The word slavery has various shades of meaning depending upon how it is used. One meaning is the \u201ccondition of being subject to some influence\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
In this instance, I\u2019d like to use it as a metaphor describing how we\u2019ve ignored things that matter. Slavery is the monstrosity that emerged from this loose behavior. We are the slaves!<\/p>\n
Technically, we don\u2019t have slavery here or anything similar to what we\u2019ve learned in U.S. History. Ours is somewhat different but no less insistently troubling. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s ignorance and greed. A bold view but not quite ready for immersion with sanctimonious diplomacy or call it political niceties.<\/p>\n
We habitually ignore things that matter. Or we simply avoid honest and candid discussions with the view to understanding clearly what\u2019s at issue. We\u2019re in self-denial, slamming the door of open debate to what admittedly are difficult and unpopular issues. This is exacerbated by the loss of our spiritual anchor. We\u2019ve simply ignored consistent pursuit of the truth. Out the window goes direction and purpose, royally failing attaining success.<\/p>\n
In the context explained herein, slavery is just as horribly and powerfully destructive force against innocent indigenous people whose decision was swayed from within. Coupled with moneyed casino peddlers (when most folks have been forced into subterranean poverty level) must be a grand design to tiptoe casino and accompanying collateral issues through the garden of silence.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve heard passionate advocacy for \u201cOur Way\u201d under the guidance of time-honored tradition while simultaneously trashing the very essence of its preservation. It\u2019s grand hypocrisy rolled into one. We double it up turning ultra-passive, placid and observers of our own instant ignorance, convinced that heading toward the cliff is the right direction. It\u2019s what suits instant gratification that rules the day! Clever but incorrigible pundits have pushed the multitude against a brighter future. Conscientious effort to guide the multitude simply disappeared in thin air.<\/p>\n
As we waltz with ignorance and greed thoughtful vision fades into history. Perhaps it\u2019s time to escape from the ridiculous echo of the budding phenomena. Other important issues have started sprouting. But I\u2019d leave that to evil geniuses to dispose.<\/p>\n
As slaves of ignorance and greed, we still vote in midterm and general elections. At least we vote! As op-ed writer Jose Ma. Montelibano of the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently pointed out: \u201cThat alone (voting) should qualify them to be deemed free, but it has not, it does not. Freedom is not about voting, it is about choices, various, accessible choices. <\/p>\n
\u201cChoices have to be a reality to the majority. And I speak here of the most fundamental, even elemental, of choices, like dignity, security, shelter, food, and mobility. Voting is not an adequate substitute for all these human needs. And voting by those greatly in need will go the way toward the satisfaction of those needs before anything else.\u201d Yes, money, ignorance and greed were rolled into a new layer of subculture. Sad. <\/p>\n
Immigration is federal law<\/strong> Was this aspect\u2014now federal purview\u2014thoroughly reviewed or was it disposed of in the comforts of grand ma\u00f1ana? This issue would entail lots of square dancing provided we have a sense of beat to follow the music. Immigration is federal law!<\/p>\n Wasn\u2019t the NMI mandated to end employment of foreign workers over the next five years? It isn\u2019t necessarily positive law for developmental purpose. Obviously, it\u2019s an issue that requires lots of work on the other side of the Pacific.<\/p>\n Next is infrastructure deficit or lack thereof for the casino project and need for public land. Now do you see my point about lack of due diligence? Any planned development requires the emplacement of basic infrastructure in advance. We\u2019re talking water, power, sewer and roads. And we\u2019re also talking millions of dollars for this purpose. Lest real plans are in place on this score, it\u2019s all second-guessing and reliant upon how soon we meet our end of the bargain. Am I making sense? <\/p>\n Loss of mooring<\/strong> The silent acquiescence to steadily do away with the time-honored cultural traditions of these isles has begun. By the time the boat is halfway downstream it would be too late shifting to head the other way.<\/p>\n More folks would have adopted loose attitude in most everything they do. Familial unity slips into disunity and the idea of holding unto strong indigenous Christian values head out the front door.<\/p>\n As the spirit of the indigenous people is viciously challenged and drained our children are left to eventually yearn for something hugely missing that was once a part of them. It takes vision and leadership to engage serious work regrouping our people to reset indigenous buttons. <\/p>\n Troubling eerie silence<\/strong> It would eventually show up in our backyards bringing gifts of sadness, joy and humiliation. It\u2019s an interesting development in our long and confused journey in a democracy. Perhaps the usual discordancy has as its scaffold grand ma\u00f1ana convinced everything is cool. Is it really?<\/p>\n Unless issues are explained in forthright fashion, the green bag speaks volumes overtaking conscience. Incorrigible pundits have the upper hand especially a day before the runoff. This political chicanery is set to sail into the sunset. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The word slavery has various shades of meaning depending upon how it is used. One…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[256,193,257,67],"class_list":["post-186665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-casino","tag-delegate-kilili","tag-nmi","tag-people"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe NMI needs large numbers of foreign workers to build the casino project. It involves dealing with federal immigration law requirement, warned Delegate Kilili recently.<\/p>\n
\nThe slow though steady loss of our ways is fast tracked by the simultaneous fade of our spiritual anchor or mooring. The NMI community was founded upon a religious culture. It strengthens our sense of humanity in upholding what\u2019s right. We seem to have distanced ourselves from it. Does it matter to us anymore?<\/p>\n
\nAfter the dust of the recent gubernatorial runoff settles, there\u2019s a distant eerie silence chiming repeatedly with bad omen. I can\u2019t place my finger on the two-headed beastly monster. But it insistently crashes upon our shores searching for some strange prey.<\/p>\n