A rewarding career

After more than 40 years of writing, I look back at the long journey that started in 1968. It wasn’t what famous poet David Frost alluded to as the road that “diverged in the wood, and I chose the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” It is about making choices based on factors beyond superficiality and popularity.

My career hailed from upstairs that came via the spiritual echo of the wind in a single word, “Write!” I spent long and thoughtful moments pondering if I should head elsewhere or descend and guard the shark-infested harbor at home. It entails journalistic writing where great writing and story telling are found in revisions.

I started writing straight news stories, and commentaries later. My brother Frank did mostly the former. I stayed with it equally wary of its strength and constructive role in a community. Furthermore, I know my views won’t change the global village with 900 words each trip to the Op-Ed page. It takes persistence, patience and years of writing with educated revisions to build credibility or voice.

But I have always been interested engaging in robust and rigorous debates drawing from the power of constructive ideas. Became a voracious reader of issues of substance. It’s a must in this profession in order to stay ahead of events unfolding quickly.

Initially, I wrestled with the adopted culture of submission that clashed heavily with the individual rights of freedom of expression and rights of citizens. In other words, adopted culture mandates keeping your opinions to yourself. But there’s strict discipline in journalistic writing that mandates conscious fairness. One is not at liberty to libel the innocent nor am I prepared to lead the pathway to ignorance. Change in attitude about printed news was evolutionary that slowly gained acceptance.

I don’t recall compromising the integrity of the profession that focuses on the “search for the truth.” It was no walk in the park either. I had some unpleasant run-ins with some of my best friends who ended lasting friendship because of what I’ve written. It comes with the territory! It seems anti-cultural and abrasive saying your piece. I call it “truth.” No regrets either!

The profession has taken me far and wide, including both sides of the Pacific equator or across oceans right into Washington, D.C., New York, Japan, South Korea, and the entire Micronesian region.

I’ve worked with the region’s gifted intellectuals and visionaries who emerged as leaders of their island countries. They know their specialties full square, donned the halo of humility, and endowed with spiritual wellbeing, sterling breadth and depth of intelligence, visionary leadership and wisdom. I’ve got my very short list of intellectual giants.

The only one from here that made by short list is former House speaker Oscar C. Rasa, a superbly bright intellectual giant and visionary. What privilege and pleasantry probing the depth of his vision. He’s endowed with superb intelligence discernible in his ability to simplify complicated issues and concepts down to layman’s term. That’s the hallmark of intelligence. I relish his counsel. He’s equally committed to ascertaining an informed citizenry.

Our performance on SG?

There’s fear of losing both skills and vision when I moved to the CNMI in 1977. But it turned a positive decision as I dealt with local leaders in charge of CNMI affairs. After retirement, the journey brings forth a vital query: How did we do after 36 years of constitutional government? The excursion assessing our progress wasn’t very encouraging.

I’ve done music to feed my siblings years ago. It’s the only aspect of my crowded mind that has kept my sanity. It’s a way out of stressful situations. Did it for more than 25 years.

The persistent fiscal and financial crisis of the local government is a sufficient tale of botched progress. You’re a living witness to economic dystopia (where nothing works), sufficiently capable of rendering your own judgment. The dearth of conscious leadership at the time we most need it is non-existent.

Indeed, I’ve outlasted the careers of one too many politicians who have faded into history. The working relationship had been congenial and respectful but kept my distance from activities outside my professional duties. Very few served with distinction by way of signature accomplishments. The majority became a part of the crowd headed out of the football stadium after the game. Sadly, I’ve seen how power corrupts and the quick reaction of voters stripping them of their power.

Though we’ve faltered persistently in strengthening self-government, we can’t blame the protracted democratic process. We’ve been grappling with issues without real solutions. This has its genesis in the approval of the Covenant Agreement, hardly understood by the majority who voted for it. Ask the same questions today and you’d hear a completely different reaction.

Does it matter how people perceive me in what’s dubbed as egotistical arrogance for “telling it like it is?” Nah! I’d rather tell the truth, however uncomfortable it might be. I have skipped superlatives in adverbs and adjectives to avoid showers in political niceties the purview of ambassadors. If you tell me something’s “good,” I’d insist that you quantify it, e.g., exemplary, outstanding, or incomparable, etc. The truth is the guard of personal and professional freedom!

NMI 20 years from now

The CNMI has a limited window of opportunity to do what’s right. If this doesn’t happen over the next four years, this place turns into a torched desert land of persistent hardship and poverty. We would have ruined the political and economic freedom of our children. Not sure this is your vision of their future.

About the only two things that matter right here and now are the economy and the health of our people. The sluggish economy is hard on everybody. There’s also a very sick local population whose future wellbeing merits critical review. Our bag of tricks is empty! Buckle down, now!