Justice Dept. bats for Puerto Ricans How about the rest of us, Ms. Reno?

US Attorney General Janet Reno said this week the Justice Department will take “appropriate steps” to deal with an effort by residents of Puerto Rico to gain the right to vote in the upcoming presidential election, according to an AP news account.

“While Puerto Ricans are US citizens and can vote in any of the states, the Constitution does not provide for residents of territories–Puerto Rico being a territory–to be able to vote in presidential elections”, she said at a news conference.

Apparently, a group of residents filed lawsuit in US District Court in Puerto Rico pushing for the right to vote. The judge who heard the case last August ordered that Puerto Rico’s government “act with all possible expediency” to enable islanders to vote for president as a constitutional right.”

As a US Citizen and a staunch supporter of justice for all, I’ve longed for that day when CNMI’s group of US Citizens are allowed to vote in US presidential elections. I’ve also longed for that fine day when full representation is granted these isles in the US Congress. Both–voting in presidential elections and representation–are constitutional rights. As US Citizens, we ask for nothing less than our constitutional rights.

Ms. Reno is preparing to talk to authorities to let them know what the results were based on the court’s decision. If such is the case, Ms. Reno, then include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Their people are US Citizens too and equally deserve their constitutional rights to vote in presidential elections.

I could envision all the racist and economic issues which would be thrown against territorial US Citizens where opponents capitalize that the US Constitution didn’t provide for these rights. At the same time, it remains a right of citizens as provided for under the same constitution. The principle issue is citizenship’s rights and opponents must adhere to granting these rights to all fellow Americans. It’s wrong to promote and perpetuate discrimination by geographical location.

As our country moves ahead into the 21st Century, it could indeed attain real inclusion of all its citizens and all that it stands for by allowing territorial US Citizens both constitutional rights. Yes, we all look forward to this day when our rights outside mainstream America are finally recognized and granted by our mother country.

To perpetuate denial of such constitutional rights is to subscribe to the view that some US Citizens are more equal than others. This no longer has any room in the greater American community. It is also wrong to deny such rights because of a constitutional anomaly or issues of economics. We are US Citizens too and we ask for nothing less than justice in this instance. God Bless America the Beautiful, God bless our country and let us for once allow freedom to ring “from sea to shining sea!” Si Yuus Maase`!

On Saipan being dangerous

For all the backtracking in sanctimonious diplomacy, a tourist being killed in her hotel room isn’t my definition of “unsafe”. It’s in fact dangerous no matter how you wish to suffocate or suppress it with diplomatic niceties.

It is a fact that tourists have had their properties stolen in remote places here. Would anyone in his right mind dub it “unsafe?” There’s always the chance that the perpetrator may inflict fatal blows when fearfully tangoing with his victims, right? It’s not unsafe, it’s a dangerous situation!

Semantics aside, the information was posted under www.mofa.go.jp. I have the translated version which local authorities failed to keep in its secret files so it doesn’t get leaked to the news media. Even I wouldn’t dare camp in remote beaches here for a reason: It’s dangerously risky! Have a nice day!