My CNMI, Your CNMI, Our CNMI

Hafadai and Tirow Wami. Niot and Niora to those I need to amen.
First of, although I’m a few weeks late, I would like to extend my congratulations to the members on the 16th CNMI Legislature. While some of you are new, many of you have been in that office for many years and have played a great role in the shaping of our CNMI. Like the people of the CNMI, the newcomers will be looking to you for guidance in the daily operations of that prestigious office. Many voters, young and old, trekked to the polling station that hot day and placed their mark on your names; I hope you don’t think that it is just that…a mark or a vote, nor is it just something to be counted. Those pen/pencil marking are indicators of the lives, the hopes and dreams, the desires and aspirations of those who are here now and the many that will be coming.

Speaking on behalf of those who supported me from north to south and east to west, I would like to remind you, young and old legislators, that we are no longer operating a virgin government. We have made many mistakes in the past. We are not human if we did not. But that is exactly why it is in the past. Let’s not continue to stumble on the same rock. We are looking to you now, Mr. and Ms. 16th Legislature, to work with us, the people of the CNMI, and recall on the mistakes of the Past, so we can fix it now in the Present, and prevent it from happening again in the Future.

Secondly, I strongly believe that the crisis we are in now is a blessing in disguise. In the past years, we were the envy of many. But all good things can come to an end if we are not careful, and we have not been careful. As the world is round, we have been brought back to the starting point. We can’t afford to let our egos lead the way now. We now need to sit back and appreciate what we once had, figure out how we were able to get it, what we did to lose it, and start coming up with legal ways and ideas to get us out of this grave and cover the darn hole so that we don’t fall back into it again.

I understand that some traditions are addictions. We have an unspoken tradition/addiction here in the CNMI. That is the “gatcha” tradition. Applied to you, Mr. and Ms. 16th Legislature, this is when someone who is not part of your circle has a great idea that you feel in your gut can work or is worth trying, but because he/she is not in your circle or party, you go against it and or try to ruin the person the process. But let me remind you that you, Mr. and Ms. 16th Legislature, are not the majority. We, the people sitting out here looking in, the people whose very lives you hold in your hands, along with the tender fingertips that are close to your heart, are the Majority. It is an honor to be placed on that pedestal you are on now. Please don’t knock yourself off it.

Many of you had been given the chance to enjoy the pleasures of such a prestigious position. You are the seniors in that high school. Please don’t forget that. Leave the playground for the K-5 and elementary school students.

For you newbies, righteousness will lead you only so far and then you will eventually hit the reef. It is best to be adaptable to the point where you won't hate yourself. You have embarked on an important journey and in your sweaty palms you hold everyone's desires, hopes and dreams. I know you are eager to make changes and make your mark, but it is not about you. It will never be about you. It is and will always be about our CNMI.

You and me, Mr. and Ms. 16th Legislature, we have a huge responsibility. For, it is not just the Governor’s responsibility, but also, yours, mine, and every single person who lives here. It is our job to stand up for the land that we have been feeding off for many years. It is our job to lift the CNMI and place it on the very pedestal you are standing on. It is our job to serve our CNMI. Remember this as you contemplate on the next bill that is introduced, THERE IS NO “I” IN YOU, THERE IS NO “I” IN ME…BUT THERE IS AN “I” IN THE “CNMI”. I know that, in our culture and tradition, it is disrespectful for me to speak to you this way, as many of you are older than me and many of you are my uncles and brothers, but I will carry the burden of your curse and anyone else’s, in the name of our people, in the memory of our ancestors, and in the name of our CNMI.

IN DIRE STRAITS AND EMPTY PLATES

In dire straits and empty plates
A sinking ship taking fire from guns for hire
Covering each hole with pieces of our soul
A chant. A prayer. Cussing here and there.

Looking to our star to lead us far
Sailing despite a dim moon light
Our faith and belief will quell our grief
Our ship will sail. We will not fail.

To survive the ocean we must put our plans in motion
Sail through storms of different forms
Paddling hard and playing our cards
We will find many shores to rest our oars

Our forefathers will guide us through these stormy waters
They will help us soar and raise our oars
For In God We Trust…. and by-golly we must
Lift our heads up high, reach for the sky and fight to save our CNMI.


Rose T. Ada-Hocog