We the children of America’s Commonwealth

We the people and children of the CNMI have been challenged to take control of our destiny by creating our own mining company and to do our own studies. I think it is a great idea but I’m also realistic enough to know the government doesn’t have the money and we didn’t save for a rainy day. The concern for the people of the CNMI to take more control by creating their own mining company was definitely correct and it truly cuts to the heart of being one people in charge of their own destiny as Americans. But the question is who will take the initiative?

But to refer to any U.S. citizens as an “outsider” is a ruthless attack on the principle of “equality”—the cornerstone of our society. Its OK to use the term mainlander and local but applying the terms “outsiders vs locals” in an opposition context with issues only serves to create an invisible demarcation line preventing us from ever being one people in the CNMI and one with our nation. I thought Mr. Gandhi and the civil rights movement have taught the world that “stereotyping people” is really not acceptable (the untouchables in India and just being black in America). There is no such thing as “outsiders” among U.S. citizens. The CNMI is part of OUR country where expectations are just simply changing. People that move to the CNMI from the mainland are primarily behind the change because they care as they have proven by the many lives sacrificed to help the people of the islands. What an insult. It has been people from the mainland that have set expectations in the Marianas because they have already experienced what the people of the CNMI want to experience.

As to the question of why “outsiders” are pushing for the mining is simple social science. It took the Spanish (outsiders) to set the expectation for religion in the Marianas; it took the Germans (outsiders) to set the expectation for education in the Marianas. The first Americans in Guam began the push for social, economic and political expectations to change in the Marianas and the people of the CNMI witnessed the improved quality of life on Guam as a result of these so-called outsiders and wanted the same relationship with America. The people of the CNMI pursued the relationship with America because they desired the expectations of American society. So no one should really be amazed that it is still primarily the people from the mainland that are at the forefront of change in the Marianas. It has been that way before the CNMI was even conceived. These outsiders should be thanked and not branded.

It’s not that people from the mainland are trying to tell the local people what to do but merely stating what they “should do” if they want to achieve the same quality of life that exists on the mainland. For example, when the Fed’s advise that we should do something, its because they have already arrived at the same destination of prosperity that we are trying to reach. “Been there, done that.” I’m sure the average citizen can see the simple logic of their admonishments. The more we truly “embrace” and welcome the input from the diversity in the CNMI the better off we will be as a people. It should always be “we the people of the CNMI,” to mean everyone who makes up the community.

I’m sure many of the children that have recently graduated and are in school now will be much more aggressive about taking charge of their own destiny because of the improved educational system and the exposure they are experiencing through technology that wasn’t afforded to previous generations. They also won’t look at people from the mainland as “outsiders” anymore as they are mimicking the mainland society more and more everyday. Given the mentality of students that I have witnessed, this next generation of leaders will do more to set the expectations and be more at the forefront of change. I’m also very confident they will be different in their perspective of people from the mainland and their approach to becoming one people, one direction.

Ambrose Bennett
Kagman