Two Poems Written By Angel Santos in Federal Prison

Two poems written by the late Angel L.G. Santos while he was in US federal prison in the year 2000. I will write more on them another time, but for now, let them stand here as a testament to who he was and the times in which he lived, and also, how he helped to affect the course of Chamoru and Guam history up until today.

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Who Are We To Uncle Sam – Friend or Foe?

(by Angel Leon Guerrero Santos)

As I pen this poem, while I sit in prison,

For you silence my voice, in the American tradition;

Who are we Uncle Sam, are we friend or foe?

If we are your friend, then treat us as so;

Our land and our water, the air God giveth, 

You came to our island, and then you taketh;

We have drinking water, at Fena Lake you will find,

You want us to pay “Now!”, cause it’s no longer mine;

Our language and our culture, is 4,000 years old,

You pass your own laws, “No More!” we are told;

We live and we learn, you say we are one,

You build your own schools, with us you were done;

Our jobs are forever, our future was secure,

You privatize Civil Service, your promise was impure;

Day in and Day out, we struggle to survive, 

You say that you own us, as long as we’re alive;

Our lives are unbearable, it’s hard to surmise, 

You take our human rights, and then compromise;

We are loving and loyal, proud citizens we are, 

Oh where are you now, so distant and far;

Oh say can you see, by dawn’s early light, 

If we are your friend, restore our human right;

Justice and Equality, is all that we ask, 

You act…as if, it’s an impossible task;

Our environment you destroyed, PCBs and Mustard gas too, 

You left with your samples, that’s all you could do;

Oh God can you hear us, we call on you now,

For we are your people, only to you shall we bow.

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If I Am A Danger to Society – Then Why Was I Invited

By Angel L.G. Santos

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to the United Nations in New York as a ‘Guest Speaker’ to talk on the topic of ‘Human Rights’ as part of an annual commemoration in 1998?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts as a ‘Guest Speaker’ to lecture on the topic of ‘Indigenous Rights & Self-Determination’ in 1997?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…for ‘Social Worker of the Year’ by a Catholic Nun on Guam in 1997?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to a U.S./Japan Committee for Peace and Social Justice Conference in Naha, Okinawa as a participation in the formulation of a resolution ‘Calling for the Disarmament of Nuclear Warheads and all other Weapons of Mass Destruction’ in 1996?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to a United Nations Conference in Suva, Fiji as a participant in the formulation of a resolution ‘Calling for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights’ in 1995?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to an International Tribunal in Hawaii as a participant in the formulation of a resolution ‘Calling for a Public Apology from the U.S. President William J. Clinton for the 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy by the U.S. Government’ in 1993?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to ALL the public schools on Guam as a ‘Guest Speaker’ to lecture on various topics/subjects as a human rights activist/senator for the past 10 years?

If I am a ‘danger to society – then why was I invited…to MOST of the private ‘religious’ schools on Guam as a ‘Guest Speaker’ to lecture on various topics/subjects as a human rights activist/senator for the past 10 years?

January 29, 2000

ALGS, Inmate #01949-093

Metropolitan Detention Center

LA, CA