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"THE
NEXT GENERATION CAN DO BETTER"
Dear
Editor,
Samoana High
School had their NHS induction Thursday night at the Convention
Center, and as a spectator of the event I would just like to
express my thanks to the Faculty and Staff and the NHS students
for a very well planned event. From the choice of keynote speaker
right down to the food!
I am writing
however in regards to the keynote speaker.
I was pleasantly
surprised by the young lady (Fisher is her last name, I didn't
catch her first name) who spoke to the new inductees. For a young
lady of her age, she's wise beyond her years. She gave an eloquent
speech about service, character, scholarship and leadership.
The section of her speech that caught my attention, was when
she told the new inductees, that our government today is lacking
good, honest, trustworthy leaders and that we're looking to
the young generation to become better.
It saddens me
that our youth are well versed in the corrupt nature of our government
in Am. Samoa. Our children are suffering, growing up with a dishonest,
corrupt government. Although I know there is no such thing as
a "lie-free" government, I doubt it is as bad anywhere
else in the world as it is here in Am. Samoa. And such a small
island nation at that.
I spoke to Ms.
Fisher after her speech, and we discussed everything from the
shortage of teachers and jobs for students graduating from universities,
to the federal case against the Lt. Governor and Lam Yuen. She's
a very intelligent girl, and I applaud Samoana's staff for inviting
her. I think our high school students need someone like Ms. Fisher
to prepare them, to uplift them and motivate them. Because
she is right, they are our island's future and it would be a
waste of good talent, good skills, if they grow up and (either)
don't want to return to Samoa, or repeat what is going on now
in ASG.
My advice for
all our high schools, especially now that it is graduation season,
would be to find someone like Samoana's NHS guest speaker for
a keynote speech at graduations: someone close enough to their
age so they can relate, old enough to know the truth, and young
enough to not be afraid to speak out.
Our children
don't need anymore speeches from people that drag on for what
seems to be hours, and the students are left with nothing but
a sigh of relief that the speaker finally shut up. They need
motivators and real talk,. They are teenagers ready to embark
into the real world, and they need somebody who has been there
and done that -and not 20 years ago. They need someone who has
been there and done that within the last 5 years because things
have changed. I hope my request doesn't fall on deaf ears because
our children need to know that there are still young people who
care and are not willing to give up on our government, and who
are ready to make the necessary changes to steer our government
in a positive direction.
Again, I would
like to thank Samoana and their NHS . Job well done! I know
your students took something with them after their induction
and it was refreshing for once to listen to someone speak for
only 10 minutes yet still got a very strong point across.
Malo lava Samoana
Lolarose Talamoni-Carter
"WORKERS
RIGHTS"
Dear Editor,
Faleomavaega
says, "No other leaders in Congress know more about the
rights of working men and women throughout the United States
and its territories than Chairman Miller and Chairman Kennedy."
I have to ask our Congressman, what exactly are those rights?
Are workers being forced into labor camps in American Samoa?
Are employers pointing guns at employees and saying, "Work
at this wage rate or else?"
Perhaps he is
referring to the minimum wage, which is not a right. If it
were, it would exist with or without the presence of government.
For example, if there were no government, would you not defend
your life in the wilderness? If there were no government, would
you not defend the property you acquire to preserve your life?
But how in the world could one impose, let alone articulate,
a right to a minimum wage upon his neighbor if there were no
government?
The only right
a worker has is his freedom to contract. Government has a role
to protect against fraud and ensure safety, but is that what
the US Congress is fighting for in American Samoa on behalf of
our people? The only rights Chairmen Miller and Kennedy are interested
in are not the ones government is meant to protect, but mere
demands of their constituents backed by the force of law.
Congressmen Faleomavaega,
Miller and Kennedy say that not "enough specific data and
information" was provided to warrant a delay in forcing
up the minimum wage. My other question to Rep. Faleomavaega
is: why wasn't this request for data and information made before
they decided to impose and raise the minimum wage law?
Tali
"
WHAT DOES A.S. GET?"
Dear Editor,
The Senate president
is asking what does American Samoa get from the fiber optic deal.
While the old
men are off until 4th July, they should learn what fiber optic
is, and it is being buried under the ground here every day for
those that care about the future.
The main thing
they must learn is that ASG will not have full control of the
people anymore, and if ASG is not willing to invest in the people
here, there are companies willing to make the profit while the
government goes back to doing what governments are supposed to
do, and that is "NOT RUNNING BUSINESSES".
They can also
learn to provide "government services" for THE PEOPLE
and not themselves!!
Concerned Citizen
© Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba
Samoa News reserves all rights.
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