Another interesting issue that is worth noting is, the article quoted Togiola saying that he would afford the same privilege of "innocent until proven guilty" to his directors as in the case of Ipulasi. This is inaccurate because directors are his appointees and served at his mercy. The governor has the option to exercise his administrative prerogative to put his directors on administrative leave to avoid any sabotage activity or tampering with evidence during an investigation which should be initiated immediately. If any thing, Togiola is using this as a political ploy and a disclaimer to protect his political interest, i.e. prevent losing support and votes associated with the accused director.
It has become a pattern for our local government leaders who apparently depend on their political connection and authority in public office to justify misguided administrative decision that amount to breaking the local law and get away with it without being charged. There have been many scandalous cases involving fraud, waste and abuse of local funds but no investigation ever launched. But when someone of the intermediary status commits the same violation, he/she usually goes through the entire judicial scrutiny. Great lessons learned when federal funds are involved. All five of our previous government leaders who were charged and later convicted, had initially plead not guilty and later settled for plea bargain. Now a senator and our Lt. Governor whose cases are pending in federal court most likely will follow the same trajectory – and I hope not. We'll just wait and see how the chips may fall in their places.
The irony of this dilemma is that all of our government leaders involved in the referenced federal cases have been associated with our late governor Tauese's administration, a time when things seemed all fine under pretense - as Governor Togiola put it, "let good times roll." If it wasn't for the FBI to intervene, we could only imagine how far these folks let the good times roll to their advantage. I just hope that our government leaders will now learn from lessons of previous counterparts and move to prevent fraud, waste and abuse of both local and federal resources meant to improve our people’s economic wellbeing and quality of life. May the lessons learned provide the impetus for leaders to focus to the needs of the people rather than one's self-serving interest for personal gain.
I applaud the efforts of Common Cause to explore the assistance of the DOI to expedite the prosecutions of the Lt Governor of a speedy trial. It was obvious that DOI knew it would not be wise to intervene anymore than the FBI has to investigate. If we do not respect the rule of law, we will continue to send the wrong message to Washington DC that our government leaders are incompetent. The FBI will continue to get involved and this will make our people uncomfortable and suppose that the federal government does not understand our culture. The FBI already has an office in the territory and the next thing coming is the US federal court with limited jurisdiction in our territory.
AS cannot continue to look the other way and allow unscrupulous political corruptions to infiltrate our local government. It is the people right to rectified the current government system if it is corrupted. Benjamin Franklin once said, "The constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." He also said, "There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government"
The US government will continue to stick their nose into our political affairs until the people of AS knows how to govern ourselves.
Soifua, Amerika Samoa ia mataala!Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosega, Manu'a
March 13, 2008
Dear Editor,
"Culture and Tradition"
Our FaaSamoan culture and traditions have been in our bloodlines since we could all remember taking our first breath on our own first day on earth. We have lived it and it has become a primary nature of our family relationships. In the outset of our earlier years we were simply loving and caring for one another whether someone is our neighbor or a stranger. In some ways we continue to practice this old custom. However, as we continue to embrace western education, culture, and lifestyle, especially, those forms of amenities and conveniences that provide sustainable comfort in our lives.
We have adapted the ideals of capitalism and participate in the economic process as a way we believe is would improve our quality of life. Gone are the days of traditional practice of simplicity and in with the new inflated practice of modern substances and material values of the dollar and other means of symbolic substitution. The cash economy has improved our standard of living. We have not only been able to afford the means and materials, but apparently, we have also become convinced that our expression of cultural practices should reflect in its symbolic representation an ascension to show grandiose intention and extraordinary in a competitive pride. This has become a common place where the elite practitioners and privileged chiefs are aspired to a higher level expectation from their family constituents (extended family) under their jurisdiction in terms of supportive contribution for family cultural affairs.
Such new transformation has become a detriment that gives the Fa'aSamoa a bad reputation, compared to the simple traditional practice when our people lived subsistent living and utilized whatever was available at hand.
As our people move to the U.S., they become more inclined to practice the culture with substituted means and escalated value of monetary contributions and expectations. Family pride often gives way into the efforts of some to acquire the means to meet such outrageous and unrealistic expectation. Even in the realm of some religions, this drama has caused many to fall victims of dissension. This is prevalent both in the mainland and in American Samoa.
In light of economic, health, education, and social disparities, most of our people are living in the states are struggling and could barely make ends meet. Some are living in subsidized housing through several generations. Yet, they are being subject to make difficult decisions concern cultural, family, and religious expectations. Others would be brave enough to break this cycle of participation and choose to abandon such premise in the best interest of the immediate family wellbeing.
