Kenneth Duenas, in a recent letter to the editor here on Guam, noted the same things that caused some to berate me as a racist when I wrote about them several weeks ago. That probably makes him a bad Chamorro in the eyes of those who don’t like to be reminded of just how incredibly inept this government actually is. It’s hard to understand why criticism of a dysfunctional government somehow translates to racism. Perhaps it’s because readers identify with those we’re foolish enough to elect to office, while recognizing that nearly all belong to a single ethnic group.
I didn’t attend any name-change hearings, but it’s not hard to envision how it went. Those who showed up to testify would have been mostly Chamorro activists and others like the “We Are Guahan” group. There probably wasn’t much in the way of credible and objective reasoning offered in favor of the change, but I’m quite sure there was plenty of emotional rhetoric with little reference or thought to the massive costs and disadvantages involved not only here, but globally.
Consider, for example, the prospect of changing every maritime and aeronautical chart worldwide.
I wouldn’t expect to see UOG’s learned researchers or Guam historians supporting the bill. It’s well documented that Guahan is only one of some 20 names for Guam used at one time or another over several hundred years and isn’t, in fact, viewed as the most likely original indigenous name at all.
Most rational folks recognize this as simply a frivolous ego trip by a failed governor desperate to do something, however foolish, to remind people that he ever actually held office. There’s certainly little of a positive nature he can point to during his tenure. He was absent for much of the time, which is probably more in the nature of public benefit than detriment. Executive order notwithstanding, the legislature will likely stall on the name-change bill — much like they handled the same-sex marriage question — until Governor Camacho and his administration fade into political oblivion. His “legacy bill” will disappear as just another bad idea that some had the good sense to see for what it was.
Interestingly, it seems that Governor Camacho may himself be experiencing a bit of difficulty making the name-change transition. In a May 27 ten-minute interview with K-57’s Ray Gibson the governor referred to “Guam” at least three times and to “Guahan” only once.
By the way, how’s that “Chamorro Standard Time” workin’ out for ya? I find little reference to it. It looks as though it kinda faded away as well.
DAVE DAVIS
Yigo, Guam
