Circle of Idiots

Saipan Tribune Sunday December 7, 2007 Letters to the Editor


'Don't tell me why I voted for my district's candidate' (ROBERT HUNTER San Antonio)
I generally don't feel the need to respond to penned nonsense where a family member is involved, and certainly not when it's Ms. Tina Sablan, who needs no defender. But this time, I found it somewhat offensive that Mr. Gregorio Cruz, a losing candidate in district 5, would begin to presume why I or any other voter for that matter in district 1, cast their vote for Ms. Tina Sablan. I also found it hilariously “ironic” that Mr. Cruz, who basically had his backside handed to him on a tray in this recent election-coming in dead last, a miserable ninth out of the nine candidates running in his district-had the audacity to suggest to Ms. Tina Sablan how she should behave as a representative-elect, let alone how to behave at all. How about that for a big boulder? Was there something that she has said or done that veered from any of her positions that were made crystal clear during the campaign or on her online forum? No.Sorry Mr. Cruz, you are, in my book, a pitiful individual, who plays off the fears of the current economic situation to forward your politics, which are, despite your denials, lined with racism. You can argue that up and down, you can try to disguise it with “calls to lower utility rates” or “bans on fluoridated water”, but the reality is, your members stand by the roadside holding “go home, this is our land” signs and you chime in with “Chamorro” this and “Chamorro” that whenever someone has an alternative point of view or tries to help out our nonresident workers. You use “minority” often when referring to any group you might take issue with. You used it in both of your recent letters in reference to two different groups of people. You can't even maintain the thin disguise of civility you tried to throw up in an attempt to maintain some legitimacy, after the horrendous display that was your group standing by the roadside with the “go home” signs. The problem you have, and thankfully so, is the general public isn't that dumb or that backwards.With regard to Mr. Ron Hodges, Tina was rightly defending his freedom of speech. I didn't care for his letter either, some of it was wrong, some of it was extreme and much of it was distasteful in my opinion, but I understood his concerns and understood that it was not meant to be taken literally. He had every right to voice his opinions, as does everyone else. And there is reasonable recourse to such actions: Write a response. I was a fairly loud opponent of the federal takeover of immigration as far back as the early 1990s. I wrote a number of letters to the editor on the issue, I wrote Congressman George Miller directly, one of my letters was even printed as a full page advertisement in two of the local papers by an anti-takeover group. I was so fierce in my position that I was even questioned by the FBI at the time over remarks I made to and about DOI representative Allen Stayman.While I was young and passionate and maybe a bit harsher than I should have been in retrospect, I am still generally against the federal takeover of immigration. I am now, only because I believe this control is tied directly to what is the most important economic engine of the NMI, its tourism industry. Our ability to tap certain markets, such as the Russian and Chinese markets, is dependent on our ability to let these travelers visit with minimal entry restrictions. There is a reason the Russians have started to come here: They are exempt from having to go through the very difficult and expensive visa process they have to, in order to go to Hawaii, for example. If we do not control this, these and any other foreign visitors can be stopped from visiting here in the future by the feds. And while the feds claim that language in the federal takeover bill will provide for easier entry requirements for these identified travelers, this can change at any time. The visitor industry is a dynamic one. We need to be able to make adjustments with regard to markets immediately sometimes. It would put us at a significant disadvantage if we were to have to wait an inordinate amount of time for the slow wheels of the federal government to turn, in order to have visa waivers and certain restrictions removed for travelers from particular destinations. I believe our own government is in a better position to do this and with incredibly far more speed and flexibility.Having said all of that, there are issues with regard to immigration as it relates to our resident and nonresident workers that make sticking to this position morally difficult for me. Specifically, our immigration policies, while they have helped to meet workforce needs, have also served as a tool to “control” nonresident employees, keep private sector wages artificially low and, through these low wages, deter our resident population's participation in the private sector workplace. I personally feel that we can devise a better and more just solution than simply sending nonresident workers who've lived here and contributed-in some cases for decades and with families-packing.Nonresident workers are a large disenfranchised group, who are much needed, but at the same time need to be provided