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Letters and Editorial Policies
Letters and Editorial Policies
Whoa ....easy tiger! Someone has to got their panties in a wad. Please step back and take a deep breath. So mych animosity coming from Afoa's supporters. I hope this is not a reflection of his campaign. Sheesh. I thought this was an avenue to state your point and the reasons why one would vote for a certain team and not another. Please dont lose any sleep on my account. Lets just all hold hands and sing kumbaya and just pretend thay Ill vote for Afoa so that you can get on with the rest of your life. #Sippin on koolaide
I am a Samoan living in Guam where the Unicameral Legislature is being practiced. American Samoa, take heed and consider a different structure for our Legislature. Mr. Watson presents a viable option, well thought out with good substance. Consider the possibilities of a New Fono. And just as important, consider the possibilities of a new Administration.
Thank you Mr. Watson for sharing your thoughts!
OK...NOT TO SOUND THREATENING OR COMING AT YOU IN A WRONG WAY, BUT SERIOUSLY...
YA'LL NEED TO MAKE UP YA'LL MINDS ALREADY?
I HAVE BEEN HEARING ALL MY LIFE THAT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE U.S INVOLVED (RELATIONS) WITH OUR WELL BEING AS A PEOPLE. IT HAS ALLOWED AND AFFORDED US POSSIBILITIES OF FUTURES THAT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO OTHER 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES OR TO OUR NEIGHBORING ISLANDS.
TO GET TO THE POINT..WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT TO HANG ON TO A CULTURE THAT PREACHES ONE THING BUT WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH IT TURNS AROUND AND DO ANOTHER.
THE AMERICAN DREAM AND BEING AMERICANIZED ARE DIFFERENT..BUT DIFFERENT IS GOOD..DIFFERENT LEAD TO CHANGES, CHANGES LEADS TO PROGRESS, PROGRESS LEADS TO SUCCESS, SUCCESS DEFINES IDENTITY, AND IDENTITY CREATES INDIVIDUALITY! WHICH IN TOTALITY IS WHAT WE ALL WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN YET NEVER REALLY ADMITS.
JUST A THOUGHT....
now here is a person with the perfect mindset and ideas to sit in the governors chair..
just saying, all of these candidates running for office are in no way qualified to be running this island government..and yes your views on how to managed the excess funding's, stipends on top of regular salaries, and spending expenditures and route those monies to other programs, place you ahead of what any of the gubernatorial candidates platform suggest!
why is that all these candidates dishes out are the same reform programs that does not need improvement but needs serious management. we get it, our island is corrupt from top to bottom (Gov't).
change may not happen over night, but change will never come until someone takes the initiative to correct a wrong....
thanks
whoa..ok..totally love the ideas being toss and turn in your response...
but hunnie...ignorance is bliss...
just because you don't think of the possibilities of cultures being swept under the rug in the 21st Century doesn't mean its not possible. Trust that it is happening even though Uncle Sam & the World as you so boldly puts it "with out the World not doing a thing about it... Not to take over & occupy but to better..." gets involved.
ever heard of "KO"? yeah............
i'm with you on everything you mention of why learning about history, being culturally diverse, and keeping the culture alive to the core. it is everything we want and dream, but when reality settles in, this is all we can do, fight & debate over it on cyber space when the real game players are chillaxin some where in the great "U.S of A"
i just <3 the sarcasm in your'e comment..well said..if the shoe fits then it must be Rhinoceros..don't you think?
awesome letter...just wanted to point that out
trump80 or jr. faaola, it is surprising that you have so much to say about others as if you're a saint of some sort, and yet you are supporting a team where the lead person has been listed in a scandalous report of giving $500k to his girlfriend and her families and others. A team that speaks of transparency but fail miserably to explain the claims in the 1602 report. A team that is lead by an individual that has been removed by previous governors from cabinet positions. A team where the leader had the opportunity to make a difference as the president of the senate, but didn't make a speck of a difference.
