After almost three years in office, President Obama finally visited Guam this week… in the middle of the night, to refuel Air Force One on his way across the Pacific. Hardly what you might call a meaningful visit.
With last-minute warning of the president’s impending arrival, The University of Guam FITE (Fellows for Inquiry Towards Enlightenment) Club organized a protest entitled “Hey Mr. President, Come Meet the Residents,” outside the gates of Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base. Protestors brought banners and posters, including one lit with flashlights and aimed upwards. It read “Guam: Where America’s President Refuels.”
When Obama was first elected, I was genuinely (if naively) optimistic about Guam’s chances for change. After all, there was finally someone in the Oval Office who was both raised in the Pacific, AND from a family that had directly suffered the indignities and injustices of colonialism. If he wouldn’t pay attention, no one would.
But my repeated attempts to simply SEND him a copy of The Insular Empire went nowhere. I believe it’s quite possible that he’s not even aware of Guam’s colonial relationship with the US – though of course he should be, if only for geo-political reasons. One can only hope that he at least peeped out the window of Air Force One as he was landing, and saw the signs of protest shining up at him, and wondered – as Hope Cristobal would say – “what the fuss was all about.”
Hope Cristobal (Sr.) holding a sign at the entrance to AAFB
I’m in. That’s the phrase President Obama chose for his 2012 Facebook campaign. I believe he is a good, intelligent and sincere man. I depend on him for that because he needs to redeem himself in my eyes and in the eyes of the Marianas, especially Guam. He, of all people, should honor the island ways and take time to partake of our hospitality. What an opportunity he missed! I call on him to apologize and to pay closer attention in the future.
WE CAN understand if President Obama had other duties, and I’m certain WE CAN forgive him. He gave special audience to our delegate Madeleine Bordallo and for that WE CAN be grateful. WE CAN thank him for appointing a Guam son, Tony Babauta, as Assistant Secretary of the Interior For Insular Areas.
We can’t vote for President Obama in the national election, but WE CAN share our thoughts and experiences with friends and family on the mainland. WE CAN remind him he once worked to empower disenfranchised communities to assert themselves and their rights. WE CAN remind President Obama that Guam and the Marianas have too long been slighted by the American government. WE CAN remind President Obama we remember his 2008 campaign and he promised HOPE.
So, President Obama, . . . Guam 2012 . . . are you in?