But let us assume that his tangent rests on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth on what I see as “perceptual” equality. Then the following would have panned out abundantly for the indigenous people in the fulfillment of real equality. They are:
1.) All of the people of the NMI, specifically, the indigenous people will be voting for their preference in U.S. Presidential Elections. The last I checked this right isn’t the case for the indigenous people of these isles, including Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. Gee, where did Mr. Bennett miss this plain simple fact, sir?
2.) The people of these isles and others similarly situated in territorial possessions of the US would be granted FULL representation in the most powerful chambers on earth, the bicameral legislative system of the U.S. Congress. The
NMI would have two senators and a representative who vote on an even playing field with others from the several states in committees and on the floor of the U.S. Congress.
Understandably, sir, this is the peculiarity that is found under Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution: “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States….” It is a legislative body made up of representatives of States, not of States and Districts or townships, precincts and territories. Herein lies the unintended consequence of representation beyond the states.
Furthermore, the 23rd Amendment to the Constitution ratified in 1961 grants the vote to qualified District of Columbia residents in presidential elections, but there’s nothing in this provision about congressional elections. The right to representation is reserved for “States” and the NMI or other territorial possessions are not “States.”
As such, you’ve done a superb job tap-dancing and though I admire your industry, it still is tap-dancing though your arguments may be artistic, composed mostly of personal feelings and sentiments. There is the absence of legal teeth in your arguments and involuntary tap-dancing to inflict granting the NMI full and equal representation in the U.S. Congress. Such is the nature of the beast, sir.
Be that as it may, our ancestors have instilled in their children a sense of humility and respect to our conquerors as to be able to turn the other cheek in submission. We know our place in both calm and storm. We also know full well that though we feel relegated to a certain constitutional prohibition on representation, the people of these isles actually have 535 representatives in the House and Senate of the U.S. Congress, duty bound to look after the NMI and Non-States. Whether these representatives adhere to their duties is certainly arguable. Therefore, your vacuous assertion on equality is just that — vacuous!
JOHN S. DEL ROSARIO JR.
As Gonno, Saipan
