Point One: As reported in last Saturday’s issue of the Saipan Tribune, only 7 percent of voters turned out for the survey on casino gambling on Saipan. Current issues instructor, Sam McPhetres, said it's “frustrating” that “a lot of people are not paying attention. They are the ones who need to decide the pros and cons on this issue. They have been spoon-fed for so long.”
Point Two: The job fair drew a good number of individuals to meet with prospective employers. One of the businesses talked to over 300 people and gave applications, but said that most don’t seem motivated about getting a job.
Point Three: I offered to do a training session for businesses on how to create a strategic plan that could help a company get focused and see better results in the coming year. I requested people to email me to determine their interest. There was no response.
Point Four: I was talking to an associate who attended a meeting about the retirement program’s performance. He stated that with all the issues surrounding the eventual demise of the program, there should have been a large group of interested people, but instead only a handful of people attended.
These are just a few points from many others I’ve observed over the past few years that indicate the general public has basically “thrown in the towel.” There appears to be a stupor that keeps people from caring about the many issues we’re facing. I’m sure there’s some psychiatric term that can describe this situation, but my unscientific explanation is that we are “zombified” by the malaise that permeates this small community. Rather than deal with the issues and take advantage of the numerous job opportunities that are available, take a stand against the bullying of some politicians to push casinos, or take action to create a plan, many have become part of the walking dead who accept the status quo and continue to embrace an entitlement mentality.
They haven’t lost all hope, because they still believe that the federal or local government will come to the rescue at the last moment and take care of them. This is based mostly on past experience. Even when it’s apparent that things are going down the drain fast, they still believe something or someone will provide a solution, instead of accepting full responsibility and taking action.
What’s the remedy for this apathetic state? One solution is to believe that you as an individual can make a difference. The old saying “if it is to be, it is up to me” applies here. When combined with the thoughts and will of enough people who are willing to step up to the plate, it can become a force for action to take back their lives and be in charge of their future.
It requires enough people who are fed up with their current situation, and who are willing to take full responsibility to make things better. These are individuals who wake up from a deep sleep and choose to join with the living. They are motivated, study the issues to become informed, make plans, and then take focused action to make it happen.
To get this movement going, however, requires a vision that is so compelling that it awakens the zombified populace from their deep trance, and enlists them in a cause for the greater good. In other words, it requires a type of leadership that does not currently exist. It can start with only one person with one great idea to bring people together as one.
These leaders will have to overcome the current way of doing things, the stalled mindset that has kept things as they are, and the general apathy that causes people to lose hope on themselves and the community. We have had some in the past who were willing to go against cultural norms and speak up for the right thing to do, but the incessant browbeating from the prevailing powers that be achieved their goal to squelch any opposition.
There are numerous examples of companies and countries that have, like the phoenix, restored themselves from the ashes of despair, to revive and transform themselves. Will the story of the CNMI include such a transformation? Are there enough people who care deeply enough and are motivated enough to make a difference? Or will it continue on its downward spiral into insolvency and dependency on others? Time will tell.
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