In the words of President John F. Kennedy, I am proud to come to this point in history as the guest of Guam's distinguished new governor Lou Leon Guerrero, who has symbolized throughout the world the fighting spirit of the women of our island.
Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was “civis Romanus sum.” Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is “I am a woman of Guam.”
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of freedom is alive in our time; who still questions the power of democracy?
Let them come to Guam.
There are many people in the world who really don’t understand, or say they don’t, what is the great issue between the free world and the world of tyranny and dictatorships.
Let them come to Guam.
Here on our beautiful island, leadership knows no gender. The opportunity for a young woman like my daughter Isa to assume her place in the world has been broadened upon the shoulders of a generation of women who rightfully demanded their right to vote. They are not asking for your permission, they have already been given their mandate to lead by the only people that matter… their people, the people of Guam.
Last week, an electrified island elected ten women to lead their Legislature, the 15-member law making body serving this American territory of 170,000 patriots. Today, we are all women. One community, One Guam, Wonder Women.
Make no mistake, what is going on here is powerful. This victory in the Guam Legislature speaks to an inherent reality of human nature now expressed politically with the electoral mandate of our people: women are capable, women are competent, women are expected to lead and strong men will follow.
In the words of Mr. Obama, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So today, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughter should be so lucky to live to see a United States Congress with a female majority, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
International investors have warned that the government of Guam is sailing into treacherous financial waters teeming with recurring deficits, very large negative general fund balances, and massive long-term liabilities.
Rather than giving our people a hand up from despair, GovGuam appears committed to the indentured servitude of welfare handouts. By continually burdening local small businesses with taxes for the privilege of doing business on Guam, our government is effectively sending our culture and our people to a watery grave.
GovGuam must work sincerely to bridge the great divide between poverty and prosperity that exists on our island. Empty promises of hope are no longer tolerable. Pleas for transitional analysis and democracy of pain strategies for government reorganization are falling on deaf ears in an increasingly angry community. GovGuam stinks with the stench of political patronage.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations… a new dawn of Guamanian leadership is at hand. What has been achieved today gives us hope for what must be achieved tomorrow.
There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, Simon Sanchez High School to rebuild, and Guam Memorial Hospital to repair. With matrilineal momma bears assuming power in our government, anything is possible and many things are necessary.
Alongside a newly feminine Legislature and a vigilant Judiciary, the governor of Guam must now accept her Organic Act responsibility to give our people a government that meets the American standard for health, safety and public education. The children are watching.
. Dr. Vince Akimoto practices Family Medicine at the American Medical Clinic. Send feedback to akimotovince@yahoo.com.