Visitors to Sa’i’pan

The written history of Saipan is not a long one. Neglected by Spain as an adjunct to the New Manila and refused ownership by the United States after it bought Guam, ending up in Seig Heil to the Germans before the Nazis took over the salutation; the rest of the Marianas were later taken over by Japan after WWI when Nippon occupied islands north of the equator, save the Hawaiian Islands and Guam, and the rest, occupied by the Union Jack.  After WWII, former Nippon territories came under the trusteeship of the United States.

So prior to Spain, it was just a stopping ground for the birds to chirp at Satawal, Ulithi, and Wolei single proa outriggers on their way up to the northern islands all the way to Bonin and Japan.

There is a sense in which “indigene” is a short category for Saipan residents, referring to Chamorros who were moved to and fro by Spain, and the Carolinians invited to sail up to Tanapag after a typhoon devastated the islands of Wolei and others. Legally, it includes those who were residents when the Constitution was approved, more so, when Reagan declared CNMI residents citizens of the U.S.

We are practically all visitors to Saipan. Unlike the Hawaiians who were divested of their land, the wrong was rectified in making it into law that only indigenes can own land in the CNMI, which again begged the question as to who is an indigene when everyone is really a visitor. The blood formula of 12.5 percent is not valid since that is not a constitutional provision on land ownership within the laws of the United States. It only applies temporarily as per Covenant arrangements. Even that is dubious.

Our reflection is not on the indigene; it is on the visitor. JFK was kind when he referred to the United States as a nation of immigrants. The Mongols of earlier migration across the Bering Straits to the Americas who are now native, were also visitors, albeit, earlier.  The United States is one nation united in the diversity of its immigrants, welcomed by the bison and the hummingbird. The progeny out of Mt. Caucasus holds the cultural and racial advantage but that is changing rapidly. Brown bread after all is healthier and richer, and it comes in many layers of light and darkness.

Estimates in 2010 of the CNMI demographic have Asians outnumber Pacific Islanders 5 to 3.5. Of the Asians, the Filipino is slightly over 35 percent of total, while the Chamorro among the Pacific Islanders is short of 24 percent. The other predominant Asians are Chinese and Koreans; of the Pacific Islanders, Carolinians are 4.6 percent, 6.4 percent is divided by Polynesian, Melanesian, and other Micronesian islanders.  Mix races are 12.6 percent and the rest are spattering from other places in the world.

So the category of indigene vs. visitors is an artificial one, though legally, it isn’t!

In this age of The Donald, a national defensiveness is abroad. The former Republican Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is the third governor (Christie of New Jersey and LePage of Maine) to endorse The Donald because “he will secure our borders, defend our workers and protect our sovereignty.” Senator Jeff Session of Alabama just joined the bandwagon.

While living in Canada, crossing the border was a 15-minute ritual; in Texas, six hours from Mexico. Integrity of border depends on who is on the other side, and who is crossing. With the Canucks, we don’t worry much; with the TexMex and their Latino cousins across the border, we build a wall.  The GOP are out-conservative-ing each other on who will be most effective to contain illegal immigrants.  The Donald is vocally on the lead, much to the consternation of GOP leaders who wants the Party elected not on exploiting fear but on what the Grand Ol’ Party stands for.

“Defend workers.” Which ones? The southern borders attract seasonal workers that we exploit with low wages. The “illegal” workers are the desired in agriculture; they will take anything you pay them without a word. “Defending workers” is better stated as “keeping a watch on employers closely.”

“Protect our sovereignty.” Well, it goes back to the previous reflection on immigrants.  The United States still likes to remain in the original thirteen colonies. The European mindset predominates (Pilgrims, Puritans, and Jamestown) and has been stuck there since. Established boutique shops market fads and fashion out of the European choices of London, Paris, and Milan. Eighty-one percent of teachers in the U.S. public school system are Caucasians.

Garapan apes the windows on Park Avenue, NYC.  On a slight chill, members of the current indigene generation wear their winter wools, using the office air-con for an excuse to salve the magas pride. We march with the fashion beat of NYC, which is followed by Manila and Hong Kong, also, Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing.  At least the last three are in the temperate zone but all five directly influence Saipan’s garb and attire.

Which brings us back to the visitors in Sa’i’pan.  We all are.