Another influence of the new shift and transformation is readily reflected in the loss of the traditional community orientation towards compassionate participation that has been the norm in any village, community, or public where each person is duty bound help his/her neighbor, stranger, family, or church. Such cooperative networking continues to erode as everyone is gainfully employed. To a certain extend, some people have become self-centered and would focus only on the affairs of the immediate family. As our culture and community continues in the trend of diversity, we as a people need to adjust our attitude and perception of important matters in our survival and maintain a decent and equitable quality of life.
The truth remains that there are certain values that our Fa'aSamoa or culture has instilled in us who grew up in the islands and some of our elders in the U.S. Mainland continued to practice that have positive impacts in our lives that validates our identity as Samoans. Every Samoan should embrace and understand such values as inalienable privileges that would give rise to our character, demeanor, and honor that sets us apart from others with pride and contentment.
In contemporary society, we have to be keen in carving out what is best for us in keeping up with the ever changing circumstances we face from time to time and embrace those things tantamount in perpetuation of our people's quality of life and values structure for cultural preservation and make necessary adjustments with respect to preparing and equipping our next generation to undertake.
A Samoan person once said, "Will someone pull up the blinders or shades so we can see the sun light and let the fresh air flow through the house". AS we must open our minds and eyes and see what is happening in the world around us. We are not the only culture and tradition on this planet call earth.
Soifua,
Amerika Samoa ia mataala!
Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosega, Manu'a
February 29, 2008
Dear Editor,
"FaaSamoa and Democracy"
Our local legislators are at it again by challenging the first amendment the right of every local citizen to free speech. Where do we draw the line between the FaaSamoa culture and the local constitution in place? The said revised constitution in place states; Article I, section 1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, rights of assembly and petition. "There shall be separation of church and government, and no law shall be enacted respecting and establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there-of or abridging the freedom of speech or the press, or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances"
Election year is around the corner and our legislators are trying to pass a law to prohibit local citizens of AS to put up campaign signs. However, the individual's freedom of speech or freedom of expression is a fundamental constitutional right that would be violated should such a law is passed. I can understand the concern at hand regarding the adverse impact of such political activities on families who are odds with one another in political preference or candidate of choice to support. But if the issue involves disfigurement to government property, there is a law in place that prohibits placing campaign signs on government property.
American Samoa being a homogenous society entrenched in its cultural practice and traditional way of life, the tenets of fa'aSamoa and the constitutional provisions of the law are also at odds with our people's lives because such premise presents two distinct perspectives and orientations that underscore the reality of people's interpretation of values, beliefs and practice. The freedom of speech and the right to express, derives from the concept of "self" or the individual as a basic unit of individualistic society which can stand alone and be afforded special basic privileges. On the contrary, Samoan culture operates on a collectivist concept or a communal principal where the individual's identity of "self" doesn't stand alone and his/her identity is defined in terms of the in group (the family) he/she belongs. The individual bears the family's honor, consensus, and is expected to owe allegiance to the same.
On the other hand, the freedom of speech constitutional provision grants the right to the individual to speak independently and freely. Unfortunately some people think by having such right they say what ever they want indiscriminately and unlimited regardless of how malicious and offensive it is to others. And, this is inconsistent with the local culture. With such rights, comes with it responsibilities. In the Fa'aSamoa, those who understand the culture and protocol regarding freedom of speech, who ever wishes to speak on behalf of the others must first seek the group's consensus whether in family, workplace or in public.
As we continue to enjoy our transforming democratic experience with regards to our constitution, we should also tread along with a delicate balance in how we interpret, manipulate the language in the law to suit certain individualistic ideals which may inadvertently cause an unexpected decline and adverse effect on the stability of our Samoan culture and people's peaceful and respectful way of life. What separates us from the rest of the world is how we cling to profound and inalienable cultural values that have been attributable to our survival and maintaining peace and order in society for many years. If we loose grip of tantamount and important cultural values, we will loose our identity as Samoans and become just like anybody else from foreign places.
It is quite understandable, that the intent of the lawmakers who proposed this new law is perhaps, to generate a comprehensive debate in the Fono whereby multiple perspectives, opinions, can be shared through testimonies of the public and legislators for the purpose of furthering enlightenment and understanding. This is the political platform where members of the community need to actively participate in forming and shaping legislation according to the will of the people. If the public doesn't get involved, then the passed legislation may fall short of its intended purpose.
Perhaps, part of the rationale for this new law is to avoid contention between families in times of election as it has been witnessed in prior elections that political Campaign activities have not only been disruptive and offensive, but they also imposed unnecessary burden and caused disputes between villages and family members. Another issue that needs to be part of this dialog is for the lawmakers to limit campaigning activities by requiring candidates to give speeches and presentations in the public media; TV, Cable, Newspapers etc., and to discourage public rallies.
