres of diamonds waiting to be mined. I turned my back on Hawaii, where I had been living, and moved to my new love.

Here I discovered people who are warm and friendly. I cannot walk 10 steps without someone smiling, nodding and saying, “Hello Tony.” My biggest embarrassment is that many times after he or she passes, I scratch my head and wonder: “Where do I know that person from?” But I often tell people that I have seven holes in my head—two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth—where everything flows out so I remember little.

Where else do people smile so often and acknowledge one another? This warm feeling that cannot be bought at any price in any other so-called more exciting places. We seem less hurried and less pushy. We understand the need for family, friends, and one another. Here we seem to feel compassion for each other more than I have felt in other places I have visited or lived in.

Another positive note in that in Saipan, I can involve myself or I can recluse myself as I choose. No one hassles me or demands of me if I do not wish to give. Life drifts by with little timetable, unlike what I experienced elsewhere before settling in Saipan.

I must remind myself that I and my fellow citizens must fight to keep it so. And one of the ways to accept the changes that affect us all. We must understand that change will save us. Running away will not make a change—only a strong will and a strong love for our islands can. That is why we must examine frequently the why we live in our islands.

Ask yourself why you live here—whether born or migrated here. Examine your feelings and reasons. If born here, are you happy or unhappy? If you moved here from somewhere else, why did you? What changes exist now that did not exist when you came? How are we adapting to these changes?

Change and improvement can come only after introspection. Let us understand that the islands themselves have not changed, but we have. The world around us has. Though we have the same trees, ocean and size and shape of land, we did make changes to our environment by cutting down trees to build buildings, by building roads and other amenities. We also made several negative changes such as daily pollution of our lagoon and our beaches. In addition, our political life, which should have changed, has not changed. This too is a major negative.

However we failed to notice the biggest change that took place. We did not change mentally. We still expect someone else to do our work. We still insist we have the right to entitlements without earning them. We want more free homesteads. We want high paying jobs without the skills needed to hold them. We demand more Federal money. Why should all these be? The prompt answer is: “We deserve them. We are entitled to them. This is our land.” Wow! What a mentality.

Please read carefully the next few lines. Until, and only until, we look inward and accept that we deserve only what we earn, we will never change. We must accept that major changes have happened. Unfortunately some people in power refuse to accept them. As a result we all suffer. To not change is to become obsolete.

The CNMI today is not the CNMI of the Trust Territory days. The CNMI today is not the CNMI of March 24, 1976, when former President Ford signed the resolution approving the covenant that formed the political union between us and the United States. Remember that 78.8 percent of our voting population approved the covenant, U.S. citizenship and permanent union with the United States.

Most of our former leaders are no longer with us. The former leaders of the United States are no longer there either. They did their job. We owe them gratitude for the great job they did in charting the original course. It is we, the descendants, who must chart the new directions demanded by inevitable change. Now we must do our job.

Our love for our islands must not flicker. We created the mess we are in and we must clean it up. Let us temper our anger and frustration with creative action. Let us no longer tolerate the abuses and the corruption heaped upon us. Let us educate ourselves to what we want. Let us be the true owners of our islands. Anger will not solve any problems. But determination and corrective action will.

Daily we must flow with change. And this change starts with us. Once we know what we want, allow nothing to deter us from achieving it. Demand that our leaders truly lead. Demand that we take back the businesses we have so foolishly given away. Change begins within us.

Realize that federalization will create great opportunities for all of us. A new horizon is before us. It is a major change. But with change comes fear. When we conquer our fear we will embrace the changes and learn how to work within their framework. If not, we will become obsolete.

Guam has been under stricter U.S. regulations for a longer time than we have and look at how prosperous it has become. Today Guam is accepting a soon-to-be major change and making preparations to accept it. We can enjoy the same benefits if we understand how to obtain them. The changes being made will restore us to our dignity. All that change is saying: “There is a better way to enjoying life.” We must not live in the past as some people who have become fossils themselves would have us do.

As mentioned at the beginning, examine why do each of us live here? Let’s examine them and affirm them strongly. If the reasons are meaningful, let’s fight to accept the necessary changes. We must be intelligent, industrious, and willing to accept any change. Today is the gateway to a glorious tomorrow. Come! Let us roll up our sleeves and begin. Put your fears aside. Let’s us walk towards a better tomorrow together!