Zine colonization and identity of guam

Whose the island?

History of the Colony in Guam

Colonial History Many times Guam is robbed by other nations They are still fighting with them to protect their island and culture

Colonization and Identity of Guam: Indigenous Right and Colorblind Racism Nobuyuki Ueno(A12733755) Discussion Monday 3pm

“War in the pacific national historical park Asan beach; left flag is Guam,

and center

one is U.S., right side is Japanese flag.�

This picture is taken at Agat bay in Guam Island. The left flag is flag of Guam, and categorized as one of U.S. state flag. The center one is U.S. national flag, and right side one is Japanese national flag. At the center of picture, there is a big cannon that was actually used when U.S. occupied Guam Island. You will be surprised because even though the Island is far from U.S., but the flag exists the Island. Also, it is not Japanese, but the flag is raised. This picture shows the painful history of Guam, and currently also they are fighting with other nations to protect their culture and environment.

Overview of Guam

ď Ź 1.

Geography Guam is located on the southernmost tip of the Mariana Islands and is the largest island in Micronesia. It is located at the western end of the Pacific, about 3500 km south from Japan, about 1500 km east of the Philippines. Guam is an island made of volcanoes ("Anatahan Volcano."). The name of the island "Guam" is Guahan of indigenous language Chamorro. However, due to repeated killings and long governance by foreigners, the original name before this island became known as Guam has been lost. By the time contact with Europeans began, the names of Boen, Guan and Baham were used in reports and maps. In the Spanish literature since the late 1600s, the names of "Guahan", and "Guam" were found after the US came to rule in 1898. In the 1950s Guam, the basic law passed by the United States Congress and "Guam" became official name.

2.

Population The population is about 162,742 people, 40% of the indigenous people of Guam, Chamorro people, 24% of Filipinos, 15% of Americans and 21% of others ("The World Factbook: GUAM.").

3.

Industry Guam's industrial structure is comprised of 70% of the tourism industry and 30% of base related industries, which are the main industries. More than 1 million tourists visit each year, but more than 90% of the tourist income is attributed to tourists from Japan.

4.

Religion About 85% of Guam believes in Christianity. Many islanders are occupied by church events and on Monday holidays Mass in church is routinely made ("The World Factbook: GUAM.").

The history of Guam Colonize Guam is the largest island of the archipelago located in the area called Micronesia in the western Pacific. There is a unique culture history in which various elements are complicatedly mixed. Geographically, it is famous for occupying an important position in economic and military strategies between Asia and the North American continent.

However, it is not well known that there is a complicated history on the island. While belonging to the United States, the culture and customs of Guam has a background in Spanish rule era that lasted more than 300 years. 

The origin of Guam's indigenous people, Chamorro people

People live in the Mariana Islands for thousands of years. This island was one of the first residences of the Indian Malayan people who came from the islands of Southeast Asia probably more than 4,000 years ago. These people began to be called Chamorro later. Guam was formed a strong maternal society, with the power and privilege of women, most of Chamorro culture, language, music, dance, tradition, was protected and conveyed. 

Spain governance

The first time Guam is in contact with Europe is March 6, 1521. Diplomatic relations with Europe began as Magellan, who was in the vicinity of the voyage around the world, found Guam.

After Magellan discovered Guam Island, in 1565 Spain's Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi reached Guam, King Spain officially declared the territorial rights of Guam Island and other Mariana Islands. At this time Spanish governance era continued in 333 years began. In 1668, the missionary group of the Jesuits led by the priest Diego Luis de San Vitores came to establish Christianity and trade in this place. Until that time, Guam Island was the territory as a relay point of the route, but it will be conquered to Spain in earnest.

Missionaries taught the Chamorro people to cultivate maize, bring livestock, teach them how to rearrange and how to tan their skin, and also made clothing change to Western style

(Paul 1964). 