Given the fact that almost everyone in American Samoa is somewhat related one way or another, it would be in the best interest of candidates and the voters to eliminate excessive and spectacular of political rally activities which have been proven not very costly and unpredictable, but also economically challenging to voters. The bottom line is when voters express their freedom of choice and preference anonymously in the booth on election day. In my humble opinion, it is the people's choice whether or not they want to put a sign on the own private property.
There is no doubt that the right to free speech will prevail the test of justice should there be an adjudication launched by its proponents because it is the law of the land. It was put in place to protect our way of life and the existence of our civil rights as US nationals. Welcome to the world of democracy societies, this is the reason why we elect law makers to create and pass law to protect the freedom, health and welfare of our citizens.
In light of our FaaSamoa culture, there is a representative or collective right of free speech. However, as a people in general, many are moving towards a liberal position to embrace the right to free speech as their transform from a traditional to a contemporary lifestyle begins to take hold. Whether we voice our opinion or not in family clan dispute and community petition what the Matai says either prevails or it will give way to younger and educated voters who have embraced their fundamental right and know when to exercise it with respect to the culture and the law. The Matai or To'oto'o who has served his family with dignity and influence usually has the last say and most family members would yield. In my humble opinion our Matai system is dictatorial to an extent and if not use correctly we the people of AS will lose in the long term. We know that our FaaSamoa is very strong in our Culture and it's a good thing if it is use with common sense. There must be a fine line to separate these two political and conflicting positions, the very essence of our existence as a people of AS is at stake here.
Abraham Lincoln once said; "Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and make a crime out of things that are not crimes". The people of AS would like to informed our local law makers to tread lightly on the said constitution and the rights of our people. We continue to encourage our local lawmakers to pass laws for the benefit of the freedom, health and welfare of our people. We respectfully remind our local lawmakers that they work for the people by the people.
Soifua,
Amerika Samoa ia mataala!
Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosega, Manu'a
February 21, 2008
Dear Editor,"Matai Title Bloodline"
I have once before expounded in previous LTE about preserving our Matai title bloodline as an important criteria in the law. I again join those who advocate and share the same sentiment that is very critical and important to send the message to our lawmakers and hopefully they will see the big picture. The majority of the people of Tutuila and Manu'atele are totally against removing the "Hereditary rights" in the bill bound for a hearing. Why is the President of the Senate Mr. Moliga from Manu’a continuing to pursuit this course of action by introducing a bill to remove or ratify the current Matai title bill?
"Some food for thought"
I have said this before and I will repeat it again; who ever proposed to remove the Hereditary rights criteria in the existing law is a traitor - doing a great disservice to our people and what our faaSamoa culture stands for. Our ancestors and forefathers will be rolling over their graves at the wake of such a unscrupulous hearing should such an amendment get passed. This is what the foreign invaders did in the early 1900’s as they wanted power and control over our Matai titles and communal lands. Our ancestors and forefathers fought and died to preserve this freedom and welfare of our future generation. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand what is going to happen if the Fono legislators pass this bill.
We know that our culture and language is complex and not enough room for flexibility. The propose bill is just another political move to acquire more corruption, greed, power and cultural authority over another family clan. The next thing that will happen is control over all family clan communal land and property with the rightful family clan left out in the cold to fan for themselves. No one in their right mind is going to allow such idiotic amendment to pass. This matter needs to be put on a public referendum for the people of AS to vote on before it is ratify and become law.
Even if this bill is passed and become law there will be civil war between the family clans and the ASG. There will be civil unrest, fighting, burning and killing within our community just like what happened to the people of Tonga and Fiji last year. A wise man once said; "If you want to know your future look to your past." People of AS sometime we need to look into our past history to build our future. We cannot allow this amendment to pass and signed by the governor to become law.
This is just another way of setting our culture up for failure instead of building our territories to move forward into the 21th Century. The Matai title is part of our past, present and future cultural history bloodline that needs to be preserved within the rightful family clans. Our faasamoa cultural relation, communal lands and Matai title are our Samoan bloodline. If we keep give it away like breathing air we will not have anything to preserve. The sad reflection is not too many people in AS know the true story and meaning of the word "SAMOA" and it is not "sacred chicken" either.
"Some food for thought"
AS we need to vote "NO" to ratify the current "Hereditary right" this is wrong for our faasamoa and shameful thing for our cultural preservation.
Soifua,
Amerika Samoa ia mataala!
Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosega, Manu'a
February 15, 2008
A case for electing all Fono members
Dear Editor,
If ever there has been a case for election of our representatives in the Fono, it is now.
The members of the Senate are not representing the welfare of the people of American Samoa!
Our "Traditional Leaders" in the Senate have passed legislation exempting doctors working at LBJ from taking the USMLE Licensing exam. It is another case of the "good ole boys" looking after their own, without concern for the welfare of the people of American Samoa.
