We’ve posted yet another “first” that joins a host of other “Guam first” distinctions of recent years that local folks would rather not talk about. The list includes such things as percentage of smokers and drinkers, school dropouts, teen-age birth rates, government corruption and overall crime rate. We also tenaciously cling to that abysmal rating for public school test scores and our off-the-scale public debt ratio (which our elected officials hope to soon make even worse).
These things are troubling but probably don’t seriously affect the economy or relationships with other countries or the rest of the nation. This latest revelation, however, has the potential to color national and international perceptions of Guam, raising questions about what kind of place Guam really is and whether it’s perhaps not among the nicer places to visit.
The potential influence and effect of Guam rape statistics on the visitor industry should be self-evident. There’s more than enough competition among tourist destinations for this news to generate a significant priority shift. Military members contemplating an assignment to Guam may also have second thoughts, as was common before the advent of DODEA schools. Professionals and others looking at Guam as a prospective workplace may be prompted to re-evaluate their choices.
Have you noticed the resounding silence from those so fond of vilifying and demonizing the U.S. military as sexual predators who habitually rape and pillage? Those who recently invited, accommodated and coddled “visiting missions” by Pacific-area anti-U.S., anti-military, anti-buildup activists and malcontents? Those who deliver rants at the United Nations about the hoards of lustful and rapacious Marines about to descend upon our peaceful and culturally pristine island? Local media also remains defensively silent.
According to Guam Attorney General Rapadas: “We do have our fair share of cases.” which may qualify as the understatement of the year. Statistically we have far more than a “fair share”: three times the national average, three times that of the nation’s crime-ridden capitol and five times that of New York City.
It’s especially troubling that Japanese tourists are often preyed upon as “soft targets” by our home-grown rapists. Even more troubling is the fact that half of Guam victims are children. Keep that in mind as you recall that perhaps 80 percent of rapes go unreported, a figure that’s probably higher here because of a cultural propensity to “keep it in the family.”
Some express surprise at the statistics, though it’s no surprise to those who follow the daily news here. It’s a rare day when local media report no criminal sexual behavior-related news. There are those who’ll contend that because of isolated incidents like the overblown, sensationalized incident in Okinawa involving U.S. Marines, Guam’s obscene rape statistics are attributable to “outsiders.” I suggest that they review local media reports on sex crimes and especially note the names of offenders. I won’t speculate who the majority of offenders may be, but I can say with assurance that they are not U.S. military personnel nor island visitors. I’ll no doubt be called racist and culturally insensitive for having the temerity to mention this.
What’s next? Probably claims that the reports are false or skewed or for some other bogus reason unreliable. There’ll be claims that Guam is “different” and “unique” and normal societal rules don’t apply. I eagerly await comment from those who most vigorously attribute crimes of this nature to military personnel. It should be interesting.
DAVE DAVIS
Yigo, Guam