Spain Chamorro War

Although it is Catholic, which has also spread to neighboring islands, Chamorro people noticed that Catholic teachings conflict with the traditional values and customs of Chamorro, such as strongly prohibiting "ancestral worship." Gradually they began to repel the teaching, and it caused to the Spanish-Chamorro war in 1668. Spain burned down all the villages rebellious against Catholicism and gave the chief severe punishment. And 1695 when the Chamorro surrendered, the number of Chamorro people said to have 100,000 people has decreased to less than 5,000 (Paul 1964). 

US West War

The western American war broke out in 1898 following the sinking of the American battleship by the Spanish army. The Guam Island was also shelled by the US Navy and occupied by the United States the same year. Governance by the US Navy has led to numerous changes and improvements in agriculture, health and sanitation, education, land management, taxation, public works, and so on. Guam is used as a base for coal refueling and territory of the US Navy (Paul 1964)). 

Japanese occupation era

In 1941, Japan occupies Guam with the outbreak of the Pacific War by Pearl Harbor attack.

Guam has become the only former US territory occupied by the Japanese army. In the occupied era of Japan over the 31 months since then, Guam Islanders were forced to live their lifestyle in Japan. The Japanese army also forced the islanders to use Japanese, but from the loyalty the Chamorro had hugged the United States, only a handful of Chamorro people who could use Japanese It was said that it was. Moreover, the freedom of the residence of the Chamorro people was guaranteed (Paul 1964).



Return to the American era

As American troops strengthened their counterattack towards the Mariana Islands, Japanese attitudes towards Chamorro people became increasingly strict on a daily basis. The islanders are forced to work and are collected in camps in the eastern part of the island. In 1944, after a series of intense fighting for three weeks when American troops landed on Guam Island and deprived the lives of thousands of Chamorro people, US soldiers, Japanese soldiers, and Guam Island regained calm and reunited again under the rule of the United States of America. It became an autonomous tyranny of the United States in 1950, and it is utilized as a base on the Pacific strategy of the US military until today ("History." History & Culture of Guam's Chamorro People. Guam).

Identity of the Chamorro people, human rights protection In order to protect their own identity and culture, the Chamorro people carried out their own residential rights "voting only for Chamorro people�. “Chamorro-only voting" scheduled to be carried out by the Guam Colonization Committee mainly relies mainly on international norms on colonialization as the self-determination power of the colonial people. However, Guam's referendum has received numerous criticisms in connection with issues such as equality and discrimination between race and ethnicity. The first relates to international norms, and the second relates to norms in the United States. What was regarded as a problem is who is the subject of self-determination in the process, as it acknowledged Guam's efforts toward democratization. In other words, it is a question concerning interpretation of international norms as to who is included in non-autonomous region people. Critics of Chamorro-only voting will reluctantly accept

the self-determination rights of non-autonomous people, but completely refused indigenous people's self-determination rights. It is not written that the UN Charter is given an exclusive right to decide the future of non-autonomous regions with indigenous peoples. Chamorroonly vote eliminates non-Chamorro people from self-determination of political status and discriminates in voting. These residents are not actively supporting self-determination of non-autonomous region people, but criticize "voting only for Chamorro people" while referring to the "civil and political right" of non-Chamorro people (McCann 1997). Also, as with international norms and many theorists, Pingmes does not recognize the splitting or splitting of existing nations (other than in the case of improving the human rights situation) by self-determination of subgroups, and restrict the territorial integrity to self-determination (Peang-Meth 2000b, 2002: 109-10). In the end, not only the Chamorro's self-determination, but also the self-determination of the Guam people (residents) are not allowed. It is not a right to self-determination but a more flexible political, economic, social and cultural right that is allowed by indigenous people (Peoples-Meth 2002: 112).

The position of American constitutionalism Another basis for critics of the Chamorro-only voting was the Constitution of the United States. Pingmeth states that in a paper on indigenous people's self - determination powers, voting by Chamorro people is against the Constitution of the United States. Robert Statham Jr., Associate Professor of Political Science at the time of Guam University, also criticized referendum of Chamorro as raising important issues concerning Guam's political status. Also, self-determination. Statham acknowledges the necessity of self-determination in Guam in the non-autonomous region, but self-determination of Americans and indigenous peoples. Self-determination of indigenous Chamorro people is not allowed under the Constitution and its lively principle. The reason is that there are autonomous needs by subordinate groups of islanders who excluded all other people based on race, ethnicity, and family.

