The information and resources on this website will allow one to re-examine the political history of the Marianas in order to understand the motivations behind the upcoming military build-up. Given the highly militarized history of the Marianas and the strong ties that residents have built with the military, this may be a somewhat difficult task. Since our history is part of who we are, and we cannot change this, let us use our knowledge of the past to promote positive change rather than blind allegiance. We do have the power to refuse military dominance on these islands and the abuses associated with their existence. Allowing the U.S. military to gain such a tremendous amount of power over our people will never allow us to exercise true self-determination.
Aside from those who support it and are unaware of its costs, many have become apathetic in the face of this build-up, because they feel there is nothing they can do about it. Due to our long colonial history, it is easy to feel powerless against something as mighty as the U.S. military. But this upcoming build-up actually provides an immense opportunity for the people of the Marianas to say no to militarization. Being against the build-up is not about winning an argument, trying to prove anyone wrong, or being unsupportive of our troops. In fact, seeking to combat the negative effects of the military build-up essentially aims to protect the people of the Marianas from being taken advantage of in a variety of ways. This would include reducing the alarming recruitment rate. We have one of the highest recruitment rates in the world and this should not be something to be proud of. Instead, it should serve as proof of how readily the military takes advantage of our people to promote its agendas, while our priorities end up at the bottom of the list.
“Bases bring military activities and create military economies, but military and militarized cultures remain, even after the bases are gone.” -Ronni Alexander
In the end, we are fighting for our lives and for basic human rights. It is a battle for our land and true freedom; a freedom that has been denied us in the name of U.S. national security. We do have a say in what happens to our islands, but right now, the choices that we are making are forcing us to become even more dependent on the U.S. than we have ever been. Relying on the false hope that the military will save us from our economic downturn does not allow us to search for a more sustainable and independent future. In fact, it will do just the opposite. The little benefits that are created by the build-up will make us so reliant on the military, that if it ever left, we would be left with nothing. Although this build-up might promise to provide a quick fix to our economic woes, they are empty promises. We should not have to sell our lives and culture to prosper economically. Although many would argue that the military would provide the necessary economic opportunities and advantages that the CNMI and Guam need to prosper, we in turn mustask ourselves; “At what cost?“
Please use the resources and links available on this website to promote healthy discussion and positive change in the CNMI and Guam. Thank You and Si Yu’us Ma’ase.
Militarization is the process by which a society organizes itself for military conflict and violence. It is a multi-faceted approach that directly affects not only the physical environment, but the society, culture and minds of the people in which it flourishes. It desensitizes communities to violence and normalizes militaristic agendas through dominance and control. It is put into practice by the military itself as a way to control regions and societies throughout the world, primarily with the use of a strong military presence and economic power.
Militarism is “military spirit, pursuit of military ideas; domination by the military in the formulation of policies, ideals, etc. especially on a political level; a policy of maintaining a strong military organization in aggressive preparedness for war.” Therefore, while “militarism is the theory, militarization and war are the practice- the inevitable outcomes of militarism.”
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Sources:
"Saying NO to militarism and war ." Converge. 12 Aug. 2009 <http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/sayno.htm>.
"Militarization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 12 Aug. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarization>.