When the people have nothing to say about whom the lawmakers in the Senate are, the Senators are not obligated to the care and welfare of the people. FOLKS Wake up! Allowing unqualified Doctors to "practice medicine" is wrong! It has been said before, the only reason these doctors don't want to take the USMLE Licensing Exam is THEY CANNOT PASS THE EXAM! Therefore would not be qualified to work at LBJ! Plain and simple! It is no wonder that people die so often at the hospital, it is due to malpractice and incompetence.
We need a truly democratic form of government; "Of the People, (elected from the general population) By the People, (elected by a majority vote) and for the People (elected at the pleasure of and benefit of the population)".
Samoan Culture is being used to suppress the voice of the people and to abuse the system. Again we see that "Our leaders" don't want to discuss this issue Congressman Faleomavaega is withdrawing the questions from the public hearing and only dealing with the minimum wage issue.
These are critical issues to the future of American Samoa which should be addressed! Not only should we have a Federal Court with constitutional authority, and vote for our Attorney General, but we should also elect our Senators by popular vote! Please let your voice be heard to bring the question of Democracy and United States Citizenship before the people for a vote.
Lorn Cramer
A friend of the people of American Samoa
LTE: "Respect is earned"
Dear Editor,
I hope Major Laupola, US Army, reconsiders his delusional position about "respect" as a Samoan "way of life" and gets away from the territorial view that since other nationalities "have chosen to live in American Samoa", they should "live and learn the epitome of the Samoan culture, respect".
To suggest that only in Samoa respect is held in utmost importance is as false as holding that only in a Samoan family can one eat for free. Respect is earned, whether one lives in Samoa or any place else. Our Samoan culture has no monopoly on respect. Respect is a universal trait, observed in the relationships of humans and animals; and I have seen more manifestations of respect displayed in the Orient than in Samoa.
Here we seem to demand respect of the young people toward the elders, but not vice versa. In our school, as principal, I demand that every person who works there shall show respect toward the students, if one wants the students to respect him or her. I did not find the expressions of Mr. Brittle's and Mr. Cramer's contempt of Congressman Faleomavaega's rhetoric about Mr. Ho Chi Minh, being a Great Man, disrespectful.
It was good because, for one thing, it afforded the readers and our students to read thoughtful writing; for another thing, it showed that our Congressman is cool and composed.
But over all, after reading the Congressman's response, I became convinced he did not need the Major to intervene on his behalf.
Soifua,
Faufano Autele
LTE: "Ho Chi Minh Issue"
Reprinted from Samoa News
January 17, 2008
Dear Editor,
With all the arrows being shot back and forth, somehow we have lost sight of the original question: should Ho Chi Minh be praised as a great man? I for one, as a strong Christian, would have great difficulty praising as a great man anyone who practices godless communism. Lorn Cramer and Jim Brittle may have used harsher words than I would have used to criticize Faleomavaega but I have compassion for men who fought in Vietnam and bear the scars of fighting a man like Ho Chi Minh, who was responsible for the deaths of so many of his own people as well as our soldiers and I forgive them for their emotions.
While as a Samoan I agree with Major Laupola that respect is very important in the way we communicate, I think the concept needs to be applied equally here. If the Major believes Jim and Lorn need to show more respect to the leaders of the land where they have chosen to live, is it not just as important for our Congressman to show the same level of respect to our leaders in Washington, where he has chosen to live?
I thought Faleomavaega's references to President Bush and Vice President Cheney in his initial response to Lorn and Jim were unfortunate and that saddened me.
I think enough has been written about this issue. Let's move on.
A Vietnam Veteran
January 15, 2008
Response to Amata's "Bread and Circuses"
Dear Editor,
This is a response to Amata's Pacific Notebook titled "Bread and Circuses" published on January 10th. As a young adult who was born and reared on the islands of Samoa and am currently pursing a graduate degree, I feel a need to throw my two cents in. I stumbled on Ms. Aumua's Pacific Notebook article online and digested what I thought was a fresh breath of progressive ideas for the New Year. I have a deep love and respect for the Samoan way of life. To many, this way of life is considered simple and compared to the unyielding and sometimes unforgiving competitions of life that was mentioned in the article, I would agree without hesitation that this is true.
As Ms. Aumua pointed out, those in professional sports should be highly acclaimed for their accomplishments in making a name for themselves and putting Samoans on the map, especially with football. However, athletic accomplishments should not be the only thing prized in our society; not when a huge majority of college athletes do not go on to play professional sports. We all know the advertisement the NCAA plays during commercials of big sporting events. It goes like, "90% of our athletes become pro in something other than sports". Although it is unknown how accurate that number is, it is substantial enough for us to enlighten the future college athletes from Samoa to have a definitive back up plan. This comes in the form of their education.