"Culture" against "universal" (1) Criticism of anti-colonialism

The fact that America is colonizing Guam is not to be dismissed by critics of Chamorro-only voting critics? There lies an optimistic view of becoming America, and the power to try to eliminate those, who do not accept it, is working. One of those perspectives is what we should call criticism of anti-colonialism. It is a counter-argument from the socio-economic aspect to the recognition that Guam is an American colony. Former editorial writer Joe Murphy of the "PDN" paper says that "voting for only Chamorro people is not only political problems but also emotional problems. I am concerned that we will make Guam a situation (ethnic camp) where the political position is divided with the Chamorro people and other people (Filipino, Micronesian, mainlanders). And we want to maintain current status of Guam's political position (Murphy 1999a).� Besides, another argument adds criticism to the recognition that the federal government is a colonial master.

"The United States is now the only superpower in the world and has the greatest military power in the world today and has tremendous economic power for the rest of the world.We also have freedom, justice, I believe in and believe in equality ... Although indeed the United States has committed many mistakes in Guam and the territory of the Pacific, I believe and believed that the intention was fine, When writing about our "colonial rulers" where people are in Washington, they are not looking at the other side of the coin. Do you believe that these colonial rulers have paid salaries to Guam for 6,000 jobs (mostly the Guam government)? Which colonial rulers will put $ 200 million or more into the island's economy? They are not expecting any trade anything other than offering a place. (Murphy 1999b) " Murphy, for example, states that the Federal Government is doing a lot of financial assistance and direct support to Guam. In other words, Guam is socio-economically completely dependent on the federal government.

"If you want an improved position, we should stop talking about this" colony "and" obedience ". These are harassing and unpleasant words of no value. This way is hurting all of us. Other people in the world want to live in a position as an

American "colony". Let's celebrate being an American citizen in the land of America. While doing lobbying to the United States, you can boast that you are an American citizen. (Omen) How about celebrating it rather than fighting diversity? Rather than acting like colonization, the American constitutionalism as a criticism of 'indigenous self determination' rather than the United States itself can also clearly show that we are American. If we unite and have self-esteem as an American citizen, investment and prosperity will come later. (Ysrael 2000) " Diversity is being evaluated from the viewpoint of investors, and it is possible to see the honor of neo-liberal multiculturalism. And surprisingly saying the same with Murphy, it is argued as a crisis that Guam will be out of the United States by the self determination of the Chamorro people, criticisms against the United States are made inexplicable.

Proposal of tribal position and reservation Chamorro nationalism is regarded as one of ethnic and nationalisms given a negative character. Nevertheless, what will happen if the Chamorro person insists on selfdetermination power and intends to implement residents vote for Chamorro people?'

Pingmeth said, "Despite the fact that Guam's Chamorro has essential features to become a nation," despite the fact that it is not illogical for the Chamorro nation to want the nation of the Chamorro people. It states that understanding, and political diplomatic approval cannot be obtained easily (Peang-Meth 2000c). It is said that two options are given to ethnic nationalism in the United States. It is assimilation to the United States. The assimilation to the United States by fostering the power of reason, and overcoming group preferences and attribution, separation in the form of quasi-sovereign or partial sovereign tribal status. In other words, besides Americanization, people can choose to become a tribal status. The Chamorro must complete the American citizenship by becoming a state by Guam, or abandon American citizenship. They will gain status as an indigenous people. The establishment of the Chamorro reserves is a measure to satisfy the principle of freedom and equality (Statham 2002a: 79). The Chamorro people can leave the reservation at any time, can live in any places in the US, can hold full civic rights (Murphy 1995). Regarding the

tribal status of the Chamorro people, Statham does not recognize American citizenship, while assuming the same status as Indian tribes in the United States.

