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Todu dipende gi hafa ta hahasso: Chamorros on Guam and 9/11 by Sahuma
The September 11th, 200 attack on the United States forced so many issues into our consciousness. One issue however which it seemed to push away from our fields of vision was Guam's and Chamorros' place in the United States. The fury of disposable patriotism and flag waving hushed up any critique or questions about Guam being a colony, or Chamorros being second class citizens. But despite our patriotic amnesia, the questions still loom, waiting to be answered.
A critique of Pacific Passages by Tasin Taichina and Sahuma
Pacific Passages by Roland Stade while being a valuable addition to the limited scholarship on Guam and Chamorro, is limiting in its own specific ways. While forcibly implanting in Guam a very rigid and untenable Marxist structure, Stade gives the impression of a structural treatment of contemporary Guam while in actuality telling the same old Victorian story, simplifying the culture to the point of stupidity at times, all for the love of italics.
Chamorro dialogue in a marginalized space by Fanai
For Chamorros struggling for justice and an end to injustice, the problem is not that they have no voice, but rather they have no space from which to speak. The discursive space created by the colonizer doesn't give a Chamorro room to critique the colonial status of Guam, or power in which to change it.
Unfair immigration laws, economic independence? and the importance of Activists by Fegurgur
In 1991 Angel Santos and the Nasion Chamoru published a series of leaflets in order to inform Chamorros on Guam about their status, and the factors that threaten and hinder their status and development. Unfair federal laws (over which we have no say), have threatened at times to turn Chamorros into a permanent underclass in Guam. The following is a paper written in a history of Guam class, in response to several of the leaflets.
Nihi ta fanagululumi: Inferiority and Activism Amongst Chamorros on Guam by Sahuma
Why is it that Chamorros seem to feel like activism or social criticism is against their culture? Where does this idea that Chamorros are supposed to be laid-back, relaxed and non-confrontational come from? Many of these perceptions come from our being colonized by the United States. And in the process of our colonization, we have internalized and accepted the racist perceptions of others, as our perceptions of our ourselves. When we can move beyond this simple fact, we can see clearly that activism is very much a part of our culture, and has been for centuries.
Chonnek Guatu/ Halla Magi: Chamorro/American Identity Poitics on Guam by Sahuma
The Chamorro place in the big circle of US belonging has always been an ambiguous one. It has been characterized by a constant and perpetual pushing and pulling closer and away from the United States. Historicization of this disaffection, dissatisfaction and confusion by which Chamorros have slowly moved from third class citizens to second class citizens is vital in understanding current Chamorro identity politics.
US colonialism, and the Island of Guam by Hanom Freska yan Sahuma
An overview of Guam's history in relation to the United States. A sad recollection of the realities of US colonialism, its effects on Guam, and an analysis of its justifications and reasoning.
Imported Social Tools: The links between Culture, Prison and Therapy? by RKS
Siempre para u fatto, ti apmam. Lao para pa'go, taya' lai as'i'i yu' fan. Ti layiyi yu' pa'go. Se'yon nu este na minakkat.
Another American in Micronesia: A critique of P.F. Kluge's beachcombing text. by Tasin Taichina
Following the death of his friend, former Palau President Lazarus Salii, former Peace Corps volunteer and expert beachcomber P. F. Kluge returned to Micronesia, and this text The Edge of Paradise, is the account of his return. The racism is so subtle and odorless you have to be dead not to smell it. Kluge makes his way, island hopping around the Micronesian region, spending just enough textual time on each island, to tell you their dirty secrets, and to chastise them for driving cars, and building concrete houses.
Panopticon on Guam and in Micronesia by RKS
The idea of panopticon was popularized by the late French philosopher Michel Foucault, as a method of controlling populations both general and specific. How can this idea of control be related to Guam and the United States?
Give me fan Coke. Hafa na Coke? COKE! by Hanom Freska
A look at the history of Coca-Cola on Guam.