Mentioned in the article was a Samoan college student from San Francisco who wondered why our culture emphasized achievements in sports at the expense of other achievements, especially in academia. My question is who does the Samoan youth look to for aspirations and guidance in pursuing the arts or the sciences or in becoming a CEO of a major company or a professor at our country's elite institutions? I found this quite difficult in that for most of my formal education, I did not have a mentor who looked, talked, and understood my island roots. This is not surprising in that I am entering a profession in the United States in which Samoans are poorly represented. I guess the task at hand should be to get more of our people into these positions of leadership who can inspire and instill thought into those of the coming generation.
Speaking of generations, every spring sees students from high school that all have important decisions to make in creating a world with their footprints on it. My opinion on sports should not negate any aspirations of our island's students in becoming student athletes in college. In contrast, I am trying to highlight an important point that Ms. Aumua expressed in her article. The fact remains that our world is complex and challenging and highly competitive. This brings to mind an article written in the New York Times earlier this year about girls at some of the best public high schools in the United States. As a product of the feminist movement and being told all their lives that they can become anything they wanted to, they not only are the best students of their class at the best public high school in the country, but they are also well versed in different languages, can play musical instruments, are considered competitive enough to be recruited as a college athlete, act in plays, and have enough time to even be leaders in their church youth group. The list of achievements of these young individuals are extensive but what's daunting here is that these impressive resumes still may not be enough to get into the elite colleges of America because there are thousands of these prototypes. The youth of today no longer sit on the sidelines. They are out taking charge of their future no matter what age, sex or race they are and the competition to get into the "Harvards" or the "M.I.Ts" or law school or medical school is getting stiffer and stiffer. These kids are out there because they have people telling them their whole lives that anything is possible and that any goal is attainable and that being only an athlete is just not good enough. The whole package is now needed to succeed, whatever package that may be.
Ms. Aumua's article drove home an important theme that needs to be addressed and that is to better equip our youth for their future. For most of my life, I was also an athlete and had a very difficult time as a kid deciphering whether education or sports was more important. This decision was ultimately up to me to make but what infuriated me as a high school student was a teacher who unjustly presumed that because I was an athlete, I did not have to worry about my grades in school. I felt I was placed in the "dumb jock" category automatically by a person who was supposed to mentor and encourage athletes to not only pursue but also excel in both sports and academics. Instead, she closed off the idea that maybe one day after my time as a college athlete had expired, I would be interested in getting into medical school to become a doctor. Now in this profession grades really do matter.
As I look back to that time when I was in the middle of high school and not really knowing where and what my future was going to lie in, I did take those words to heart. But this teacher's ignorance of the importance to strive for excellence in education now just reminds me daily of how essential it is for Samoa's youth to "stand on the shoulders of mentors" as Ms. Aumua puts it. The more variety of mentors they have, the more options they get for their future in knowing that there are many, many fields to pursue other than the ones filled with grass and painted lines.
Sincerely,
An inspired student
Remember, the Vietnamese don't elect you, we the people do.
January 14, 2008
Taulau and Laupola are criticizing Vietnam vets Cramer and Brittle for getting upset that Faleomavaega in Asia paid tribute to Ho Chi Minh, a ruthless Communist leader during the Vietnam War who was responsible for the deaths of 60,000 Americans. In other words, T&L were telling the veterans to keep their mouths shut, no matter what our Congressman said, because it's disrespectful. And Taulau's comment that it was oh so good to read the Congressman's kind response to the "harsh, criticizing veterans" really surprises me. I'm glad you are an off-island Samoan, Taulau, because that's where you need to stay until your common sense improves.
I am an on-island full Samoan who also served Uncle Sam, and I say this. Faleomavaega, you know you started this whole mess with your words in front of the people of Vietnam that hurt and embarrassed a lot of us, veterans and non-veterans and everybody is talking about it. Even my father, a Korean War veteran, who saw you on TV was upset when he heard what you said about it on the U.S. House floor. You know you should not have said this, but you wanted to make the Vietnamese feel good while you were out there, however in doing so, you hurt us, your own constituents.
And now you have us fighting with each other in the paper over what you said.
Let's face it. The Vietnamese don't send you to Congress every two years. We the people do. Everyone make mistakes. Just be careful from now on. If you have to, write down the words you want to say in public and follow them. Don't make it up as you go along or play it by ear it because it gets you into trouble. This is not the first time you've embarrassed your people this way. Please, let it be the last time this kind of thing happens. After all this time the people let you be in Congress, you should know better by now.
Ma le fa'aaloalo e tatau ai, Laupola ma Taulau, e le valea fo'i nei fanau. What you're really saying is that our Delegate's rank allows him to offend anybody any time. The Congressman called Cramer and Brittle "prejudiced" but the truly prejudiced ones are Laupola and Taulau. Shame on you two.