with the ability to function in the private sector as any resident employee would. This will help level the playing field for resident workers. We can correct this. We don't need to wait for federal legislation, like we did with the minimum wage. Let's do what we can to disarm the feds, so that when the next gunfight begins, they find themselves with less ammunition. Let's do what we can within our power to strengthen nonresident worker rights, not weaken them further.We as a community should correct the inequities we've created. You can't ask why locals aren't working in the private sector, and then support the minimum wage as it is. You can't expect that a business is going to hire a resident, when they can hire a more compliant and less costly nonresident. You can't expect to continue stating that we need nonresident workers, and particularly trained and professional workers and then not expect to pay them equitable salaries commensurate with their work. You can't continue to facilitate a workforce that cannot speak out, that cannot argue for the improvement of their pay or work conditions, that cannot be promoted or vie for better local opportunities. And as much as you say, there are means for our nonresident employees to address these, there are really not. As evidenced immediately after the talk of the “march” became public, a number of folks came out with what I considered subtle threats, suggesting employees could be fired for striking, marching or protesting. This is exactly what is wrong with the system as it is. And I don't believe that the resolution to these inequities needs to be the destruction of lives and families, which is essentially what will be done by uprooting nonresident workers and their families who've been here for substantial periods of time. We are bigger and better than this, and this community is compassionate enough and intelligent enough to come up with a better solution.When Mr. Cruz refers to the group that is calling for the march as the “vocal minority,” he is far from correct. It is more likely they represent a huge quiet majority. A majority that would like to march, but are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like to be paid a better wage, but won't protest as they are afraid for their jobs. A majority that would like better conditions, but are afraid for their jobs. We cannot continue to foster such an atmosphere. We control our immigration right now; why don't we do something about correcting this? Why don't we use our immigration and labor laws to strengthen employee rights, why don't we facilitate a scenario that doesn't lead the business owner to feel that they have excessive control over a nonresident employee they've hired? A number of Filipinos have told me that they are simply fearful of marching. Is this the “harmony” Mr. Cruz speaks of? We tell them what to do, and they just shut up and work? If this is “harmony”, maybe we need a bit more of what Mr. Cruz would refer to as “spitting in the soup.”So while I may not agree with Tina on every one of her positions, she has been absolutely clear and straightforward with regard to the positions she does stand for. Unlike Taotao Tano, who, as soon as they received public condemnation for the roadside “go home” protest, backed off immediately and publicly stated that they will focus on CUC and other issues. How about some backbone and some integrity? I've never known Tina not to stand up for what she's spoken for and she's never blown with the wind, based on flak she's received.The Chamorros have proved a strong and resilient people, who have endured through some tremendous historic trials. They have persevered through diseases, wars, and relocations. This is a community more deserving of better leadership than that which Mr. Cruz purports to provide. And a community that was smart enough to know this, based on the recent election results.Tina needs to keep doing just what she's doing. She was elected because she's a good, decent and intelligent person, who takes the overall interests of the community to heart. As a district 1 voter, who voted for Tina, I sincerely hope that Mr. Cruz is the last person she takes advice from. As for telling citizens to “mind their own business”? If you Mr. Cruz and your organization are out there taking actions in the very public manner that you do, that affect the community as a whole, such as standing by the roadside with “go home” signs, yelling about CUC, the fluoridation of water and challenging the Kumho lease, your actions are EVERYBODY'S business. When Taotao Tano becomes a sewing circle and you guys just sit around gossiping amongst yourselves and knitting, then that is YOUR business. You see Mr. Cruz, Tina does not seek power as you claim, Tina has displayed no fear of scrutiny or transparency, Tina seeks to do what she feels is right. This is why, even though I may not agree with her on every issue, I still voted for her. You on the other hand seek power, and attempt to grab onto any issue that you think will “stick” with the public. This is glaringly obvious. Luckily for all of us, you are more the “little brain with the mouth of a megaphone”, than your self-proclaimed, “little man with the heart of a lion.”If you want to see a lion, look in Tina's direction.