Summary and Opinion As we have seen, criticism from a universalistic position in accordance with international norms, such as international human rights laws and the national norm of the Constitution of the United States. It has been developed, and its natural argument that discrimination should not be based on race, ethnicity, family line has acted as a color blind ideology. Discourse of American constitutionalism links American culture to reason and civilization, while asserting that the culture of people developing ethnic and nationalism is racial-specific, specialistic, exclusive. This makes me think of so-called new racism based on cultural differences rather than biological inheritance. What is right there is the distinction between different cultures and cultures and the latter individualism model superiority. However, it is clearly inadequate to extract only racyism problems from American constitutionalism or color blind ideology in Guam. Naturally, as the Chamorro nationalists are aware of that it has the character as a colonial ruler, and trying to retain vested interests in Guam. It may also be called colonialist American nationalism. Guam is regarded as part of the national space of the United States, and the application of the Constitution of the United States to Guam is self-evident. There is something that can not be reduced to either colonialism or nationalism in the relationship between Guam and the United States. American nationalism seems to overwhelm the American colonization shared by the Chamorro nationalists and recognition of the problem of historical injustice accompanying it. For the Chamorro, who continues pursuing self determination as indigenous people even after being granted American citizenship, a proposal was made to live in a reservation as a tribe. However, this assumes inclusion rather than exclusion. The process of political separation proposed in Guam would be a case in which social separation was extremely advanced in suggestive subsumption. In short, America Constitutionalism, which creates color blind ideology, acts like a mixture of racism, colonialism, and nationalism in America, making the problem of historical injustice in Guam invisible. Guam is an overseas territory of the United States' colony, and has been literally frontier for more than 100 years. Therefore, it can be said that it is issuing an

important question about becoming or being an American. From the same point of view, it is hoped that deeper consideration will be given to the relation between universalism and its historical injustice more generally.

Work Cited Abbamonte, Lee . War in the pacific national historical park Asan beach; left flag is Guam, and center one is U.S., right side is Japanese flag. Digital image. Guam: Where America Starts its Day. N.p., 22 May 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.

"History." History & Culture of Guam's Chamorro People. Guam Visitors Bureau, n.d.

Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Murphy, Joe, “Guam Has Reservations about Tribehood,”Pacific Daily News, November 21. 1995 ―, 1999a,“Chamorro Vote May Split Guam into Ethnic Camps,”Pacific Daily News, May 13. ―, 1999b,“Critics Wrong to Call the U.S. a Colonial Master,” Pacific Daily News, July 21.

Paul, Carrano, and Sanchez Pedro, C. A Complete History of Guam. N.p.: Charles E. Tuttle Company, Rutland, VT, 1964. Print.

Peang-Meth, Abdulgaffar, 2000a,“Chamorro-Only Vote Limits Right of

Self-

Determination to Minority,” Pacific Daily News, April 26. ─, 2000b,“Right to Self-determination Should Uphold Rights of Individuals,” Pacific Daily News, May 17. ─, 2000c,“People of Guam Must Consider Political Diplomatic Recognition,”Pacific Daily News, May 31. ─, 2002,“The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Their Fight for SelfDetermination,” W orld Affairs, 164 (3): 101-14.

Statham, Jr., E. Robert, 2000,“Chamorro-Only Plebiscite Skews True, Full Representation of Inhabitants’ Desires,”Pacific Daily News, March 7. ―, 2002a, Colonial Constitutionalism: The T yranny of United States’ Offshore Territorial Policy and Relations, Lanham: Lexington Books. ―, 2002b,“Ethnic Nationalism Versus American Constitutionalism: The Impact of Rice v. Cayetano,” W orld Affairs, 164 (3): 135-44.

"The World Factbook: GUAM." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

U.S. Geological Survey, Commonwealth of the Norhtern Mariana Islands. "Anatahan Volcano." Home page of Anatahan Volcano, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. N.p., 10 May 2003. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Ysrael, Alfred C., 2000,“Status Vote Will Drive Away Investors,” Pacific Daily News, April 27.