Trading our pride and dignity

It is quite saddening to have observed how we as descendents of a proud and dignified race of Chamorros and Carolinians, whose bloodline originated from an ancestral root that mastered their environment as world navigators and inventors, could still continue to claim that our pride and dignity as a proud race remains thriving to this day. In 1898 Germany possessed sole ownership of the Northern Marianas. Subsequently, in the year 1918 and through the League of Nations, Japan began administering their colonialist form of government upon our ancestors who stood proud and continued to live their way of life contrary to outside influence. From 1941 to 1944 Japan’s presence in the Northern Marianas was still evident as a result of World War II. Then America came into the limelight in 1944 and liberated our people from aggressive oppression. And for such liberation, we will always be forever grateful to United States of America.

Those of us who were born during the 40s and 50s, especially those born earlier than this period, can still vividly remember the most valuable teaching passed on to us by our parents and grandparents—which no book can ever teach us—and that is to never sell or trade your pride, dignity, culture and way of life in exchange for the almighty dollar. Many of us still hold this priceless teaching to be true but sadly, many of us have forgotten as well, or just don’t care anymore because, as the saying goes, times have changed and we too must change with it. No one can dispute that there must be change. However as a result, we are now caught in the midst of modern technological changes that carry with it a price that must be paid. And that price revolves around having to adjust to the ways of a dominant Western culture such the United States.

Some of us Chamorros and Carolinians alike have indeed traded our pride and dignity, as well as other teachings taught by our parents and ancestors, for the sake of greed and the almighty dollar. Look around and most will realize, if they hadn’t already, how often we read in newspapers or media about a family member going against another family member or relative as a result of disputes that often destroys the closeness and bond of families and relatives. Backstabbing, deceptions, and greed amongst our own people had never been our way of life, nor is it our culture or tradition passed on by our parents and ancestors. We weren’t raised to stab our own race for the sake of greed and the almighty dollar. American ideals, philosophies, and their way of life are not a bad system in and of itself. But to abandon who we truly are—how our way of life should be in terms of what was instilled within us by our parents, grandparents and ancestors—will only result in our true identity being nothing more than a piece of history within the pages of time. In the future, it will only be read about, rather than actually lived by our future generations.

Chamorros and Carolinians should start realizing—if by chance they hadn’t already have—that we are already minorities within our own land as a result of greed, deception, and the urge of our own people to live and obtain the almighty dollar by adopting the Western way of life in exchange for abandoning our own. A people’s power coalition consisting of strictly Chamorros and Carolinians should be organized to ensure that our government does not forget that the Commonwealth is represented by the Chamorros and Carolinians, first and foremost. And any decisions made or statutes enacted that impact our islands must be for the sole interest and benefit of the local people. A coalition should be organized purely dedicated to local internal interest and benefits. One that can generate peaceful protests in mass numbers to oppose any legislative bill that only benefits special interest groups instead of our local people. A coalition that will possess the ability to unite our people when the need arises, to alter the results of a political situation in favor of leaders that are loyal and dedicated to protecting our interest, benefits, culture, and tradition. A coalition that must be committed and dedicated to standing up for, and protecting the true intent of our Covenant with the United States of America, without having to resort to greed and corruption for the sake of obtaining the almighty dollar.

Chamorros and Carolinians must strive vigorously to become the majority and not the minority within our own land. I state this with all sincerity because the bottom line is this. Our elected leaders must unequivocally understand that Chamorros and Carolinians within the Commonwealth must always be the majority and priority within their own land, not the minority that resulted from the labor statute that was established, tailored and implemented specifically for the protection of foreign workers.

In summary, I will be more than happy to organize or become a member of such a coalition. I can be contacted via e-mail: jack@saipan.com Fanogi Todos Chamorros Yan Carolinians Para Derichota Gi Halom Tanota Marianas. Si Yuus Masse Yan Olomway.

Jack T. Quitugua
Garapan, Saipan