NAME WITHHELD
Freedom of speech and Samoan culture
With Respect Va’afusuaga Lorn Cramer
Thank you for your long standing "tautua matavela" (service that is accepted and blessed) to your wife's family, church, village and especially your service to the United States military. I know through your long military career, you have been trained on culture sensitivity. As I’ve mentioned before, the issue is understanding "respect" in the context of the Samoan culture and the language that you have to use in addressing Samoan Leaders.
I applaud you for marrying into the Samoan culture and especially your understanding and appreciation of your role into your wife's family, as the "faiava". I know that with your 20+ years of marriage into the culture, you have a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation of the word, its meaning, the roles and responsibilities and especially, a "faiava" place in the social structure of a Samoan family and village.
Again, you are obligated to your opinions and you have that freedom even in the Samoan culture. Have you done a sanity check about your position on the issue as well as how the Samoan people feel about your approach? The last time I checked our leaders were elected by the majority. I know you have been around several of your wife's extended family meetings and village council meetings to appreciate the decision making process in those settings. You can say whatever your heart dictates as long as you know your place and the language to use in those meetings. As you have known in those meetings, nobody talks out of line.
That is the beauty of the Samoan culture. It has a formal and informal language. Samoans are taught to understand that early in life. The informal language (everyday language) is used when you address a child or carry on a daily conversation but when you address High Talking Chiefs, High Chiefs, Servants of God, Samoan Government Leaders, then you must use the formal language.
In the Samoan culture, before you address anybody, you must know your place in the social structure as well as who you are talking to, what you are about to say, where you are saying it, when you are saying it and why you are addressing that person. Understanding these intricacies of the Samoan culture will enable you to use the right language to deliver your message so that your target audience will be able to accept it without reservations.
Again, I applaud you for that conscious decision to retire in American Samoa and especially your contributions to the Samoan people and its culture. Va'afusuaga Lorn Cramer, every Samoan to include the AS Government Leaders wants the best quality of life for American Samoa. If you have other constructive criticism, perhaps take it off line and discuss it with those respective leaders; sometimes, the media is not your best venue to effect change.
Out of respect to all my families, friends and relatives and especially to the Samoan leaders, I will stop here and will not use this means to continue this exchange. My contact information is listed below.
To my dear village of Afonotele, my families & my friends in Tutuila, Manu'a, Samoa and abroad, I ask you for your forgiveness if I have disrespected any of the family names that I am related to during this exchange. My intent is to continue to serve you in whatever capacity I can until I return home because of my love and respect for our leaders and the culture that is dear to my heart.
Respectfully,
Tauapai Laupola
Afonotele, AS
January 10, 2008
Dear Editor,
"AS New Year Resolution"
The year 2007 has brought AS many business economic opportunities and a lot of misfortune and the standard norm corruptions with no ending in site. AS has become the front runner for corruption the Pacific political arena whether we like or not. We continue to take the back seat behind the USA because of our treaty of sessions. Being an unorganized and unincorporated US territory, AS has to continue to grabble with the issue of whether to be totally independent or semi independent from the US or forge out another form of relationship that will allow AS active participation and dealing in economics trades, immigrations, etc, with its Pacific neighboring island countries without being trumped by the US’s control.
Election year is around the corner with new and old promises by our elected public officials with an unsure future for our people in the territory. Our incumbent public officials and government leaders continue to sing the same old tune of promises to constituents, but continue to operate on the old personal agenda; as is in "what is it in for me" rather than for the people of Tutuila and Manu'atele.
Accountability needs to be on the forefront of this current administration and law makers. AS still does not have a current auditor and the US congress wants accountability of federal funds sent to run our little territory. Hiring and firing incompetent ASG employees when necessary in situations where the law is violated. Our law makers have given the suspected culprits too many chances to change their ways of conducting business. Either find new ways of improvement by more training or better education. Our ASG leaders need to police after themselves of corruption within the ranks of our local executive, legislative and judicial system.
Our local criminal justice system need to do the right thing and stand up against corruption. AS cannot use the lame excuse, "I did not know about it or it is not my job and responsibilities." Someone is always responsible and accountable to someone or another and we call this the chain of command.
This chain of command starts from the top of our local government the executive position. Everything that happens or fails to happen in ASG our local governor is responsible. Our local government leadership cannot continue to ignore this important issue because they will go down in history who make things happen or the most incompetent and corrupted government leadership.
AS cannot continue to turn the other way and ignore bad politics and corruption this will only send the wrong message to the world that AS cannot conduct their own political affairs. This will also lessen the chances of AS to do business throughout the world and the Pacific political arena.
The people of AS will be casting their ballots again this year and we hope it will bring good and honest upright law makers who are willing to make a difference in the right direction for AS. AS circle the covered wagons they are coming. Remember we the local people of AS will end up losing in the end not the local law makers, the local law makers works for the people by the people. We hope the 2008 New Year will be prosperous and fulfilling with new ideas and advancers into the 21st century.
