By Ambrose M. Bennett – Activist
THE Truth is, some do not want to hear this TRUTH, but denial is NOT going to create a better future. Evolution is an All-Powerful & Inevitable Phenomenon and those who “embrace evolution & control-change are the ones who benefit the most (prosper).” The Roman’s slogan, “Fortune Favors the Brave or Bold” is TRUE, and Mining & Culture are just the latest challenges. I respect those who say NO, but I beg to respectfully suggest a Far-Better to use the “Blue Frontier as a Template for a Symbiotic-relationship to improve our economy & control the mining driven by science & scientists that will be self-financed, not government.” “Work-the-problem & create a plan,” as WE Economists say, for the least amount of intrusive & destructive mining to control the future of the ocean. History has proven too many times when the world needs resources from a place or region, there is No-Power-on-Earth powerful enough to stop this evolutionary & demanding phenomenon. It’s also a fact, mining could/will happen without the consent of island governments. Wisdom dictates, mankind will forever seek earth’s natural resources, and the key is to “control as stewards,” as a flat out NO will NOT withstand the test of time!
Our new Brand includes Culture and the evolution of the indigenous cultures in the CNMI are far behind other Indigenous Island People like the Hawaiians due to being caught in the “wake-of-change” with virtually no real progress and facing the same death that hundreds of other cultures that did NOT stand the test of time. Having minored in Sociology I can see the Cultural Decline & Challenges and I must say something in hopes that the Powers-that-Be (Indigenous Leaders) will step forward to meet the challenges of the evolutionary forces preying on the indigenous cultures. One of the biggest proofs of the faltering indigenous cultures is the “huge migration pattern” youth/adults who can’t wait to leave searching for the American Dream with the preservation of the culture far down their list and may not even be listed, which is the Hard Truth. Everything created by mankind needs maintenance to be perpetual and Cultural Maintenance is lacking in the CNMI & WHY I’m issuing this Tough-Love for Cultural REFORMS — so don’t be hating the TRUTH & Ambrodamus for CARING!
There is always talk about culture but for many, if not most, they are “not walking their talk” when it comes to the indigenous cultures. Ambrodamus has personally witnessed the Republicans preaching “culture” and even falsely attacking Ambrodamus as a “threat to the local culture” when they couldn’t be farther from the truth if they were on Pluto, as my wife & children are Chamorros! The (GOP & Dems) dislike the challenges to evolve & accountability that I pose so they try to “kill the message & messenger”! However, the Truth is they have done virtually TAYA on the maintenance & evolution of our economy & cultures. WHERE is the Cultural Center for Tourists like WE see in Hawaii, WHERE is the Culture School like WE see in Hawaii, WHERE is the recognized “Warriors, Chiefs & Priest System” like WE see in Hawaii, WHERE are the Books to become Documentaries & Movies on Taga & the History to promote our BRAND like the Hawaiians, WHERE are the Summer Programs for Youths to learn the entire cultures (Warrior School, Navigating, Arts & Crafts, Indigenous Games & Customs) like the Hawaiians. WHERE are the new words I’ve been calling for since the early 2000s, as the indigenous languages are becoming more & more dysfunctional. Please note: Social Scientists have stated more than once that “language alone is insufficient to maintain & preserve an entire culture over time” which is just one reason for the death of previous cultures — for TRUE! And since the Ocean is a hot topic now, WHERE are the Culture Practices & Ceremonies to recognize the Ocean as part of the Culture like WE see the Hawaiians often conduct. There is more but the point should be VERY Clear there is a lot of work to be done in the CNMI beyond just talking culture if Culture is truly to be part of our World Recognized Brand. WE can’t just talk & invoke culture but Do-the-Work to make sure the cultures are functioning & evolving. “Walk the Talk on Culture” that is ALL on the lacking Indigenous Leaders, not Ambrodamus!
People easily seek & accept the constructive criticism of the Priests & Pastors, but in the CNMI when someone is not of the same culture & origins trying to help and speak-out on what needs to be done, they are SCORNED not on the merits but because of their race & origin proving BIGOTRY rules, not Progress! However, I pray this ugly & deteriorating practice to the CNMI’s evolution will end One-Day, as I knew bigotry existed in the Political Arena and emissaries like Saipan Man & Crew would manifest along the way. But someone must offer constructive criticism on issues like our “Economy, Politics & the Maintenance of the Social Fabric.” It’s like Dr. King asked me & others that I took very seriously: he asked, “if not you, then who and if not now, then when” will WE as a People Overcome the forces of Racism, as most cultures are facing Racial-Erosion! The bigotry of ignoring Ambrodamus has literally cost the CNMI millions — for TRUE! Some of the major flaws in the CNMI is the “failure to meet the expectations of the evolutionary forces” like the demands for “the American Dream & Progress with Good High Paying Jobs and Careers, a broad-based & flourishing economy and everyone treated Equally” which are TRUE Perpetual Variable Forces of Evolution. HELLER and Wakeup to look in the mirror, as the CNMI must “go where it has never been before to fix our economy” avoiding Subjectivity and using Objectivity to Mining & Maintenance of the Cultures to complement our New Brand!
One People, One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays-Lifetime Humanities & Religious Scholar who resides in Kagman III in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
