There is a lot of buzz over the coconut wire about the administration’s mode of operation that continues to lower salaries and even get rid of employees while hiring new employees in the same breath almost. The scary part is, the majority of the new employees are Carolinian and the majority of the ones leaving are Chamorros which is a very frightening thought should this type of phenomenon continue for another four years.
I’m saying this because it was brought to my attention by Chamorros who are truly concerned about the obvious hiring pattern of this administration and I know from history and experience that this is very treacherous. So this letter is not only from me but those in the silent majority that I usually speak for on the controversial and challenging issues. I’m writing about this issue because local people ask me to say something about it for them and in their own words “the government used to be Chamolinian and now it is just Carolinian”. As you can see the threat is real and this hiring practice is starting to pose a real danger on society, especially if it continues. I also want to do all I can to make sure the anger of the Chamorros is focused at the administration and not at the Carolinian people as a whole.
The administration is creating a “social divide within a divide” which is a new one for the social fabric of the CNMI. We have a division between outsiders, alien workers and now another divide is developing between the two cultures by getting rid of Chamorros and hiring Carolinians. History has taught us that social divisions, especially in hard times when it affects the quality of life can led to bad things happening in society. Previous administrations were guilty of nepotism to some level but times were much better and people had more job options then, now they don’t!
Politics is very much integrated into the social fabric of life especially here in the CNMI where your cultural and family relations can play a major role in your success or failure to prosper. If you are in the right family you never have to worry about a job-fact. The society of the CNMI is already being pushed to limits never experienced before and it won’t take a lot more before it finally becomes ENOUGH — we can only imagine what will happen.
But I did tell the people who asked me to write about this that it was mostly the government employees who voted this administration back into office and now it seems they are the ones who are being hit the hardest with the threat to get rid of bodies. The Governor already abandoned his political supporters when he dropped them and join the GOP and now they are getting exactly what they voted for — the shaft AGAIN! Sooner or later all voters are going to realize what I’ve been saying all along “we voted ourselves into this mess and the only way out is to vote ourselves out”! Or do we want to wait until it is so bad that we go the same route the Egyptians just took? Sticking with the status quo and OK people is no longer good enough. If you haven’t notice, we need some GREAT people to make some GREAT things happen. Just think, who can you say lately has been a “GREAT” leader of the Commonwealth — I’m sure most will agree we have had some good and great leaders in the past but that great one hasn’t showed up lately. We the People need some greatness because OK won’t get it done!
The society of the CNMI is rich with good and even great people but many of them don’t get the chance because they are not with the “in group or from the right family” in power and this must change. More importantly, the CNMI is PRIMED for greatness given our poor situation — so we must keep hope alive for that great leader to come along and start fixing the mess we have gotten ourselves into. But that leader may never become a reality if we continue to vote the way we have in the past based on popularity and following the wrong people taking us NOWHERE FAST!
All politicians should pay close attention to the affects of their politics on society and become better social scientists because you will do a much better job with that information — it may make your job harder but we the people didn’t elect you to find the easy way out and to play the safe politics of doing nothing. There are two kinds of people in our Legislature, those who make things happen and those who watch things happening-learn who is who. It is our job to get rid of those sitting on the fence watching and doing nothing along with those who ARE NOT doing what we expected of them. Some of our politicians are literally playing our society just to stay in office and our society had better hurry up and learn how to play our politicians, they do work for YOU!
On a final note I want to thank the author of the letter Where is the Indignation for recognizing the indignation of my critics, especially the cyber rats. They ALWAYS miss the important message because they are only interested in killing the character of the messenger — sad and sick people so pray for them. As for most people being tired of me writing, he got that ALL wrong because most people I meet continue to tell me to keep it up and they come from all walks of life, Chamorros, Carolinians, Filipinos, mainlanders and other ethnic groups in the CNMI. I’m sure most of the good and Godly people with common sense respect me and appreciate the constructive ideas and the constructive criticism I have offered as a social scientist and activist over the destructive opinions of an obvious bunch of hatters who hide and throw rocks in the comment section. It is just another classic battle of good vs. evil and I will continue to win in the end like I just did with the help of another author who supports my idea for a Tourist Act and denounces the cyber rats.
One people one direction for better people, better politics, a great politician and for hiring who can do the best work regardless of their race, creed, religion or sex. This is still America and we need to keep the American Dream Alive! If we the people don’t aspire for the American Dream, then what dream and if we don’t try to achieve it now, then when? I will end with a bit of wisdom from one of my mentors: “Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes.
Meaning we will all fly together (all ethnic groups in the CNMI) to find prosperity or not at all!
AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan
