By Ambrose M. Bennett – Activist
A Special Prayer for Lino Mettao Olopai, an ‘Ordinary man who was God’s Extraordinary Gift to his Family, his Carolinian Culture and the CNMI’ – R.I.P!
IT is now Black History Month even in the CNMI-America and The Truth Be Told, Ambrodamus may be the closest thing to a “Social Minister in the CNMI” for the lack of a better title and being an outsider compounds the challenge in the CNMI, as rejecting Ambrodamus’ advice solely because of “race & labeled an outsider” in America is bigotry! But just like WE have Priest & Preachers who are not indigenous but divinely CALLED to the ministry & compensated, the same is TRUE with “unpaid activists” like Ambrodamus who put themselves on the line FOR the People, but it’s an immense challenge to address the “Political Hearts & Minds OF the People to DO BETTER Politically,” like the priest & preachers do for life. But, the principles of America are well known, as they are taught in Elementary, Junior & High School Levels but the CNMI is still falling Way-Short of upholding the principles OF American Patriotism, as only “watching & doing TAYA” is obviously insufficient. The idea of joining the American Family but never really giving-up nor sacrificing anything FOR America was based on a hypocrite-ideology & strategy which FAILED to achieve the American Dream. There is also the old wisdom of “your attitude determines your altitude” that’s TRUE and the destitute conditions here are PROOF that our political attitude is so low OUR Economy is literally in ICU! WE the People must change our ATTITUDE with our “Leaders & Politics,” as the Poli-tricking with Deflecting & Gaslighting tactics taking us NOWHERE, WE must end the suffering in November. WE the People are the Real Stewards of the CNMI — it’s on ALL-Of-Us to DO Better for the CNMI to be BETTER, as public-outcry only on small things like a salary increase is a “footnote” in the enormous task of holding all Leaders accountable for the Hundreds of Millions WASTED & No PROGRESS!
WE must all pay attention in class (in life & politics) as the responsibilities OF the People go Far & Beyond voting to “cultural maintenance & preservation that is the responsibility of cultural leaders & parents — not the Legislature & Public School System that have many cultures represented, to Tourism which is “Everyone’s Business” — especially the Governor & Legislature who must stop putting it all on MVA. And most importantly the preservation OF America’s Principles & Laws that guide our Way OF Life is on all-of-us! Need I say the CNMI is in DIRECT VIOLATION of the U.S. Constitution that is the Supreme Law which is a big part of the reason the CNMI has been suffering & going backwards for nearly two decades. Many societies have & still do support “ill moral & unfair laws & practices” so the CNMI was never alone, however, the challenge remains to “bend the moral arc of society towards equality & justice for ALL” not just for locals. I DO Love the People and a lot about the CNMI and the indigenous cultures but listening to Dr. King and marching with him and knowing the lessons of history, I can’t just sit & watch the ugly politics & the misleading of People go unchecked if the CNMI is to Change-for-the-BETTER! But heck, the Chinese rejected & even outlawed Confucius as it took over 100 years before his ideology was accepted so, I’m not deterred, as Time is on My Side! I used to tell my students; “America & the World CHANGES One Person at a Time as it took hundreds of years to grow-beyond-slavery, so be an Activist FOR YOUR CNMI to be BETTER.” The American Dream is DEAD needing resurrection!
The Entire Fabric (Social, Economic & Political) of the CNMI is now “flawed” because it has been poked, prodded & torn with politics of culture & bigotry even leaving parts of the Social Fabric being shredded by CNMI politics & poli-tricks and Locals continuing to leave is PROOF of the devastation of the American Dream for PROSPERITY! The prevailing injustices in the CNMI’s Political Fabric are not the fault of the People but the CNMI leaders who have taken the People down the wrong path of “bigotry & gambling even ignoring progress in their OWN Economic Road Map not to mention Ambrodamus’ sound Economic Advice; thus, they’ve led us too NOWHERE! In fact, Ambrodamus, Zaldy & Mr. Jang are the only ones with TEETH in Public Opposition to the failures of the Leaders, but they have been literally muzzled due to the SILENCE of public outcry & support by the real stewards (citizens) of the CNMI! Our Failures are due the Failure to use the enormous POWER of Free Speech, as WE get what WE ask FOR, so start “Speaking Up FOR Change” or its TAYA!
I’m sure most citizens have also heard the wisdom & truth of “you reap what you sow,” well this indelible fact not only applies to individuals, but that wisdom also applies to all societies & nations. The CNMI has been doing an awful lot of suffering economically & socially that has continued to decline ever-since the turn of the century, as Ambrodamus along with many if not most citizens have literally witnessed the CNMI’s decline that continues to feed the mainland migration and WE the People still don’t see a way out of this mess! Sadly, but Truth-Be-Told, WE are literally “Reaping What (the TAYA) WE Sowed” and tooooo many of the seeds were even evil acts on Monday forgetting OUR Pledges on Sunday! The bigotry & character attacks reminds & strengthens me to be true to what Christ said on the cross, “forgive them for they know-not what they do,” especially the atheist Saipan Man, so prayers for them. But it should also be duly noted, “had Ambrodamus been wrong about anything they would have shouted it across the CNMI and if Ambrodamus was wrong in the many Op eds, they would have NEVER been published” — meaning the opposition to Ambrodamus and my plethora of advice can only “Preach Bigotry & LIES”!!! The Ambrodamus haters would do well to learn the story of “Jethro, a Muslim who helped Moses & the Israelites” in their Religious Plight in the book of Exodus! So please wake up CNMI voters as the Attitude Against Fellow Americans Does Determine the CNMI’s Altitude in the many MISSED Opportunities for Progress & HELLER Dems! The opportunity in November to CHANGE the CNMI for the BETTER is right around the corner and it’s on voters, the stewards, to hold Accountability Court that Day if you truly CARE & Want Better!
One People, One Direction.
PS: I hope you read the “Truth or Consequences 50” that was just republished proving Ambrodamus was ahead of the times back in 2022!
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
