2012—The year of protests in the CNMI

Let 2012 be our CNMI protest year against the social and economic injustices that are binding us from progressing to a better life. If we do not begin now the situation can only get worse. If we want change we must follow the examples of the rest of the world that started protesting in various countries.

Last year we saw a series of protests around the world against unjust governments, unjust leaders, unequal wealth distribution, and lack of jobs. The protests were aimed also at discrimination and other unjust acts perpetrated on us the people. Finally we the people are waking up as though from a long slumber and beginning to realize that we the people must help ourselves and stop relying upon governments to do it for us. Let me quote from an article in the Dec. 26, 2011 issue of Time Magazine written by Rick Stengel.

“No one could have known that when a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire in a public square in a town barely on a map, he would spark protests that would bring down dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya and rattle regimes in Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. Or that spirit of dissent would spur Mexicans to rise up against the terror of drug cartels, Greeks to march against unaccountable leaders, Americans to occupy public spaces to protest income inequality, and Russians to marshal themselves against a corrupt autocracy. Protests have now occurred in countries whose population total at least 3 billion people.…”

“Everywhere, it seems, people said they’ve had enough. They dissented; they demanded; they did not despair, even when the answers came back in a cloud of tear gas or a hail of bullets. They literally embodied the idea that individual action can bring collective, colossal change. And although it was understood differently in different places, the idea of democracy was present in every gathering….” [The protests were human ones, of hearts and minds.]

“The root of the word democracy is the people rule. And they did, if not at the ballot box, then in the streets. America is a nation conceived in protest, and protest is in some ways the source code for democracy—and evidence of the lack of it…. Everywhere this year, people have complained about the failure of traditional leadership and the fecklessness of institutions. Politicians cannot look beyond the next election and they refuse to make hard choices…. But leadership has come from the bottom of the pyramid, not the top.”

It is worth rereading the above quotation to fully appreciate its deep meaning. I have discussed the need for a revolution to stimulate changes. Now I am strongly advocating protests. We must change our attitudes and understand that today is NOT yesterday! We, the people, must demand what we want and need. Our protest must be strong and determined. Our government will not give us what WE WANT but WHAT THEY WANT!

It takes only ONE of US to start the protest which will change our lives! The rest of us must follow! Glance over history and see how one man or woman has made a dramatic change in our lives.

Recall that Occupy Wall Street is the original protest that began the worldwide movement Sept. 17, 2011 in Zuccoti Park, located in New York City’s Wall Street financial district. The protests are against social and economic inequality, high unemployment and economic inequality, greed and the undue influence of corporations on government. “We Are the 99 percent” their slogan, refers to the growing income and wealth inequality in the U.S. and wealthiest 1 percent and the rest of the population, the 99 percent.

Do we have similar situations in the CNMI? Is there undue influence upon our elected officials? Is there greed? Is there corruption? Is there a widening rift between the haves and have nots? Is there growing unemployment of our local citizens? Why has 22 percent of our population deserted the island? Why are so many homes being foreclosed especially ones from MIHA? Why does our island look like a ghost town with so many empty buildings? Why is this happening? Does anyone care? These and more questions like these demand an answer.

This year we will be electing new representatives to the Legislature. Will we do the same we do every year: vote for our relatives good or bad? Will we demand reforms or will we just remain silent? Will we reelect the good old boys who make politics a career job without proving that they are worth it? Will we protest by demanding new faces and fresh approaches to our problems? Think about why people began to protest in New York City and in the rest of the world. Don’t we have similar concerns?

Consider some of the unjust and discriminatory actions. Why do government workers average about $9 per hour plus a great pension (at least before), yet those of us that do similar work in the private sector earn only $5.05 per hour? What happened to our once bountiful pension fund? Why is this being tolerated?

Another major concern is that the government seems only concerned about restoring their employees to 40 work weeks, yet does nothing to creating more jobs in the private sector. Yet daily more and more people enter the food stamp program. Why aren’t they being motivated to learn a skill or trade which our community badly needs? Have we forgotten that December 31, 2014, most non-local workers will be forced to go home? What do we do then?It appears that our leaders major concern is that casinos will solve all our economic problems. Has anyone studied the effects of casinos in Tinian over the past ten years? Has Rota prospered with their attempts at casino rolling? Are the people in both islands better off than we because of casinos? Is there any proof showing that casinos will solve our economic problems? How many of our jobless or non-skilled people will these casinos employ? Why do we accept this approach so passively? What is happening to our hospital and our medical needs?

These are only a few of the problems that are beseeching us for solutions. Please understand, I am asking all of us to think about our problems and decide to do something about them. I am not complaining just because I don’t like them. We must stand up in unison and demand changes if we want changes.

Ladies and gentlemen, if we are to become economically strong again, we must begin to cultivate home industries such as agriculture and aquaculture and fishing. We must begin to make value-added products with our fruits and produce. Then to really bring much needed money, we must export these items to other countries. We must lessen our dependency on imports and increase exports.

Tonight when we go to bed let us think for a few minutes of the thousands of our fellow citizens standing over the beds of their children with their heads bowed and tears in their eyes thinking: “How and where am I going to get enough money to feed these children? When will I have a decent job?”

Will we say: “There but for the grace of God go I.” Will we then just shrug our shoulders, turn off the lights and forget about them. Remember anyone of us may be next.

Join with me in protesting this injustice and inequality. Economic improvement can become a reality when we all begin to work in unison and believe in our ability to help ourselves. Why do I believe so fervently that we have many opportunities to help ourselves? Because I have seen them since my arrival to these blessed islands.

Join with me and LET’S DO IT! We have acres of diamonds under our feet. Let us dig them up and restore our pride and dignity. Stop the handouts. Let’s get off our buts (excuses) and DO IT NOW!

Don’t forget to throw giant SMILES at each other when we greet one another. A SMILE is the universal language that says: “I love you and I want you to be happy.” Remember everyone SMILES in the same language. Have a great week!

****