Grow a thicker skin (Alan J. Elder Kagman)
“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is afraid of its people.”-John Fitzgerald KennedyWhen I read all the letters to the editor attacking Mr. Ron Hodges regarding his metaphorical comments it makes me wonder. Why is everyone so thin-skinned and threatened by obviously innocuous words? Get a life, people. We have better things to do than waste time at the Legislature on this exchange of protected free speech. You may not like what Mr. Greg Cruz says. You may not like what Ms. Tina Sablan or Mr. Ron Hodges says. But they have the right to express their views. When they want, how they want and whenever they want. Those of you who disagree need to get a thicker skin and just deal with it.


Fair play (Glen Doutrich San Jose)
We want to see if the House will do the right thing. Fair play is an issue here and we will soon see the true side of the Legislature. The House of Representatives recently adopted a resolution condemning a schoolteacher for his public statements on foreign labor in the CNMI. Well, here’s another letter written in the local paper issuing threats directly against you, the Legislature. A threat of physical bodily harm against all members in the “glass house.” Yes, you too Stanley, so what will you do about this? Look the other way, simply ignore it, since it is a “local and not an outsider”?I challenge you to enact fair treatment in this case and handle this just as you did in the case of Ron Hodges.The letter, written by Gregorio Cruz of Taotao Tano CNMI Association Inc., warned Ms. Sablan, to “be careful when you step into the Legislature next year because you will enter your new, ever clear, polished and shiny 'glass house.' There will be more people looking in than you can possibly count. You think that as a congresswoman it will make you all-powerful? Sorry, think again, for people in glass houses better be careful when throwing stones, because those looking in might throw boulders!”So, Stanley T. McGinnis Torres, we are now awaiting your response to see what actions you will take on this threat. This is not simply spitting in a tourist's bowl of soup but a threat to throw boulders directly at you and the whole Legislature. We will be able to see by your actions whether you treat all people and things equally. If your actions are not similar to your resolution condemning Ron Hodges, we will demand to know why. If the same actions aren’t taken here and now then we will know for sure as to what you really are and that being feebleminded, shameless and crooked...., well, where have you heard that before? The ball is now in your court and we are awaiting your action You now have the opportunity to show that the first resolution wasn’t just a racist sham, by treating this threat with the same due diligence and to show your true self. Do the right thing.

In defense of Tina and Ron (Malou Berueco Gualo Rai )
Mr. Cruz, I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan cares if you are disappointed with her stand. She is very intelligent to know, that nobody can please everybody! I know she would care enough if the majority of the people that voted for her are the ones disappointed. I firmly believe that what Tina cares for are the issues that were in her agenda and the platform she had during elections. You should learn how to wait and see. Wait until she's in the office and see if what she's doing is with her agenda. But as far as I know, her reactions to all situations right now are clearly stated in her agenda. Did you read and understand her agenda? If not, you MUST before you talk! And remember, with the agenda she presented, she won! That means people who voted for her believe and support her ideologies. If your ideologies are good and your constituents believe and support you should have won the elections! Remember, Tina won.For the record, Ms. Tina Sablan is not representing us. She is just one of those local residents who think that PL 15-108 is an unfriendly law, both to employers and employees. What irony are you talking about? This is a UNITY march. Meaning, people who will attend this march are not only aliens or residents. Everybody is welcome. And you are welcome to attend too!Had we have the right to vote in the last election, we would not think twice to vote for her! And she would be the FIRST one in rank! Tina is marching not to support alien workers. She will be marching because she knows that PL 15-108 will not do any good to the majority, regardless of your status, race or nationality. Mr. Cruz, I firmly believe that if, in the future, you will organize a march for a good cause, I can say that Tina will be supporting you. And in case, you would need the help of alien residents, I would be most willing to support you. Promise! But make sure that it is for the good of the majority ha? You should have known Tina. How she speaks and handles situations. She was once a member of your organization. I had several conversations and meetings with Tina but NOT even once did I hear her say anything against anybody. Or that she is more protective of alien residents than her own constituents. NEVER!!! There was even a time when she said that some parts of PL 15-108 are good! Tina is just being transparent! And that's what she wants. That's her agenda! And that's why she won! In the case of Mr. Ron Hodges: I am a mother and my son goes to MHS. I asked my son about Mr. Ron Hodges' character as a teacher and the response was positive. I even asked him to read Mr. Ron's “spit on the soup” letter to the editor. After he read, I asked him what he could say or should we do it? And this 10th grader student son of mine replied, “Mom, do not take it literally!” With your and the lawmakers reactions compare to a 10th grade student “who seems to be more intelligent?” Do not underestimate the capacity of everyone in CNMI; we are intelligent enough to understand what people mean when they talk. If we are dumb and our IQ is low, we would have reacted to his sarcastic letter. But not a single nonresident worker did! Aren't we intelligent enough?With regards to the Unity March, I am personally appealing to my kababayan to please join us. Be there and be heard. Let us bring out our fears, pains, frustrations and love with this peaceful march. Ang tagal na po nating natatakot at nanahimik so isang sulok, ito na po ang panahon upang magamit natin ang iilang karapatang mayroon tayo dito, sa matahimik na pamamaraan.There will be a lot of U.S. citizens, both locals and mainlanders, who will march. Let us all march together. Let us not wait for this people who recognize our importance in this community to say to us, as Maricel Soriano said in her movie: “I don't need a parasite!”Let's stand for ourselves, for our rights. One of that is to be heard!



