Culture and heritage
There has been a lot of talk about Article 12, especially since the 9th Circuit granted non-NMDs the right to vote on the issue. There were justifiable calls of “foul!” from the indigenous community, but it’s the law now.
The Chamorro (and other indigenous islanders) want to preserve their culture and heritage. They say that by allowing the non-NMDs to vote on Article 12 will further erode their status. After all, the CNMI islands belong to them, not to the United States.
I believe that the indigenous people have their priorities wrong.
The islanders are slowly killing themselves off; and, at some point, there won’t be any more Chamorro, Carolinian or other native islanders. They will all die of diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. If you see photographs of local gatherings—including the DPS, the legislature, even family barbecues—almost everyone is fat. They sit, like tubs of lard, giving the thumb-and-pinky gesture, smiling at the camera.
I wouldn’t say they’re clueless; they know the risks of being fat, of chewing betel nut, of over-eating, of not getting enough exercise, and (perhaps most of all) using methamphetamine. Nor would I go so far as to say that the locals have a death wish, but many are committing suicide on the installment plan.
I knew a wonderful man, Philip Camacho. He was older, and he had diabetes. When I first met him, he was fairly healthy, trim and in pretty good shape. I didn’t know that he had diabetes. Later, Philip was flown to Hawaii, where one of his feet was amputated. Then, after that, he lost the lower part of his leg. Not long ago Philip died in a Honolulu hospital. He was a fine, gracious gentleman, and now he’s gone.
So I ask you: when you’re being prepped for a foot amputation, does Article 12 seem quite so important? When you’re about to lose a leg to the surgeons, do you give much thought to your cultural heritage?
When you are posing for pictures with your cousins, do you think about the disease growing within your body? The mindset seems to be, “Live for today and don’t worry about what happens next.” If so, then you have given up on your own life.
As we know, many cram their mouths with processed meat, eat lots of white rice, chew betel nut, smoke, drink lots of alcohol and otherwise leave no stone unturned in destroying their health.
I know another guy. He is a merry fellow, always with a twinkle in his eye, and a gob of betel nut in his cheek. I used to tease him, saying, “Are you chewing betel nut, young man?” He would nod, somewhat sheepishly, as if to say, “Yeah, I know it’s a bad habit, but I like it.”
Today this wonderful human being has stage 4 oral cancer—all because he chewed. I pray that he survives. He’s just too valuable to lose. But, unfortunately, this is more the rule than the exception: people die because of their bad habits. What makes the bad habits even more painful is that those who indulge know exactly what they’re doing.
Long ago I was in Sunleader. A beautiful woman, accompanied by her adorable young daughter, was at the counter. She was buying two bags of betel nut. As gently as possible, I said, “That stuff can kill you.” She smiled at me and replied, “I know.”
Over the holidays I watched Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The message was both simple and profound: Save yourself while there’s still time.
Russ Mason
As Teo, Saipan
Russ, you assume a hell of a lot and you’re playing God! I do not like your perceived insinuations of our Carolinian/Chamorro doomsday so keep your thoughts to yourself. Betlenut doesn’t kill us, doesn’t give us diabetes nor make us fat! If you so insist, we, along with the kinfolks in Yap and Palau would have been dropping like flies and phased out of this earth a long time ago since this “chewing of betlenut” in our culture has been in existence in over 200 hundred years, as evidence showed in carbon-dated remains of some our people who were dug up, historically. Please don’t think you know more about us – than us. We’ve led healthy lives with our local culture, especially the local food we grew until outside commodities, influences and practices of other cultures come in and destroy the fabric of our once cultural traditions!
Maybe you’re right. But I have seen too many locals get sick or die. If I didn’t care about their health I wouldn’t write the letter. Play God? I wish I could. Then I could wave my hand and make everyone healthy and of normal weight.
You are right about “outside” food from other cultures. It was the American soldiers who first brought processed meat to the local people in 1944. They thought they were being kind, but the stuff is toxic.
I do not know more than anybody else. But I have seen the pictures of local people – they’re in the newspapers, on KSPN, and Facebook. The pictures don’t lie: the Governor is fat, the police commissioner is fat, the former commissioner was fat. They are not setting good examples for the kids. They really need to lose some weight.
It just so happens that they are indigenous locals. But if they were all Chinese I would be writing the same thing about them.
I understand where you’re coming from Mr. Mason if this was an article about health talk but it simply is not. And as much as I don’t like the fact that I (and just like many others) have lost friends and family to certain illnesses that are known to be caused by chewing betelnut and eating more than enough – it just isn’t our place to simply tell what others should or should not do. It’s their life and their choice. All we can do is hope that they decide for the better.
