we are all adults here. That is not my way of approaching things but sometimes life is too short to be silent.
It is particularly sad that you have addressed your comments to Mr. Gourley and not to me. I have personally heard Mr. Gourley tell me that he considered you as a friend based on the relationship that existed before the Pew issue started and hoped that would not change. This is nothing but a high school debate. I don’t think people should go around making enemies over a difference of opinion, but that is just my take on things and I am sure you have your take.
I seriously hesitated to write my letter to the editor because I did not expect that the supporters of Pew could actually step up to the plate and be forthright about the topic. You have only proven me right. If that is the best you can do, then you have answered all the questions that I have asked on behalf of the community of the CNMI.
By the way, I would be happy to sit with you when I write my next letter to the editor (should it even be warranted) if you really need proof of who authored it.
With all of the topics I mentioned in my letter that is the best you could come up with, some weak accusation about me having a ghost writer?
If the people of the CNMI are paying attention, and they are, I do not anticipate writing many more because you have answered my questions loud and clear by answering none of them at all.
For your convenience, I will try and keep this short.
You speak of half-truths and irrelevant details but you do not point out a single one. You speak of eco-tourism and make-believe diving industries but say that my questions regarding that very topic are irrelevant. For the readers benefit, please feel free to point out any one thing in my article that has any half-truth to it.
Again Mr. Kramer, I have not had the pleasure of a conversation with you and I do not go around being a hater simply because I have a different view on life or take on some topic. You also do not seem like that kind of person.
I do not have any personal issue with you or anyone else supporting Pew, just a difference of opinion and I never understood how people become enemies over a simple difference of opinion.
I know who supports Pew and who does not. I would like to think they are bigger people than that. I would like to think they do not sit in the corner of the bar whispering nasty comments just because someone has a different opinion.
We live on a very controversial island where decisions such as this are very critical and should not just be rushed along. I believe in speaking out when it is necessary and not hiding my head in the sand when asked a question.
Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding my motivation and position on this topic and I will not respond to your questions by accusing someone else of having authored your questions, all the while dancing around the topic and refusing to respond to a single question.
My questions are very relevant. People’s motivations behind their actions are by far the most important thing of all. Please answer the questions one by one or answer them all at once by not answering any of them.
Are you employed by Pew or do you or any of your friends or family members stand to gain financially or any other way by the establishment of the monument?
And yes, I thought of that question all by myself without John Gourley’s help.
I am not saying that you benefiting financially is bad, I just think it is relevant to your motivation.
I stand to make money off catching fish that you will be eating at a local hotel buffet and am not ashamed to admit it, so why should you be. Most importantly, I have not taken a position on this topic in order to make enemies. Especially when the person you make enemies with on one topic could very well be your ally on another equally important topic.
That’s about it for me. I am not going to continue spending precious time writing articles to a group who dances around the topic and will not come forward with a straight answer. Silence and spin doctoring is the only answer I need to know that you and the movement have no intention of being forthright about this so I will accept that as your answer to my questions. No hard feelings and I hope we find ourselves on the same side of the table next time around. In the meantime, “Gone Fishing.”
JIM DAVIES
Vice President
Biz-Aid Saipan
