Tourism, garments and freedom

A Hawaii resident recently told me something radical. He said that he was opposed to the tourism industry. And when I asked him why, he claimed that the Hawaiian tourism industry was taking something precious away from the Hawaiian people. He claimed that it was somehow compromising their culture, which “should be protected.”

I have to admit that this type of flawed thinking is nothing new. Quite a number of cultural protectionists actually feel this way, even here in the CNMI. And, as a direct result, they have been attacking businesses for years, portraying the private sector as practically evil and “uncaring toward the needs of the people.”

Considering the enormous benefits brought on by businesses, this negative view of industry is highly disconcerting. The fact of the matter is, whether in Hawaii or the CNMI, the private business sector (including tourism) has provided for the needs of the people. In regards to the CNMI, in particular, all I can say is that, had it not been for our vital garment and tourism industries, I assure you, we would still be husking coconuts today.

Without the capital brought in by garments and tourism, the CNMI’s indigenous population would essentially remain impoverished, mired in an anachronistic agricultural age. We would still be farming and fishing for a meager subsistence living, supplemented by repressive federal financial aid and USDA food items.

Tourism and garments have liberated and transformed our islands. They have rescued us from the oppressive heat and toil of farming/fishing and brought us into the comfort of air conditioned rooms, with telephones lines, faxes and powerful computers at our disposal.

Although some misguided people may claim that the tourism industry has robbed us of our heritage and cultural identity as Pacific Islanders, in reality, the exact opposite is true. Tourism and garments have given us our identity. They have put our islands on the map. They have established the CNMI as a viable economy: as a valuable investment and tourism destination. The private sector has raised our overall standard of living.

So, as we celebrate this year’s Fourth of July holiday, let us always remember that, when we celebrate freedom, we should also celebrate one of its vital and necessary components as well: free enterprise. And in the case of the CNMI, this means paying our proper respects to our garment and tourism industries, which have brought us immense new freedoms to enjoy.
Happy 4th of July!