You see, I – like many of our people (Carolinians and chamorros and maybe those who are now born mixed with the blood of MDs) do NOT like the idea of the NMDs to have a say in what happens with Article 12. None of us do I think. I mean, I’m sure of it. Our land(s) are passed down to us from our families and to some of us – it’s all we have to give to our children and they theirs.
Sure I’m probably too young or naive to know anything about the article but still. I was born and raised here – this is my island and is now also my children’s, and I honestly do not want to see it taken away from them and our people so bluntly.
Thank you.
Nicely done.
I guess my point is that local islanders are too precious to lose to NCD’s. It is, unfortunately, happening, and I will not sugar-coat the problems.
After the typhoon a bunch of guys from Palau came to fix the power to our house. They were all fat and had black teeth. There were five of them.
I teased them. “Are you chewing betel nut young man?” (I always say this). They know it’s no good, but they do it anyway.
Frustrating.
In case you missed it…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161372/
As I understand it, it’s not the betel nut, per se, which causes oral cancer, but the lime which is mixed into it. I don’t know if this is true, but chewing is not advised.
I would never say that I know more about you than you. All I can say is that I see locals dying, in wheelchairs at the hospital, at the dialysis clinic and friend who have left us.
In the newspapers, on KSPN and on Facebook, there are lots of photographs of locals and many of them are obese. Pictures don’t lie. Fat is fat.
Feel free to question anything I write, but please don’t question my heart or desire for a healthy community.
I have no doubt you would win a race with me. But I am sad that my compassion for those who are sick and dying was interpreted as ridiculous.
russ, people die, who do not smoke or chew. so do those who live a healthy life style. and please the only person who determines our death is the man above.
You have a good point. But bad habits usually hasten the decline of someone’s health. And people who are fat are more susceptible also.
Do not forget where you came from Mr. Mason. A country of fast food and a country of obesity. I’m a local, I don’t smoke, I don’t chewed and I spend 2 hours in a gym everyday. I’m a healthy person and am damn proud of it. I’ll be 55 years old and I can lift 260 lbs. Not all locals are what you had stated here. Before you rant your big mouth calling us tub of lards. Take a look at the mirror first…you need a suntan. Tooooo pale! Ask a Chinese gal to give you facelift!
Congratulations to you. You are more fit that I am!
But let’s face facts: there are too many fat people here; too many chew betel nut. Our governor is overweight, so is the police commissioner, and the former police commissioner. The former AG, Buckingham, was a blimp.
Yes, there are millions of fat haoles, and they will pay the price. But the Chamorros are too valuable to lose.
Mason leave Buckingham out of our conversation. he’s at peace.
“…like tubs of lard…” Russ this article is careless of you and a departure from many of your well thought out other articles. You might have made the same points without the incendiary rhetoric.
I will not sugar-coat the problem of obesity. I have seen the pictures and maybe you have too.
I was in Joeten yesterday and a nice young guy helped me find something. He was gracious, smiling and kind. He probably weighed 300 pounds. So what should I call him – pleasantly plump? Pudgy?
This nice fellow is putting himself at risk by carrying so much lard – and if that’s incendiary, so be it. It’s actually pretty mild, considering what I might have written.
Ever see “Full Metal Jacket?” Where the tough drill sergeant berates “Pile” for his fatness? Now THAT s incendiary.
It’s dumb you don’t see this as foolish. Everyone knows Saipan has a weight problem and that too many people are obese, getting diabetes and dying too young. Fat people are fat, not stupid. You come off preachy and shrill, like the prohibitionists of yesteryear. What’s more, you approaching people to shame them for chewing betelnut is ridiculous. People don’t respond well to shaming. And they certainly don’t respond well to being called “tubs of lard.”
You’re a smart guy but your attitude sucks Russ.
People are getting sick and are dying needlessly.
I have written “nice” articles for the past 5 years about health and nutrition, but nobody paid attention. Well, maybe some did.
But when I friend dies, and another develops state 4 oral cancer I got mad. This should not be happening here. Shrill? I am just getting warmed up!
Well, your methods are counterproductive.
I am a Chamorro and I don’t take offense to the article. It is true that the majority of islanders in the region are obese and either are dealing with NCDs or no someone who is dealing with NCDs or killed because of NCDs. I would just like to add Mr. Mason 1 point that you forgot to address – Many people believe that living a healthy lifestyle, eating a healthy lifestyle, exercise allows them to continue with their bad habit. This really is not the case. You can not out exercise a bad diet and a bad habit. The ultimate goal should be to stop the bad habit through reduction – moderation – substitution – and eventually elimination.
Before we became a commonwealth we were healthier. Fast food is not part of our culture but America. So for this maniac to insult us calling us tub of lards is totally unacceptable.