You are fast to criticize others when your team takes the lead on scandals and faults. Before you cast the first stone, you need to look in the mirror, look at yourselves. Go to church this Sunday Jr. you have so much hate. It may be time for you to kneel and pray and beg for some good things to happen to you and some positivity in your attitude, because you are just a sour puss!
The Saturday event was a great event, and the speeches by candidates only reinforced my choice of who to vote for. My family have always supported Afoa. He is a very patient man, and the only bad opinions that I have heard about Afoa are from people that lost court cases against families that Afoa represented in court. Maybe they were only mad at themselves for not having Afoa as their lawyer, because then they wouldn't loose.
So, is he a successful lawyer? I suppose so, since he is preferred when there are local matters for the courts. I have found him as someone that has ultimate faith in our God, he is kind and very humble despite his successes, and I appreciate that he has been very kind to us and never expected anything back from my family.
Never give up Afoa. Your perseverance and spirit of never giving up is one that we need to use as examples for our children. I am a proud supporter of Afoa & Le'i. I want a Governor that is not only intelligent and can prove that but has the experiences to lead our country and mostly be God-fearing and have the compassion, kindness and care for our people.
You are a sore loser because Save Sandra tried to find a way to win through a technicality (not by the will of the people).
My family has always supported Afoa. Aside from being very intelligent, he has always been kind and always offered help (for free) when my parents needed it. I know for a fact that he has done this to many others and not just my family. I am sure that many in this strange forum know this fact about Afoa.
First, Afoa never said that he would endorse Utu in 2008. That is your first error. I was there in 2008, and there was never such an announcement! Everyone knows this also. The most important point though is that obviously this is no longer relevant, because guess who was at Afoa & Le'is event? UTU!
Your second error is about your team's attempt to win without allowing the people to express their choice of leaders through voting. Judge Kruse and the associate justices ruled that there were no violations! So, where do you come with your accusation that the candidates were not disputing this. All of them disputed it - Lolo, Taufetee, Le'i and Salu. Those were the arguments in court, and the judges ruled that they were correct and your FAILED STAR lawyer and your FAILED claim were wrong.
Here you are again trying to destroy others instead of trying to sell yourself. Give it up already.
Ue'e, uce! Oh how I LOVE sour lihingmui (having some right now *ahem*) Ia pepelo ia le appellate court ae sa'o uma oulua ma Fetu agae o lega ua fai mai a lua facts! Amuia Save ma Sandra e kau fai facts uma le la vaega! Orkaleesh-some-yummy-gummy-facts-foa-my-tummy! Fiu e ai ae le ma'oga ai! Ai o gi facts e kumu i 'ea!
*singing save, save me Sandra. Save me!*
Toodles!
Lia
That is dedication and commitment. I've heard of government officials in Hawaii and the mainland, who have refused go give themselves a pay raise or take a reduction in salary, but not giving up a "whole years worth of salary", by working for free. That speaks volumes in my book. To lead by example all the while showing the humble, subservient spirit, is what we need to get Samoa out of the negative lime light.
Keith
Let's see you give up your yearly salary to do something for our community!
You obviously cannot tell when a person is angry or laughing. So, I am putting "LMAO!" as my title, so it is the first thing you read!...Hope you know what that means too!...lol...oops, I did it again, hope you know what that means!...here...let me simplify it for you:
Dude, I AM relaxed, especially when reading your comments...because they are purely entertaining!
Wow! are you seriously using that argument? The constitution is pretty explicit as to what steps ANYONE should take when revising the constitution. Not sure how you cannot distinguish between the role of the committee and how delegates are selected.
But you are right about no written guidelines a district shall use in selecting their delegates - Welcome to Samoa! But since you must have been absent from our territory forever, it defaults to the traditional way -- which, each district meets (families, chiefs, etc.) and they agree on who THEY want to represent them...just picture a bunch of individuals sitting in the Samoan Fale and exchange thoughts and food, or however each district handle their affairs. If it was not handled properly from your perspective, then that blame is on them and not the committee...AND you should have definitely voiced your concern during the district meeting.
BUT if you were mute throughout the process of selection, then there is absolutely no one to blame but yourself! You really need to rid of the perception that the committee had all the power and control...because they really didn't.
