Letters to the Editor

Invasion of the small town

In a time when the world and our nation is so concerned about evil, we are being invaded right here at home from among our own people. Power plants, forest fees, overpopulation, the sale of our BLM and national forest lands. These are all related and are being proposed by those who claim they know what is best for our country and its people.

No matter what their reasons are, their interests certainly are not to preserve what America is.

I am so tired of hearing “It’s what the American people want.” They never asked me. They decide what “they” want and make it sound like everyone is behind them.

Where I live, in Central Oregon, our small town is no more. It is a cluttered mess. Power companies now want to move in because of our water supply and our location near natural gas pipelines.

I quote from one of our county commissioners in my area. He told me personally that it was his duty to see to it that, “Everyone who wants to move to Central Oregon has a place to live and has employment. Then, blamed it on “the Earth’s overpopulation.” I am sure this is the attitude in more places than just where I live.

Our elected officials, just as the power companies and developers, see our homeland as a vast land of endless opportunity for urbanization, industrialization and capitalistic gain. That’s it. Likened to 21st century Nazis they will move the people aside; do what they want with us, with our land, our taxes, and our environment if we let them.

They take land and livelihood from the farmers and give it back to nature? What is more natural than men who toil as farmers?

They take forests from those who love the outdoors and turn them into subdivisions and propose to charge us to use what is left. It is a viscous circle and we are in the middle and the middle is getting smaller.

What we need to do is search and campaign for new blood and educate the real people who live here about the real America, the natural beauty that is found nowhere else on earth that is being destroyed right under our noses.

A big problem is that too many people have no real interest in the true values . They move into small towns with lots of money, build big houses to impress their neighbors and friends and for the opportunities created by those wanting to make rural America into just another sprawling Orange County type concrete commercial checkerboard. Especially if nature provided something that is attractive and draws in people.

Someway, somehow things must get pointed back to the right track or we will be standing in lines paying to fish, to boat, to hunt, to hike, to walk our dog or to take turns to watch the stars by way of satellite telescopes above the red toxic clouds that cover our planet. Or we can visit where the last part of “Old Town” was plowed under to build our own Mercedes dealership. What an achievement to be proud of. Our very own Mercedes store.

Our little town must be “Somewhere” now.

Excuse me! Yes, it is somewhere. It is lying dying at our feet while we look the other way and let people who say we need power plants, less forests, more people, less wildlife, more houses, more cars, more businesses, more building fees, more taxes, and more money. Do what they want with what is ours!

We need people that can dig back into our past and decipher the real reason for humans being on this planet in the first place.

To protect and preserve not just the water, the land and the air but everything together that supports life and our very existence.

Now, do we just roll over and stick our legs up in the air and give up and drive down the road ignoring the fact that the mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and beauty and the very Blood of America is being tapped dry? Or do we stand up for our Mom? Everyone has a choice.

Monty Fisher

Sunriver, Oregon

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Give peace a chance

Saying goodbye to Global Peace is pretty much too early in my opinion. I believe that there should be room for negotiation first before even thinking of goodbye. Remember that the CNMI at present cannot meet the revenue generation requirement to satisfy the government’s basic needs to deliver uninterrupted services to the people.

The Global Peace group is an opportunity to be discovered not pre-judged.

We should not close the door for Rota as well as for our beloved CNMI. I love my brothers and sisters in the whole of CNMI. However, we need help right now. The garment and tourism industries are not on stable grounds. The business community is suffering. Government employees may lose their jobs in the near future. Though many families may be affected dramatically by unemployment, we cannot just simply terminate alien workers who work hard very, very hard to help their families overseas because we have to hire unwilling, untrained and ungrateful brothers and sisters who are, in the first place, simply unwilling to work.

Remember that land is not ours. We are only caretakers. Every human being on this earth is our brothers and sisters. We should not treat foreigners any different from our own. Now, what do we need? Do we need more casinos or do we look for other means that can contribute to the CNMI coffers? We should be open-minded and perhaps, have more options. What are the options? Well, for Rota, maybe we should offer part of the island. We may offer one of our uninhabited islands close to Tinian or North of Saipan. We should not simply close the door and say goodbye. Remember that we need revenue and in generating revenues, there’s always give and take.

Rumors going around say that the group is full of doctorate degrees from prestigious universities that believe in peace and then found ways to promote peace worldwide as well as reduce poverty. Well, what’s wrong with that?

If our religion is not to be affected as well as our relations with our motherland, maybe we should look deeper and think of other options. Peace is what the world needs right now. Maybe, we should be a contributor to the cause. Our leaders should not simply close the door. They should discuss the matter further. The Mayor of Rota is simply trying to help his people and in doing so, may even be helping the world.

Let us be open-minded on the matter. Ask yourself the question, do we want to stay where we are where many will be unemployed with the future looking very bleak or should we find ways to improve the future? The way things are going, no promise from any of our leaders can tell us that the future is bright. We should not make hasty decisions. Perhaps, our leaders should visit this Global Peace elsewhere and see for themselves who and what they really are and for what they stand for.

As a parent, I wish my children to grow up to be doctors in the field they choose. The most educated people are to help us, what is wrong with that? We should ask ourselves one question. Why do we send our children to school? Peace to you all.

Frank M. Atalig

Sinapalo Village, Rota

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Praise God!

I praise God for the answered prayer and for the tremendous decision made by your Commonwealth to turn down the Global Country of Peace offer.

I have learned many times things are not always what they appear to be when one looks beyond the surface of the real facts.

I know the benefits were very appealing and most likely needed as well.

Everything is marketed from the positive standpoint. Obviously, when you want to sell something you don’t share any of the negative things about the object you are selling because people will not buy it.

As with the Global Peace, you may receive many needed benefits. However, the real question is what will be sacrificed to get them? What is the long-range effect on the people? Take the time needed to count the cost!

Man’s heart is deceiving. He is not above getting what he wants at the expense of others. I believe you will find that here as well. With God, there is no need for deception! He Loves you and cares about you!

May God bless your Commonwealth for taking a major stand against this move.

Always stand with Jesus Christ and He will bless you and your country. That is His promise to you. It is written! The Lord has never broken a promise and I believe He will not break the promise now or ever.

My church has been praying for your Commonwealth in making a proper decision. We will continue to pray for you as well. Actually, it isn’t as painful to make a decision like this when you consider loosing your freedom versus eternal security. God will provide everything your people need. I pray for the peace, good health and prosperity only God can bring to your Commonwealth.

To God be the Glory forever and ever.

Roger Cook

Minister of Music

New Hope Baptist Church

Gladys, Virginia USA

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Thank God

Having lived and ministered in Guam for many years I am thankful to God for the decision not to allow this cult, Global Country, to establish itself in the Marianas. Their project may have brought a financial shot in the arm but it would have also brought long-term spiritual darkness to the beautiful island of Rota. There is enough spiritual darkness in the world to contend with.

Rev. Harold Roberts

Timothy International

Lynchburg, VA