Shame and hypocrisy

I watched with absolute amazement the KMCV news account of the public hearings regarding the regulations for bringing in sexually abused and exploited children from Vietnam. It was astounding to listen to the ranting of elected government officials as they sometimes screamed about how these innocent children would cause such a great “mess” in the CNMI. I personally felt ashamed to hear comments from a people I had assumed lived with the spirit of generosity. Instead of compassion and generosity I heard hypocrisy what is in it for me or not in my backyard!

I assume it is acceptable for the CNMI to allow desperate women from China and the Philippines to service the needs of tourists and locals in strip clubs, bars, and massage shops. Does this sound familiar, “lawsuit against her former employers and other persons who allegedly treated her as a virtual slave, beat her up, imprisoned her, and forced her to sign papers.” (Saipan Tribune Dec. 30, 2005.) This isn’t Cambodia or Vietnam it is on Saipan.

But who really cares about regulations anyway; who really cares about the abuse and battery often forced upon these women, as long as the dollars flow through the local economy. And only recently were regulations passed to make certain these women had to be at least 18 years old! I guess generosity must be measured by how much money it will bring to the economy. I thought generosity was measured by the openness of one’s heart.

I assume it is acceptable for the CNMI to allow immigrants to take jobs like housemaids for the well to do, to pay them as little as possible, to force them to work for unpaid overtime, to deduct food and housing, and then think that they are not abusing desperate people from impoverished countries. And the government had to make regulations that prohibited people who were on welfare from hiring maids. I guess people feel they are acting out of generosity by employing these immigrants; generous as long as they get something in return.

Of course many CNMI residents do act out of compassion and are indeed generous. We know this to be true. But generosity is giving not receiving. And true compassion does not expect to receive anything in return. What I saw and heard on the news was shameful self-interest. I wonder how CNMI citizens would feel if other countries and nations felt the same shameful self-interest toward them. Does this sound familiar? “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This is one of the highest aspirations of a compassionate and generous nation. Yes, it is written on the United States of America’s Statue of Liberty.

Of course times are difficult here in the CNMI. And of course burdens are difficult to accept. And perhaps the CNMI is not the place to welcome these sexually abused children. However it is no secret that the CNMI does welcome those who can be abused here, as long as citizens, employers and tourists get something in return. Yes it is a “mess.” It was hypocritical and shameful to hear these incredibly lame excuses for not welcoming child refugees. It was not in the spirit of the cultural generosity I have seen on this island. Only shameful self-serving hypocrisy.

Phil Plaza
Capitol Hill