Misconstruing the governor’s statement

There’s a straightforward story about the governor’s statement that wasn’t. I say “wasn’t” because I know what he said was royally misconstrued. If the White House wants to refute my assessment, it would be completely condescending to argue what was the real message when Governor Pete P. Tenorio sought for federal aid in his recent meeting with President Clinton. It would have the equivalence of literally putting words into the governor’s mouth, if, the White House spinmasters wants to brave what, again, “wasn’t”.

Of course, these spinmasters yearn to turn the tide it can’t possibly push through in the US House of Representatives knowing in full measure that our friend Congressman Tom DeLay is now the most powerful Republican going into the 106th US House of Representatives. DeLay, like most Republican members of Congress meticulously guard the mantra of the GOP to return governance to the people throughout the union where it rightfully belongs. DeLay feels the same way about the, read carefully now, “inalienable” rights of the NMI to self-government which, despite all the developmental problems, doesn’t grant the federal government the right to violate it at will with arrogance.

In short, the White House can only proceed with its rapacious plans, if, and only, if, the US Congress consents to it by way of substantive amendments to the Covenant Agreement denying the NMI authority solely the purview of our national legislative body. Otherwise, all the evil architects behind the agenda to violate and ruin what’s in the letter and spirit of the agreement are best spent focusing on the fate of their impeached boss now in the hands of the US Senate. Spinning away from the truth has turned 1998, at least in the eyes of those who believe in the principles and very foundation of our democratic institutions, as “The Year of the Lie”.
Why don’t you leave masterful spins in your back pockets. You’re going to need them when the US Senate begins the “Trial of the Century”.

What’s New for 1999
If you notice, we have a new columnist from a gentleman who isn’t new to many of us here. And it’s a good start to begin putting factual perspective on public education throughout the NMI. It is a forum where we will also see school administrators, teachers, parents, policymakers and students air legitimate views on any and all educational issues in deliberative fashion.

Indeed, this year promises to be a lively one as we discuss and chart the future of education in these islands. From these discussions, we should be able to secure a clearer view of how we ought to prepare our children with lifetime skills for the next millennium.

Also, we have dedicated half a page every Thursday for local public health education programs. These materials will be written in simple English (and occasionally in the vernacular) in hopes that the local populous begins to see the benefits of preventive medicine over the current curative mentality.

In other words, now is the time to reassess our lifestyle habits while the opportunity abounds to watch our diet so we don’t end up digging our own graves. It is useless to bring in a top notch heart specialist when in fact you have already destroyed the muscles or arteries in your heart because you’ve decided to turn on the
Choo Choo Train, loaded with fat, salt and alcohol. There’s nothing the heart specialist can do other than to join the family’s condolences.

It’s scary how diabetes has taken a meteoric increase–some 2,000 plus–over the last year. It’s a health condition that can be brought under control if you join health professionals deal with it. This equation requires your cooperation to take control of a health condition that only you can make a difference. And this should not be left solely in the hands of doctors at CHC. You must pitch-in to avoid future complications, i.e., blindness, neuropathy complications or numbness that eventually turn into amputations.

Friends, you’re the captain of the vessel know as your body. What you do determines whether it’ll be smooth sailing or a painful future with long-term illnesses. It’s all up to you.