Soifua,
Amerika Samoa ia mataala!
Savaii P. Amitoelau
Olosegia, Manu’a
Letter to the Editor:
Freedom of press and respect for leaders
To Va'afusuaga Lorn Cramer & Jim Brittle,
There is a fine line between freedom of press and being disrespectful of a Samoan leader in your letters to the editor. You are obligated to your opinions. However, since you have chosen to live in American Samoa, I encourage you to take a little time to live and learn the epitome of the Samoan culture, "respect." Respect is not just a word in the Samoan culture. It is a way of life. You feel it in your heart, through your bones and the blood that flows through your veins. This is the reason why Samoans value the fiber of its culture. Thank you for your contribution to American Samoa.
Respectfully,
Major Tauapai Laupola
Afono, Amerika Samoa
Assigned, Ft Bragg NC
Tusi i le Faatonu:
Mo Va'afusuaga Lorn Cramer & Jim Brittle,
Atonu ua va lalata tele lo oulua aia e tusitusi ai tusi i le faatonu, ma le tafea o so oulua ava fatafata i ta'ita'i o le Malo o Amerika Samoa. E tonu oulua i o oulua manatu. Ae ona ua oulua filifilia e lua te nonofo i Amerika Samoa, o lea ou te fautua atu ai, seu le manu ae taga'i i le galu, faaavanoa se lua taimi e ola ma a'oa'o ai le i'o i mata o le aganu'u Samoa, o le "faaaloalo". O le "faaloalo" e le na o se upu i le aganu'u Samoa ae o le i'o i mata o le aganu'u Samoa. E pei o le Samoa aouliuli, e lagona i le fatu, tau i pogaivi ma faalogoina le gasolo o le toto i ala toto le uiga moni o le faaaloalo fa’asamoa. Faafetai mo la oulua sao ia Amerika Samoa.
Ma le faaaloalo tele lava,
Major Tauapai Laupola
Afono, Amerika Samoa
Tiute, Ft Bragg NC
"Cramer responds to Faleomavaega's attack"
Reprinted from Samoa News
January 5, 2007
Dear Editor,
I want to thank Mr. Congressman for his comments concerning my LTE (15 Dec 07) about his trip to Vietnam. As you know being in the limelight, as you are, leaves you open for criticism, especially if your behavior indicates that you are out of touch with your constituents and American values.
I was glad to see that you objected to characterizations by Jim Brittle and me of you as a communist and jihadi sympathizer. This tells me that you fundamentally understand that it is wrong to be one. But your protest demonstrates if anything a lack of understanding of the definition of the words "Communist and Jihadi Sympathizer".
Your comments sympathize with, and give aid and comfort to that government which has no similarity to our own and is in fact opposed to democracy. When you acknowledge the legitimacy of said government and its leaders as valid and even honorable, you demonstrate at a minimum poor judgment and a shallow view of world politics. At the extreme, you demonstrate a lack of personal values consistent with our nation's patriotic origins.
Your socialistic ideas are perpetrated through the establishment of excessive government control over people's lives. Your policies of recognition and reward of countries and people who despise our way of life, is in fact unpatriotic and un-American.
I would agree that the world has an unpleasant history of domination and colonialism perpetrated on countries by among others Great Britain, United States of America and France. A country is only as good as those who govern it and at times our great nations have shown flawed judgment of those in power. We cannot condone bad judgment, poor leadership, or oppression wherever it originates.
In the case of our involvement in Vietnam, I do not see our assistance of an ally as 'aggression in the name of colonialism or domination of other governments by the United States', as you indicated in your press release.
Our support of the Diem regime was in fact a matter of national policy to prevent the spread of communism. You compared our war in Vietnam with the Pacification of Japan and Germany. There is no comparison; if you understand history you will know that America backed the war effort against Germany and Japan without interference or partisan politics that plague our military today. We conquered them and set up a democratic form of government that was more in line with our own.
We did not win the Vietnam War as we did WWII because of the policies of liberal politicians such as you and your democratic colleagues, who tied the hands of the military, preventing them from doing their job. This caused the war to grind on, which in turn instilled unrest in the population, promoted by liberal media and celebrities.
You cannot say that today Vietnam is a peace loving state such as our own. It is still run by the Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH], which subjects its people to outrageous and inhumane acts of subjugation. Communism is about taking away human rights. To "Make Nice" with countries that seek to overthrow America and our way of life is not only unpatriotic it demonstrates a lack of moral values consistent with the foundations of American freedom.
Communism flourishes in Vietnam and China, and you are right we do have a national dependence ($300 billion trade deficit) on Chinese goods which have crippled our nation's ability to manufacture products competitively. We are dependent on Chinese goods produced by a country that is able to dominate world markets because of their exploitation of their people. The people of China have no say in their own lives; they work for the state with no minimum wage. Do we really want to sacrifice human rights for a "vibrant trade and economic partnership"? I think not!
