The Tribune, Saturday, November 2, 1991
The Birth of the Chamoru Nation
Tinige' i Difunton Anghet Leon Guerrero Santos
In the beginning of time, God created man in his own image. He created a universal home for his people. He scattered them throughout the world and gave each of them a language of their own. He gave them land and enough natural resources to live on. He created Koreans and gave them a home in Korea. Then he made the Japanese and gave them a home in Japan. Then he created Chamorus and gave them a home in the Marianas.
Who is a Chamoru? A Chamoru is a direct descendant of the
original
inhabitants of Guam regardless of variations of lineage. A Chamoru is not determined
in terms of degrees or fractions. A person who is 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 
Chamoru is
still a human beings have a God-given right to claim their identity based on the
argument that there is no nationality in the world that is pure. Why must
Chamorus be subjected to all the insults and alienation? Why must we justify our
identities? God knows who we are and that's all that matters. Chamorus have an
inalienable right to exist as a nation of people! Our ancestors were placed on
this island with a unique culture and language, found nowhere in the world
except in the Marianas Islands. Why do outsiders argue that there are no real
Chamorus? Is it because these individuals or outside governments have an
economic or political interest in our island? Or is it because they have no
sense of their own identity? Chamorus know who they are. They are born, raised
and proud to be Chamoru. A Chamoru is allowed to keep his clothes, American car,
a concrete home, and government job and still be a Chamoru. It is not an
immortal sin to be a Chamoru. It is a divine gift from God....
Today, survival of the Chamoru Nation is threatened as a result of the US open door policy allowing the influx of immigrants into Guam. The United States denied Chamorus their fundamental human rights by taking Chamoru lands (one third of Guam) in the 1940's and 1950's, without due process of just compensation. For any nation to survive, is people must protect the land, water, air, spirituality, language and culture...
...Sovereignty
is the right of a people to control their own destiny. All sovereign nations
must protect six elements - land, water, air, spirituality, language and culture
for the survival of its people. If any of these elements are sold, destroyed or
lost, then sovereignty begins to erode and our right to survive is decreased. 
The influx of immigrants to Guam has an impact on these elements that threatens
Chamoru survival.
Some Chamorus feel its too late to attend to problems on Guam, but while the Chamorus still make up 42 percent of the population it is not too late. While some Chamorus chose not to sell their land, it is not too late. While some still speak the language, it is not too late. While our culture is still being practiced, it is not too late. While our children still depend on us, it is not too late. While we are still alive, it is not too late. Patience, faith and prayer are our only weapons in reversing the injustice and restoring hope for our people.