Sorry to put a sour lihingmui on your face Lia, but sounds like you want to be a star.hahaha...se speak the truth! Star only has made two statements...and both are true. Dont beat a dead horse Lia, add something that hasn't already been said.
Those who knew this guy would probably agree that Sonny is a humble soul. To me he is the epitome of the word 'friend' in all of its greatest.
I was the first day of the Fall semester in Funky-Town, a rainy September, 1981. We were those anxious, excited and nervous Freshmen, stepping into the Halls of the Vikings for the first time. It was the time when you find Zapp and Roger in the aiga buses singing 'Electricity'; you are serenaded by Earth Wind & Fire's 'Let Us Groove', KC dropped down 'Get Down Tonight', and the King of Pop MJ moonwalked even on the green grass at Fagaitua High. But the grass was wet that morning as it poured like crazy. As a freshmen you can't sleep the night before school. The excitement and curiousity builts up through daybreak. All you could think of is getting to school and the thrill of what friends you will see and what new friends you will make. It was the time when ACT from Aua reigned supreme as the infamous crew you don't dare mess with.
That morning at homeroom I was the first to find my seat. Unsure if i was in the right classroom. I took the last seat at the corner near the door - thinking that the exit would be easier. A few minutes later a flock of students sped across the classroom chasing each other and some jumped on the desks, the chairs and laughing as they chase each other. I thought to myself -- hmmm! so this is what high school is like. I noticed that the two guys chasing each other wore airbrushed sweaters with ACT airbrushed on it. I thought - Okay then! I finally have a face to put on the ACT phenom! (haha). I then saw a guy walked up and took the very first seat on the edge of the first row in the front. He was just laughing at the guys chasing each other. One of the guys called out to him 'Sonny block that side'. I figured okay so he is from ACT as well. When the teacher finally showed up and told the boys to calm down, Sonny stood up and walked over to my row and asked if anyone is sitting in the seat next to me. I gladly told him 'its yours'.
The class was already full when a girl walked in and stood at the door while the teacher was talking. The teacher then stopped and told the young lady to take a seat at his desk. Sonny stood up and offer his seat but the girl, very shy, walked over and sat at the teacher's desk.
There was a round of introduction and that confirmed Sonny is from Aua. When the bell rang everyone exit immediately while Sonny was still writing stuff on his notebook. After i put my stuffs in my bag, swung it over my shoulder, i turned to Sonny and asked if he was okay (just because everyone else left). Sonny said, 'yes thanks. My next class is in this same room so I am staying'. I introduced myself and left the building. Only to find out that i have to return to the same room because that is where my next class is held. When i got there Sonny asked if i forgot something and i said, 'i just found out this is where my next class is too.'
Since then, I and Sonny became friends. After high school we went our separate ways. We never kept in touch until after college when i returned home. We picked up our friendship from where we left off until I left the country again. But we never lost contact this time.
Sonny is so missed. May you rest in peace.
Se malo Fetu! Alo pea i ou faiva! Fai le faaiuga a faamasino ae fai fo'i oe ia! Get it, girl! Keep the day job ma sulu lou titi fai facts!
Fan of the day,
Lia M.
Wow Star, do you day-dream at the Library of Congress? Because you have a lot of so-called "facts"! I was a Utu supporter in 2008 but I don't remember the Afoa/Velega team ever endorsing us during the run-off, or was it before the primary election? (A leitioa fo'i a le malo si vaega!) Sis, if there WAS a violation of the law, the court would have upheld the lawsuit, right? Se soia ia... let's stick to the facts and not pull anything out of the air. Unless you were "there" or it is a proven fact, stop stating hearsay on this forum. It's so unbecoming for a Save (me) Sandra supporter.
Ia manuia lou aso!
Lia H. Manuma
... I get that the writer of the article stated her/his thoughts about wondering how and what Samoa and our culture would be like in the future. Im not sure what is wrong with teaching World History in school. I dont know if the mixture of cultures amongst us is a bad thing either. Im not sure if these were the factors to be blamed for the reason of our culture 'hanging on a single thread of existence'.
