Letters—Details

Please Let Me Decide My Fate

06/10/2010

I appreciate the laudable positions taken by both Senator Velega and Pulu Ae Ae, Jr. I can also appreciate Governor Togiola's personal views on this very important issue, especially with the current state of affairs in the territory. I believe that both Velega and Pulu have a very legitimate position on the Governor's personal opinionated approach and how that can manipulate the thought process of the common citizen.
 

For the sake of fairness, I think the governor should refrain from giving his personal views on what path of government we should endorse in the upcoming ConCon. I strongly believe, as Velega, that the right of the individual to decide their fate is justly reserved and shouldered upon the indivual themselves. If we are to have any chance, not only as a people but as a nation to survive and to be counted as human beings on this earth, then we should be given that right and privilege to state our views in how we want our country to be operated. I would never want someone else to impose their will on me.
With respect to the honorable governor, though I can appreciate your personal views on the issue of reforming our government, I respectfully disagree with you on this issue. I disagree on two points. First, the imposition of your views on me (as a citizen) prior to the ConCon. As a common citizen I have not been given all the facts (pros & cons) about all the issues involved and yet I am being asked by my governor to side with him on one of these issues. Despite your position as governor, the personal opinions and views that you make on any issue has an impact on the people's psyche. I believe this is not only unfair but unethical.

Secondly, facts. I have not been privileged with hard data to support any of your position on why we should side with you. I can understand Senator Velega's position on the governors reasoning for wanting to take the Palau agenda, but that too is questionable and a matter of opinion. But Velega did make a legitimate point, that all the facts about the Palau approach has not been thoroughly investigated.

Governor, we as a people are about to make a very serious decision on how we want our government to be molded. Please give us that chance to do it for ourselves. Provide the pros and cons and all other data necessary to help us decide on our fate, but let us decide. If our forefathers were wise enough to make that fateful decision to align with the United States through the Deed of Cession (and thats without technology), are we less capable of making that kind of decision at this time with all the advancement in technology at our disposal?

Soifua,
Lagofaatasi Faaola, Jr.