Prejudice (Maria S. Ibanez Gualo Rai)
I think that everyone is being so racist and prejudiced these days. There’s no one to blame except for the government authorities that don’t know how to govern in the first place. If they didn't mess up everything again and again, Ron Hodges would not have written that letter. He should have known better. Known better to use small words for the ones who don't understand metaphors and get offended so quickly. I don't think Ms. Tina Sablan did anything wrong in defending Mr. Hodges. Just because she’s a Chamorro defending someone who is not doesn’t mean that she has forgotten her culture. Come on. It's obvious that Mr. Gregorio Cruz feels threatened by Ms. Tina Sablan. Don't threaten her with stones and boulders. Instead, just fix whatever needs to be fixed here in the CNMI. Maybe one day, we could all stop complaining about how bad the economy is. I look forward to Ms. Tina Sablan's first 100 days in office. Maria S. IbanezGualo Rai, Saipan

Ron Hodges Day (Valrick Welch)
Congratulations legislature on your censure of Ron Hodges. To take advantage of this courageous act you should follow the proud tradition of the British and have a Ron Hodges day; similar to their Guy Fox day. Once a year we could all burn effigies of Ron. You could even name a teddy bear after him.Valrick WelchVia e-mail

More meaningless posturing (John H. Davis Jr. Fina Sisu)
Why in the world are we still talking about Ron Hodges' spit in the soup letter to the editor? The Legislature has a laughable resolution before it to declare the man persona non grata, if that means anything. It's just more meaningless posturing. Others are calling for him to be fired. Gregorio Cruz has gone so far as to attempt to chastise Tina Sablan for defending Mr. Hodges' right to free speech. I now have a question of my own: ARE YOU PEOPLE INSANE? Tourism is in the basement, the hotels are losing business, PSS is without funds, schools need books and furniture, boonie dogs are running loose everywhere, the college is just plain out of control, the economy is generally way, way south, unemployment is on the rise, gas prices are going through the roof, the feds are about to take over immigration and the only thing that you people want to talk about is a letter to the editor that means absolutely nothing? Please! Stop talking about it and it will go away. Here is something of substance for the Legislature to work on. How about getting an animal shelter built? Not talked about, not conceptualized, not appropriated for, but actually built. No posturing, no responding to a letter in the newspaper. Do something! The rest of you are welcome to come to sit in my government class so that you might learn a few things about the first amendment, responsibilities of citizenship, social versus political action and a host of other concepts apparently not yet grasped.