I believe that the "matter of our national policy" to strengthen relations with these countries can be done through diplomatic channels which reinforces true democratic rather than socialist values.
You are misrepresenting the American people when you recognize their leadership and oppressive policies as legitimate. You give aid and comfort to the enemies of freedom when you seek to "normalize relations" with these suppressive regimes.
My personal opinion is based on my patriotic values instilled in me throughout my life of devotion to my country and loving liberty, freedom, and personal choice and I gladly own these patriotic values.
In an ideal world everyone's preference would be to live in peace and happiness instead of waging war, but as you know we don't live in a peaceful world. That is why the United States of America has a strong Defense Department and standing military. To protect us from those who would take away our way of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is what true "Americanism" is all about.
Our war on terrorism is against any who would advocate or support our sworn enemies; Sadam Hussein actively supported the Al Qaeda suicide attackers and radical Islam. He had a track record of use of weapons of mass destruction against Iran and the Kurdish people. Using the same intelligence information gleaned by the Clinton administration Our President, along with a majority in Congress, made the tough decision to not allow this rogue state the freedom to furnish WMD to Al Qaeda terrorists. That is why we are in Iraq, and that is why you should support our military with more than political rhetoric and foot dragging. If you believe that the threat is not real, you need to wake up and smell the roses because you live in an idealistic world!
Jihadi terrorism, through groups as Hamas, Hizbullah, Lasker-E-Tobia, Al Bader, Taliban, Al Qaeda, Tehreek-E-Jihad, Hizbul Mujahidden is one of the greatest single threats to the world. Omar Ahmad who is the Co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations made the statement; Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.
You and your liberal democratic friends in congress are making the war in Iraq a political election year issue to gain more control of our government at the expense of the military. You say that you support our troops, but your actions show that you only are giving them lip service.
In reality you are blocking and preventing full support of the military against our nations self proclaimed enemies, communism and Islamic extremism. You are the proverbial ostrich sticking your head in the sand if you think that we can ignore Islamic extremism and Communism and everything will be allright. Your actions in congress are making a partisan political pawn out of our military at war.
It is this same "make peace not war" attitude that cost us the war in Vietnam and will doom our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan to the same end. Again you are showing that you are willing to bring shame on our government and our people for personal political gain.
If for any reason I have been misled about you and your policies and what you do or don't advocate I remain open to correction criticism and further enlightenment.
Va'afusuaga Lorn Cramer
Resident of Tafuna,
Tualauta District #15
American Samoa
MSG US Army Ret.
© Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.
"Tell me it's not so!"
Reprinted from Samoa News
January 5, 2008
Dear Editor,
Let me get this straight, Mr. Alfredo Servante. Even though the Delegate showed poor judgment in publicly calling Communist Bad Boy Ho Chi Minh a great man, you still think it's okay?!?
Brother Alfredo, tell me it's not so!
You make a joke of respected local constituents and Vietnam Vets for being offended by the Delegate's lack of common sense because Ho Chi Minh "happened a long time ago" so "let's forget it"?
Communist Bad Boy Ho Chi Minh's atrocities happened a very long time ago, but the Delegate's goof up JUST happened.
I for one thank Jim Brittle for speaking up. There have been too many gaffes over the years that we dismiss with a chuckle for the very exhausted Congressman whose excessive junkets all over the world make him too tired to pay attention to American Samoa. Enough is enough already.
The Governor sure got it right when he said the Delegate should think of retiring. Would you like the date of the Samoa News article in which Togiola said it?
And as for those who are not afraid to chide our leaders when they need it, I salute you out there. You have a voice. Use it.
Manuia lava le aso,
Sami Tafaoata
© Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.
Source: Samoa News
LTE: "A politician's response"
January 4, 2007
Dear Editor,
I wrote a short Letter to the Editor critical of our Congressman's public comment that Ho Chi Minh was a great man and his response in your paper was unbelievable.
Where in my letter did I state any hatred towards Vietnam? Fact is, I had not thought about the war for years, that is until the Congressman's asinine statement. Ho was a S.O.B. who was responsible for the death of 58,000 Americans. I am accused of bigotry as well. The only bigotry and hatred I get from the Congressman's letter is his towards Imperialism and anything Republican.
The Congressman claims President Bush and Vice-President Cheney are my friends and yet I have never met either of them in my life. Also, what does the Iraq war have to do with Uncle Ho?
Face it, Congressman, you stuck your foot in your mouth and instead of apologizing to the Vietnam vets and their families for your comment you attempt to justify it with a press release full of smoke and mirrors and your liberal beliefs.
Jim Brittle
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