The magic act is over

It makes little sense to place blame on the authors, leaders, and committees in Washington that investigated and found a need for the imminent federal takeover. The simple fact that residents in the Northern Marianna Islands are now living the consequence of economic devastation crafted by decades of sub-par leadership is the very reason the investigations were necessary.

It is further inappropriate of anyone to respond with desperate arrogance and indecent ramblings—more closely resembling the temper tantrums of toddlers. This approach would be more correctly directed at some of the past and current leadership elected to office on our island.

The past decades of indentured servitude (read: slavery), tolerated in the garment industry is now past. The $1.2 billion annually generated blood money remitting some $32 million into the local pockets of crooked politicians and control-driven officials, in the form of direct taxes, is now faded memory. The cruel working conditions imposed on foreign workers are also gone. It is time to wash our hands of the earlier atrocities, of which we were associated. Its earlier proponents and immoral masterminds, who fought long and hard to see its conception, now reside in prison. The end result of the blind faith some of us had in those leaders is misdirected name-calling and finger-pointing.

Instead of dusting ourselves off and shaking away the moths of cruelty and injustice, a small group of our most intelligent citizens betray our culture with false accusations and the illusion of justified resentment. When their intellect could be used to help find a better suited means of unity, they instead reduce themselves to the performance of street artists and back alley magicians. Rather than considering why the United States is appropriately assuming authority in the affairs of immigration and foreign matters within the CNMI, our leaders should be justifying their positions and discovering solutions to the turmoil now apparent in our islands.

Instead of centering attention on unfounded lawsuits, the elected governor should be researching ways for the CNMI to become self-sufficient. Furthermore, having their cronies compose letters to newspapers in an attempt to have their audience (that would be us) engaged in the opposite direction for worry of revealing the method of their illusion will no longer be tolerated. The magic act is finished! The crooked lobbyists are revealing the depths of their evil. They are now listing the composition of their inner-circle; those involved in their unethical collaboration, or falsely claiming remorse for their misdeeds. Where now are Jack Abramoff and his Gang of Five? Where are the rest of his cohorts? Justice was served and we must wash our hands of the former relationship they had with some of our elected officials.

Now, when the entire world is suffering impending global collapse in the financial system, cries for the right to self-government again rise! Why now, instead of devising ways to unify our people, is the governor accusing the United States of failing to fulfill promises?! What of our obligation to stand on our own feet?! Did he not read the entire section detailing self-government with regard to internal affairs? No. The governors out-of-date advisor/lawyer/counsel, stated in the Saipan Tribune, Section 105 of the Covenant forbids the U.S. from abrogating the Commonwealth’s right to local self-government without its consent. Umm, no it did not. I implore you, Mr. Willens; please refrain from taking an important document out of context, which is more like a false prophet or preacher and less like educated legal counsel. Section 105, however, does state that the United States may indeed enact legislation in accordance with its constitutional processes which will be applicable to the CNMI. Regarding self-government, it further states that the United States agrees to limit (let me spell it for you: L-I-M-I-T) the exercise of that authority, to allow modification of the fundamental provisions on the Covenant with the consent of the Government of the U.S. and the Government of the CNMI. Simply put, they can enact legislation and they have had to, due to the inability of some of our leadership to effectively manage-pretty much everything. Their agreement to limit that exercise of authority was adhered to, but due to the incompetence and ravenous greed plaguing some of our past leadership and a few in the current, it was and is time for that authority to be exercised. Furthermore, Article I, section 103, states again our ability to self-government regarding internal affairs.

Clearly, the governor’s lawsuit holds no substance. He twists his wording to fit his scheme—hoping we do not independently research—praying we would heed his rhetoric like blind fanatics. In fact, his ideals and this lawsuit are ill conceived. He (the governor) holds no pride in attaining financial independence or self-sufficiency, expectantly holding out his money hungry hand to the federal government—demanding our annual welfare check! All he wants is to remain fully dependent on the federal government. The only excuse justifying that goal is to use his constituents and our economic condition as a means to an end. He is using us like some illegally use children for more government subsidies! Is this how low we see ourselves? Does our reflection return images of being solely food stamp and welfare fund recipients, forever to rely on hand-outs? Listen, when in need, government subsidies can provide necessary sustenance. Those services are to be used sparingly and only in dire times, but never were we to be forever reliant upon it! It has no place in the daily conduct of Chamorros, Carolinians, or any other CNMI resident.

We are better than this and were raised to prove our worth in caring for our families, respecting our culture, and together promoting the family-oriented nature Americans know and admire of us. The mindset plaguing few of our leadership, holding back the evolutionary inevitability essential to advance in today’s society, is and will be the downfall of our culture. Greed contingent on federal handouts will hold back the paradigm shift needed to bring adequate change to our islands. And the inability to aspire for self-sufficiency, independence and stability is detrimental to our future. The Our Way premise founded on an antiquated system of false-tradition is long overdue to be shed from our culture. History has unfortunately proven those kinds of mindsets to be the downfall of many strong societies. True respect is to be gained not easily given. True leadership is earned, not demanded. Friends, family—what the officials in Washington are doing, are imploring our governor to drop this joke of a lawsuit. Not because it has substance, but because they realize the waste of money associated with it and the end result of the suit on us. Almost unanimously, the Legislature opposes this suit as well. Only the governor and his legal counsel continue try and convince them otherwise. Mr. Fitial sugarcoats his words to the public, while calling our Legislature disloyal to the people. Look in the mirror, sir. Regardless of what some profess, it is NOT American to seek redress via the court system, if the basis is founded on lies or incorrect interpretation! It is low and even criminal to seek monetary gain by using the judicial system to seek redress in this manner.

This lawsuit is no different than suits over hot coffee or injuries during acts of robbery. Moreover, coloring racist statements with eloquent vocabulary does not make the statement any less racist. It is unbecoming of anyone to demean themselves, or their culture, by lowering themselves to this kind of ignorance, especially when in a position of authority and respect. There are no persons lower than those who resort to profanity, expletives demeaning of the opposite gender, or racial slurs, simply because they do not have the ability to get their way or because their argument is founded on greed. They should be looked on in disgust! While the rest of the world is equally suffering through a global financial crisis, we should instead be seeking a means to change. The inefficient management affecting some of our leadership has finally shown its true visage. The time for change is long overdue but nothing will be able to happen if we continue to allow those who lack the ability to fulfill the obligations of their positions to remain. We must completely refuse to vote for governors, senators, or other representatives who lack the capacity and experience to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.