In fact, it was the only applaud given to a panelist during their presentation. I was a bit surprised because I never expected to get that kind of response but more importantly it hit me that this simple concept of sharing that we learn as children when our hearts and minds have not been contaminated by prejudices and racism is truly the key to a resolution for addressing the Article XII issue. I can remember teaching first graders at Oleai the concept that sharing is caring and I can also remember teaching them to learn to agree that you disagree so you can still be friends with the person you disagree with (These lessons are also in the Textbook People & Villages which I authored for elementary students). Students also have the advantage of a pure heart because they know it is dead wrong to ask a teacher or professional to come here and work for their entire career but can’t own their home – just go back to the states where they still won’t have a home and die. Sharing and learning to disagree are life skills we teach and if the adults for & against Article XII can agree they disagree and willing to share we can find the middle ground. If you have a heart you must seriously consider sharing to find a resolution.
One thing that was very clear coming from both sides of the issue was we have a serious problem and all the panelist were in agreement that Article XII was indeed broken. The survey of students also revealed that an overwhelming majority of them wanted to see Article XII changed to allow for the indigenous people to share the land with their fellow American citizens, which supported the panel’s conclusion and my belief that sharing is the key to a solution.
Article XII is a political issue and everyone WILL NOT get what they want — that’s politics. But everyone can get some of what they want to allow the other side to get some of what they want — it’s called compromising. As long as one side is for Article XII and the other side is for totally trashing it – guess what, we will end up fighting and going nowhere fast and no solution. I used the term “augmenting” Article XII, which means to make the law better to satisfy the concerns of both sides as both sides have very legitimate arguments and a compromise is clearly the best path for a resolution.
After talking with students and the pro Article XII people, I had a real sense that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel if we (the people) can become one people headed in the right direction toward reaching a compromise and not fighting for total re-instatement of Article XII nor total abolishment. Compromises have been the primary salvation for many difficult political issues starting with the very creation of America and the U.S. Constitution. In fact, compromise even played a major role in the creation of the CNMI’s Constitution and compromise continues to play a major role in the politics of today locally and nationally. So do the two sides agree that they disagree and compromise on working together to make Article XII a better law or do we fight it out and accomplish nothing for the Commonwealth and the people? The Bible tells us we can learn from our children and this time I pray the adults are truly listening to our children’s desire to change Article XII — it is their future!
Ideas will be needed on “how” to share the land and maybe that can be the next Forum given the consensus that Article XII is broken. It would indeed be something special to see the solution for Article XII coming from the efforts of the Public School System and even students. So how to fix Article XII — I would like to suggest consideration of the following because I think the solution is really simple and it should be perpetual and accommodating of the concerns for both sides.
I. The 25 percent that limits land ownership — simple, an Ancestry and/or DNA System — it’s perpetual.
II. Preserve land for the indigenous people — simple, all homestead lots can only be owned by a local. Future loans on homesteads should limit the lending institution’s ability to sell a homestead lot to a non-indigenous person only — they can lease or rent until they can find a local buyer. A non-indigenous person can never own a homestead lot. As long as the government continues to create homesteads, and we have at least 10 more islands to grow, the indigenous people will always have land that they can call their OWN and no local person will be homeless unless they chose to be homeless.
III. Article XII created a Closed Market which violates the right of private landowners’ to Free Enterprise — grant private land owners the right to sell their land to any U.S. citizen. This will give the landowner their right of Free Enterprise and it will also create equality in the ability to own land for every U.S. citizen resolving the conflict with equality and the U.S. Constitution. Like I said in the Forum, private landowners don’t have to sell their land to a U.S. citizen but they should be given that right to sell and choose. U.S. citizens will also have the right to own land but it will still be up to the indigenous owners as to what land they can occupy and how much land they can own. It’s a trade-off compromise that still leaves the final decision in the hands of the individual land owners, which is where it should be, not on Capital Hill. As for government land, that should be left up to each administration to sell with the approval authority being placed with the Senate.
The solution to all the heated arguments about Article XII could be this short and simple as the three things I listed if we can learn to compromise. But I’m sure there will be objections and even complete protest but I hope and pray for the sake of the Commonwealth that those who object to my suggestions will at least come with an even better solution which is what this exercise is suppose to be about — finding the BEST solutions and not writing letters to me.
I do want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Commissioner, Mr. Tigilau who coordinated the event, the Public School System and all the special guests, especially one of my mentors Mr. Sam McPhetres for educating the students about this critical issue — they all deserve a Public Service Award given the magnitude of this issue. For too long PSS has sheltered students from the realities of politics, political candidates and political issues. It is great to see this change as we need our youth to get firsthand knowledge and experience so they can learn to be smart voters — not family voters. The smarter the voters the better the Commonwealth will be and that’s a fact jack! One people one direction for AUGMENTING Article XII to make it a better law and the CNMI a better place to live for everyone and remember Sharing is truly caring!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
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