HAVING read Mr. Bruce Jorgensen’s response it was obvious that he was diverting and obscuring from the real issue of his original response to Mr. Jesse Torres letter to the editor regarding our inability to vote in the United States presidential election.
Surprised to know that millions of Americans residing in the United States do not contribute to the federal tax system but still participate in the presidential electoral process he now spends one paragraph trying to explain how felons are not allowed to vote and devotes his entire comments on Article 12, attacks trying to discredit me and utter absurdity of a possible ghost writer.
Golly gee willikers Bruce, my ghost writers are Fred, Doris and Arnold Ziffel from the TV series show the Greeen Acres. Gee, Mr. Potato Head you did good! Eh brah…didn’t the Secretary of the Treasury Geithner fail to pay tax along with other cabinet appointment like Tom Daschle but didn’t have to go to jail?
Also brah you suggest that felons in the United States are not allowed to vote, may want you to revisit your statement since there are 13 states that allow felons to vote after they have been released from prison. Maine and Vermont do not revoke a felons right to vote even if they are incarcerated. What a kind brah?
In Wabol vs. Villacrusis one of the main arguments was that Article 12 violates the United States Constitution. The justices in making there determination relied in the “Insular Cases.” The court found that the interest of both the CNMI and the United States were at stake and that without alienation restrictions the political union between the United States and the CNMI would not exist.
To even suggest Article 12 violates the United States Constitution is contradicted by plain terms of Section 805 of the Covenant which exempts from constitutional requirements CNMI restrictions on land alienation.
The court further stated: “It would truly be anomalous to construe the equal protection clause to force the United States to break its pledge to preserve and protect NMI culture and property. The Bill of Rights was not intended to interfere with the performance of international obligations. Nor was it intended to operate as a genocide pact for diverse native cultures…. Its bold purpose was to protect minority rights, not to enforce homogeneity.”
Some suggest repealing Article 12 because it is discriminatory or has not represented anything positive economically or purport that economic conditions today are as a direct result of Article 12 is totally absurd. What say these critics about the current economic crisis, housing foreclosures, bankrupted financial institutions, frozen credit crisis that million Americans are experiencing in the United States and the ill-effects that followed to the Asian and European economic crisis?
Many have failed to realize that Article 12 or land alienation laws never considered economic benefits as a primary factor from land ownership among indigenous people. The intent was to preserve and protect social, family, and cultural values represented by the land which is practiced in CNMI, American Samoa, the FSM, the Marshalls, Palau, and even on Guam.
Considering that the total land mass for CNMI, Guam, Palau, Marshall Island and the Federated States of the Micronesia equates to 910 square miles or a land mass significantly smaller than the smallest state, Rhode Island, which is a little over 1,200 square miles one would wonder why anyone would invest time in our Article 12 law.
For this matter we need only to concern ourselves with the court’s ruling and the fact that many legal scholars from renowned educational institutions have examined and concurred with the court’s decision.
My “Politico Wannabe” aspirations are in order. I feel more than qualified to be a politico wannabe having served along with my other Army brothers for a commander in chief that we cannot vote for. Along with my military service I offer my education and my keen sense to articulate on issues concerning the CNMI. I don’t believe that I have to pass the muster test with you since the ultimate decision rest upon the people of the CNMI.
This will be my last reply to you so I bid you Oink, Oink and a warm Hafa Adai.
DANNY AQUINO JR.
Susupe Saipan