I am not against the teaching of World History in school. Why? Because it broadened my knowledge of the world and makes me curious about the world. It allowed me to have a high school diploma and college degree.
I am not against the mixture of cultures amongst us because their cultures enriched my knowledge of the world and made me appreciate God's creation of the world we live in that I know we can all co-exist. I pass on unique values of our culture to my friends' cultures and it has also enriched their lives because of the cultural exchange we've had. My family, like every Samoan family I know, kept the nucleus of the Samoan fire burning in their lives -- RESPECT. Even if we live abroad we carry that innate feeling of RESPECT and LOVE and we live to show that in what we do everyday.
I believe our culure will never be lost. It's just impossible because I know our people have a stronghold in our values. Realisticly, a foreigner would only take lead of our islands if our people decide to let them lead. In this 21st century, no culture will lose it's existence without the World not doing a thing about it. If Samoa ever gets there, the world will respond. It is why Uncle Sam is all over the world. Not to take over and occuppy but to better the world.
So i hope you do get to know a bit about me reading this response. Don't be afraid. The Lord always looks after good people and I know many Samoans are great people. Our culture is NOT hanging on one thread of existence. That is just too dramatic for me. Take care and enjoy the NFL season. BEST-- 11B
Thanks for enlightening us!! We now know that:
1. Afoa changed his mind last election on who to vote for(not illegal)
2. Le'i violated section (f) but is not disqualified
3. Star is voting for Save & Sandra (absolutely not illegal-your choice-but we wont hold it against you should you change your vote in the end *wink*)
Are we all in agreement on these issues?? can we move forward now or are we going to go back and beat on this dead horse??
Thanks for sharing that information. Just curious, as I am a petlover myself, --- how have pet owners get their pets checked, spayed/neutered? Has public health department ever put this on a high priority? Is there a Humane Society on the islands where people can get help with their pets?
It just sounds so sad that we preach our identity to the world how great people we are and our pride in our culture and yet our government neglects this vital segment that can say a lot about what we are about. I grew up with dogs everywhere - i get that! But Samoa has changed and so as most things.
It's time to create some kind of humane society or even a charity to establish a system to help animals, even if its to put down strayed dogs, but at least do it in a humane way. This kinda boils my heart. Thanks so much.
Editor's note: Yes we have a very active Humane Society that works hard to bring volunteer vets on island and also keeps some supplies of essential medicines for animals.
I feel a great connection with my fellow Samoans commented below about animal cruelty and their references about ASG! This type of news is downplayed in our islands but it would dominate the major news network at a national level. I don't have Facebook nor a Tweet account. I highly suggest those who care about animals to share this story with friends and perhaps bring it to the pet lovers and those who can help take action, reps, and political candidates.
It is a shame that in our way of living we worship our creator and yet people don't show compassion towards animals whom God created (if that's what we believe in). This is plain ridiculous. The issue isnt just about the shooting. ASG owes it to the public to protect animals and enhance public health. I can't believe there isnt a vet in town. Im sure there is an overpopulation issue for strayed dogs. Cruel actions by killing them with guns or cars will not solve the problem.
What example will Samoa set for their children to follow --- show no compassion for animals? Then they migrate to more westernized society and find themselves in akward thoughts when they see how people value their animals as they were their own children and family members? I cant believe the reporter fell short in reporting the story by not referencing any information about cruelty. Shame Shame Shame.
Just pick one that MIGHT not be a disaster.
Afoa and Faoa have no credibility.
Lolo is crazy, but pick him if you want. Or Jones, or Salu, or even Save if you must.
I can see that you are voting for Afoa. Well, that's better than Faoa. I'll give you that. But I think Afoa's ship sailed when he sold out.
Anyway, relax.
What difference does it make if they give up their salaries for a year? That's nothing compared to the mess we are in.
Afoa could have helped by supporting Utu, but he sold out. That's enough for me. No Afoa. He has no credibility.
...and do you think Faoa wouldn't give up his salary too? Like that's where he makes his money...