EVERY so often, an idealistic writer pops up and begins a discourse on reunification of the Mariana islands. I praise their idealism. But as a realist, I too was in 1963, idealistic and naive, and once thought the same. But history and experience have led me to believe that Guam is better off seeking it’s own destiny separate from the commonwealth.
There has been too much arrogance and jealousy on both sides of the reunification issue. Guamanian Chamorros and Saipanese Chamorros are just that, separate mentalities, understanding and sensibilities.
I don’t think that the CNMI will want to give up its ability to be a “power” player with the United States, and I don’t think that Guam wants to play second fiddle to the CNMI. Both have gone beyond the crossroads of reunification and have been traveling on two separate paths for too long.
When Guam was prospering, Saipan sought commonwealth status. When Saipan prospered, Guam rebelled against the military presence. Now both are begging for infusion of military expenditures. Saipanese welcomed the Japanese as their brothers and embraced their culture. This remains to the present. Guam prospered under American liberation (note, I didn’t use the word occupation here), embracing American education and therefore quickly assimilated into the American culture, accepting all its pitfalls, shortcomings and strengths. I am a product of that experience and I am better for it.
Guam’s destiny, I believe is to become the ideal model government that the founding fathers sought for the United States. Guam is a mircocosmic mirror of the United States. Everything that can go wrong and go right in the contiguous United States is played out every day on Guam, and yes, it is where “America’s Day Begins.”

FRANK PEREZ
Dalian, China