Auntie Charo's Soapbox

"Finally got back to reading your site and came across this one which caught my eye.
GIRL........I'M CONFUSED! So......were you confused about which person needs identification or what? The one who was killed crossing the street or the one who killed him? In the webpage article, Mindy Fothergill reports that:"21-year-old Micronesian man died from injuries he sustained in an auto-pedestrian crash that happened Sunday night. Highway Patrol officers say the pedestrian, now
having been identified as Machimina Enlet of Sinajana, was crossing Marine Corps Drive toward Island Funeral Home when a vehicle struck him. He was pronounced dead upon arrival to the Guam Memorial Hospital." Then in the same report she states: "Meanwhile, Highway Patrol investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying the pedestrian. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Guam Police Department." Is this a trick question or what? Do you sometimes wonder what these people are on when they're writing their stories? I always wonder what the Micronesians are on when they cross the streets, especially when they're involved in an injury or fatality....I'm thinking that where they're from, there aren't many cars and drinking and crossing the streets aren't a problem....here, they are....I wonder how many are injured in Hawaii or places where Micronesian populations are great in number. Drinking is a real problem that they don't seem to be able to handle They can't drink and drive, they can't drink and walk, they can't drink and behave at parties(they either throw rocks at each other or kill each other)
or, they get killed crossing the street. It's really quite sad and something that should be addressed by the officials in micronesia....if they are concerned about their citizens, that is! Two deaths because of crossing the street in less that two months is really too many! And all I can say is that I totally agree with your thoughts. SOMEONE in the Micronesian community on Guam or in the Micronesian government has to face the facts that their people can't drink and drive or walk at the same time. Or attend parties together where drinks are available. They simply can't handle the alcohol. It's too much when they start beating up on each other; especially when related. When I persisted in commenting on this problem to a famous radio talk show host some time ago I sensed he got a bit upset with me and thought I was profiling. Call it what you want, but facts are facts and at some point SOMEBODY has to realize who the problems are. Problems DO NOT solve themselves. The first step is recognizing what or who the problem is. Agree? Out here in Yigo there is a large Micronesian population. You see them walking on the sides of the roads. Or driving junker cars at a very slow speed and without much concern for how they drive or how they impede normal
traffic flow. They don't secure their kids either. My neighbor witnessed a child fall out of one car at the Mobil station in Yigo and almost get run over not once, but twice, until the driver could be made to stop moving forward. I think the police are afraid to stop and cite Micronesians. Maybe they're briefed to maintain a hands off and avoid bad publicity or being accused of profiling?
As far as pedestrians I think they need to realize that at night it is very difficult to see them on the sides of the roads with oncoming traffic headlights affecting your vision. If it's raining it's even more of a hazard. More than once I've seen a pedestrian at the last moment. One afternoon one, obviously drunk, walked and made it across Route 10 without getting hit. I saw him in time and anticipated he wasn't going to stop for moving traffic. Including me. Obviously others on Guam's roads haven't been as fortunate and now must live with the fact they hit and killed someone. It's happened too many times. I've had my close calls and I'm sure others who haven't spoken up have as well. I think we can look forward to more road kill unless the problem is addressed. Road kill on Guam used to be cats, dogs and snakes. Now it's Micronesians.
I still can't forget the incident of the Filipino lady who spent time in jail for running over a drunk Micronesian on Route 16. This after another vehicle had hit him. Maybe we should start posting new road signs that say "Be aware of drunk Micronesians on the road"??? Even not drunk they present a problem due to the lack of sidewalks and narrow roads in some areas. Like the area in and around the Yigo mayor's office and between Marine Drive and Route 15 on Gayinero.
I'm of the opinion that it's a waste of precious breath to raise any concern over any issue on Guam. Even the worst of incidents, criminal or otherwise such as traffic deaths, is soon forgotten. I've never been anyplace before that suffers from such a serious case of apathy. It's endemic on this island. As a famous radio talk show host here told me awhile back, just kick back and relax. As if to say don't rock the boat. I don't make the rules or set the standards and it is a waste of time trying. In other words lower the pole (standards). I find it hard to do that. I've pretty much given up on watching KUAM news and have totally shut off my radio and listen
only to music or comedy CD's while on the road. With the PDN it's a
quick scan of the front page headlines and some local news, on to the Garfield comic strip and then the sports page. It's done wonders for my blood pressure. Honestly. Maybe we could run for office and try to change things? I think we'd age too quickly and our mental state would deteriorate faster than we'd like it to. It takes a Carl Gutierrez type to keep people happy and smiling on this island. Isn't that a shame?
Anyway, I'll be checking in at the site more often now that there is some good reading. When you go 'missing' I'm wondering if you're off island or Heaven forbid here and ill."