Great moments in history

The federalization issue is one that involves the most fundamental and crucial aspect of American liberal democracy: freedom. This is what the entire raging controversy is all about: the freedom of our people to choose for ourselves, to be governed by ourselves, and to be guided by our very own laws. This is the very essence of local self-government, liberal democracy, and liberty itself.

When I contemplate our just cause–our valiant efforts to resist a federal takeover of our immigration and minimum wage–I think of Richard Nixon in the 1959 “Kitchen Debate” with Soviet dictator Nikita Krushchev. In this historic exchange, Mr. Krushchev boldly told Mr. Nixon, then the U.S. Vice President: “Your grandchildren will live under Communism.” To which Mr. Nixon confidently replied, “Your grandchildren will live under freedom.”

One could easily imagine Danny Ferdinand Aranza telling Governor Pedro P. Tenorio: “Mr. Tenorio, mark my words, sir, your grandchildren will soon live under federalization.” To which Governor Teno must necessarily reply: “Mr. Aranza, my grandchildren will continue to live under local self-government and freedom. Mark my words, in a few years, you will be out of office.”

I believe the comparison is quite appropriate, for we are dealing with essentially the same issue–freedom. Freedom from unwarranted encroachments upon our sacred liberties.

In this connection, one might also recall President Ronald Reagan’s magnificent act of defiance in the 1980s, when, standing by the Berlin Wall, he enjoined then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Such sentiments ring true for millions of Americans.

They ring no less true for the people of the CNMI, who would very dearly like to see the next CNMI Governor declare, “President George W. Bush, abolish this Office of Insular Affairs!”

In both of these great historic events, great American leaders (Nixon and Reagan) were clamoring for the spread of freedom throughout the world. America was resisting global oppression, communism, colonialism, and imperialism. Why should the United States government today deny the people of the CNMI what they had long been trying to bring to places like Russia, East Germany, South Africa, and China?

The tides of history have clearly turned in the direction of freedom. The U.S. government, long a champion of liberty, should not deny us the pleasure of bathing in its glory.
God bless America. Long live representative democracy and local self-government.