‘We're just doing our job’
We live in a world where we constantly search for the littlest of faults in everything. It’s the hamartia of humanity. But it is deeply saddening how we talk about altruism, especially this holiday season, whilst looking for ways to one up each other.
Moving closer to the issue here on island, I know many people do not agree on the passing of the casino bill. It is evident in the several articles and opinion published in the media. But what’s done is done and the least we can do is turn it to our advantage. Whether we like it or not Best Sunshine has had and will continue to attract tourists from all over the world to visit our little paradise, bringing a boom not only to our tourism industry, but the job market as well.
I am neither a politician nor an activist, I am simply voicing out my opinion out of frustration from the many backlash that has been thrown their way. What happened the other night, Christmas Day, was the last straw. I came in with a group of friends to check out the casino. We were a group of nurses, teachers, and accountants. Out of our uniforms, we were seen as kids trying to sneak into a “21-and-over-place.” We got ID’d at the entrance like everyone else. What came as a surprise was how four of my friends were trailed by security personnel who said their establishment has been reported for letting underage people in and they simply wanted to prove that they in fact checked our ID’s. They had to make a copy of each one as proof. We understood that they were just doing their job. Later that night, I found out it was not the players nor the bystanders, nor the casino employees who reported the incident. Unsurprisingly, it was the commissioners who work for the government. People who are “just doing their job” as well. And what job is it they do exactly, you ask? It’s their job to protect the islands from big companies like Best Sunshine. It’s their job to work from the inside and search for loopholes just to prove a point—that business is not welcome here.
Rai Tabunda
San Roque, Saipan
Very well said. All in all, it comes down to the economy. We were in need of an boost and now that we have this new industry, we should take full advantage of it as opportunity to restore our economy.
Rai Tabunda, it is NEVER about altruism or hamartia at whatever level you would like to reference the spirit or lack thereof, of the individual during this season. And it is NEVER anyone’s place to decide what is best for the well-being of the individual in our community in reference to, like John Del Rosario said, the “platitude” to the successes, or lack thereof, of the Casino industry on our Christian island.
But again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
BTW, the checking and copying of your photo identification is a process established by the Commonwealth Casino Commission to ensure that no one who is under social subsidy (e g. Food stamp, medicaid, etc.) is allowed to play in the Casino. They are checking your socio-economic status. BUT can be a civil rights issue, if you like, you may want to ask an attorney…there’s hundreds around the island just waiting for a chance at Glory.
Peace!
Dear Rai, I think that your statement:
” I know many people do not agree on the passing of the casino bill. It is evident in the several articles and opinion published in the media. But what’s done is done and the least we can do is turn it to our advantage…”
Is fundamentally wrong. If you agree to take advantage from something that was done illegally, you became an accomplice of that wrong doing. There is a say “There are one who do not steal and one who steal, but there is no one who steal just ones”. This mean that allowing something wrong once, you will allow it again. The honesty is a moral quality without any grades – you have it or you do not have it. You cannot be a “little bit pregnant”, you cannot be a “little bit dishonest”.