I have often referred to myself as an activist but many of my letters have been more of a social message on the critical and tough challenges we face because the general public needs to be educated on what they are facing — something I view as being very important in any society and very few were doing it when I started writing in 1990s especially an outsider speaking out on the tough issues.
I didn’t come to the CNMI with the intent to become a public person and to write letters in the news. I came with a simple creed to fulfill, to live for God, my family and to contribute to the CNMI society. I thought that I would just go to church, teach and do a few things at church and in the community and that would be it. But just like a priest or minister, I was somehow compelled or even called upon by God to be active and to speak out. For some reason it also feels like I have prepared my whole life for what I’m doing, especially growing up in the Civil Rights Movement which has given me the experience, fortitude and the edge to endure the attacks. Readers can call it what you want but I believe it was my calling by God because for FYI many of the letters I write are actually conceptualized at Mass or after Mass during my cognitive process of self-actualizing in real life the message by the priest. I write from the heart and when I put God in my letter for all intents and purposes I do believe that I got it from God for those who believe.
I felt that I owed this explanation given the hundreds of letters I have written and the comments I have read about my letters. I hope this will help readers to better understand why I’m writing and why they should be trying to hear the message instead of trying to kill the messenger. We don’t get upset at the pastor or priest when he talks about our poor mistakes, bad judgment, and what we need to do but when I say the same things that apply to real life I’m put on a public wall with my name for the title of a letter and critics have tried to literally stoned me to death.
I know that my language is always strong in my letters but readers need to realize that SERIOUS issues should never be sugar-coated or presented in a nice manner because the true seriousness of the matter is diluted. I write the way my mentors would write in their day, Rev. Fields, who named me and still inspires the titles of my letters as he use to do with his sermons, my mother, who gave me so much wisdom, Frederick Douglass, editor and abolitionist, Muhammad Ali, who was not afraid to tell it like it is, Dr. King who demanded that EVERYONE in our nation live up to America’s creed and Edward Pangelinan who led the indigenous plight to unite with America to find prosperity for the local people with the application of the principles and values of America. I want the same thing for the CNMI that most indigenous people want and I have only been trying to help them find it through my messages of education on the issues- to bad I’m not local the CNMI might be in a much better position given some of my letters of advice that would have been acted upon instead of ending up in the trash like my warning about the garment industry. I will NEVER let the CNMI society forget that one because our economy didn’t have to nose dive if the power that be in the CNMI had just listened to me — the outsider.
ONE DAY it will sink in that knowledge and wisdom have no FACE, Race or Color and anyone can give good advice. The Bible even tells us we can learn from our children and the ant so what does tell you about the education I have offered backed up by academic degrees and experience. Being an educator for over two decades I have recognized the general public in the CNMI NEEDS the type of education that I have offered but because I’m not from here my message falls on many deaf ears. I actually conducted an experiment to PROVE the prejudices that exist toward outsiders when I created Mr. Juan Jesus Agulto to write letters that I would normally write. I’m sure most people with common sense know what happened, the comments to Juan Agulto’s letters were respectful and nice until the cyber rats realized it was me — thanks cyber rats for proving you are on the lookout to destroy me and that the Wall of Social Imperialism does exist.
Many readers fell into the illusion that I was writing for myself and some kind of self glory but I hope this will clear the air because I have been writing to educate and to try and help everyone in the CNMI to live in harmony and to have a higher quality of life which I’m sure was the whole purpose of becoming part of the American Family. So the next time the cyber rats and other haters of outsiders want to criticize me for simply trying to help with my Social Message they need to remember and realize, the local people ask to become part of MY American family, not the other way around. I’m not perfect but my intentions are honest and true. I know locals will agree there is nothing wrong with trying to live up to the principles and values of America, the problem is many people didn’t know that it could be so challenging when they joined the American family.
To put it simply, we are simply facing growing pains much like a teenager who refuses to listen to their parents’ advice and has to learn the hard way — advice the feds and I have been trying to give locals for years only to realize we were right years later when its TOOOO late — remember the garment industry prediction, stop bringing in alien workers, raise minimum wage while the economy can handle it. Heck, we just got a seat in Congress and it is obvious to me as a political scientist that voters really haven’t learned how to play the political game in Washington but I will save that story for another time. Many have offered me appreciation for my letters which has been a humbling experience that also gives me strength to continue even though our society is not listening as a whole. Just like in Mass, some are just there but they don’t practice what they are taught once they leave the building. One people one direction for being better listeners to the message with less focus on the messenger because we can learn from a child or even an ant — that’s wisdom
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Former BOE Teacher Rep.
