#Decolonize
I've spoken with many of my fellow Micronesians who still think we need to be decolonized. What?? I'm not the smartest guy, but I thought we in Micronesia have our own countries: The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (ROP). We are no longer a colony of the USA, Japan, Germany, or Spain. No longer, for many years now.
When was Micronesia last a colony of any country? There are many people walking around town that have no idea what the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is. Even fewer remember life under the Empire of Japan. Some of our citizens in the FSM have never lived under any form of colonial government in their entire lives. The Federated States of Micronesia came into existence in 1986. The disconnect of those who want to decolonize from their present reality is confusing. Imagine living in a country that has been free of its colonial bonds for many years, with self-government, Embassies around the world, foreign Embassies on their land, International treaties with other sovereign nations, its own elected President, National Congress, States, Governors, and even State and Municipal Legislatures, and its citizens wanting to decolonize? From who? From what?
Not a colony
Here is my answer to those that want to decolonize. Decolonize your mind, first. Break free from those imaginary chains in your mind that make you believe you are a victim of colonization. It may be that you are unaware of what is going in in your own country. Unaware of the strides and struggles that our grandfathers, fathers, uncles and elders have made to bring us to where we are now. If so, allow me to share a very small slice of our current status.
The Federated States of Micronesia is a sovereign nation in a free association with the United States of America. What does that mean? If you are living in the USA or her territories, then that means you are living free because of this international (between two sovereign nations) agreement, the compact of free association. We, and not any colonizer, run our government. We, and not any colonizer, determine the path of our future, including who we choose to have diplomatic relations with, even the People's Republic of China and many other nations. While we do not have a military, we do have as our partner the USA to come to our defense should that need arise (as a result of the compact of free association). We also have the ability to negotiate terms of the compact with the USA. Negotiate. As partners and not colonizer to colony. As a matter of fact, the FSM and the USA are currently in negotiations to continue the economic provisions and other parts of our compact.
Micro(nesian) Perspective
I understand the pull to identify with those groups of peoples who have been colonized and remain unable to determine the course of their own people's future (Guam, Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, etc). It's cool to rally around a social justice cause. This is the world we live in today. One full of social justice warriors who want to change the world. Good on you and everyone else that wants to do that. Fight on brothers and sisters.
In the meantime, we here in Micronesia are still a young and developing country. While we may not be Guam or Hawaii or even Fiji, that's ok. We have our own thing. Our own country. We have enough challenges that need our attention and decolonizing is not one of them. It never has been. What we need is participation, ownership and focus. I am addressing the young people. Especially those who want to decolonize Micronesia. Participate in your government, private sector, community. Participate here in your country. Take ownership, because this country is yours. When your fathers, mothers and elders leave, it is all yours. Focus on building our country and leading our people into the 21st century, not identifying with a struggle that is neither here or yours. #Participate #Ownership #Focus
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