I LOVE the Marianas Variety. I really do. In most other newspapers and periodicals, especially during the week of Dr. M.L. King’s birthday, the editors would choose to remove racially charged sentiments and bigoted comments. Not the Variety. Because of the Variety’s openness to unpopular opinions, I am hopeful that this letter may perhaps see print.
I read in its Forum page the other day about the “injustice (you) receive as a people and Chamorro race” at the hands of “white folks.” This is what is referred to as “hypocrisy.”
The CNMI has been one of biggest exploiters of people on the planet. And this exploitation has been based, as it often is, on race. Is there anyone who would deny that Filipino, Chinese, Thai, Korean and even white residents are discriminated against at nearly every turn? Can anyone honestly say that these residents have equal protection under the law? Is there any Chamorro who would trade places with one of these people? Of course not.
To be Chamorro in the CNMI is to be at the top of a racially based caste system. If you are not Chamorro, you are at a severe disadvantage in the CNMI. It is nothing short of racism to argue that this hierarchical system should be allowed to continue.
The Chamorros have lived a privileged existence for decades and must now learn to participate in an egalitarian society. Individually, it won’t be an easy transition. Racist views die hard. The Confederates didn’t like freeing their slaves, the Nazis didn’t like the Jews being released from the death camps, and men didn’t like giving women the right to vote. These things were done not because they were easy or popular. Each was done because it was the right thing to do. And that is why the minimum wage will be standardized with the rest of the United States and CNMI immigration will be turned over to the federal government. And it’s about time.

MATTHEW WERTZ
Medan, Indonesia