Activist Politics

This is a fascinating article on many levels. 

It features the voices of a number of current and former elected officials from Guam, talking about activism and politics. 

Much is said about Angel Santos as being the consulate activist politician, but there is much in the article that isn't really developed sadly. 

On the surface I enjoyed the piece, and while it has some great quotes, it accepts too easily the different things that those interviewed are saying, even if they aren't historically true or just end up muddling the issue. 

For instance, Angel Santos is definitely the most iconic Chamoru activist and he did become a politician, elected into the Guam Legislature for multiple terms.

But he wasn't a particularly effective member of the Guam Legislature, in terms of getting his agenda into policy and converting bills into laws. 

But this is part of a larger distinction between those who are leaders and those who are politicians. 

A leader can be seen as effective by simply representing things and taking a stand on things. 

But for politicians, while their defining characteristic is their ability to get elected, their job is also to be about getting laws passed, reforming things, and so on.

This is one of the problems that activists face when joining politics. It is also something a businessperson might face, as well as an educator or a veteran.

Is that achieving success as a politicians can be very different, it can look very different and feel very different than how you measured success outside of politics. 

Depending on the type of activist you are for example, you can be used to speaking and activating, challenging and critiquing, but working to make things happen, and collaborate with others, can be an entirely different equation.

Also, once you are in power, and have that responsibility, it is easy for things to shift dramatically. 

In the 2020 Guam election, we may definitely see shades of this. 

We have a number of candidates who are running as community activists, in terms anti-corruption and anti-local government activists. 

They are running campaigns primarily fueled by outrage over the current government.

Whether that outrage is legitimate or not is a separate issue.

But the truth is, that one cannot run a government on outrage.

You can run for office on it, but you can't really govern or improve a government if your existence is primarily fueled by outrage. 

But that doesn't mean that outrage can't have a purpose or value of course. But the article doesn't really hit that key point.

Nonetheless, it is an article worth reading. 

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Activism can be a rough way to enter the political world

by Chloe Babauta

Pacific Daily News

October 30, 2018

For those seeking public office, being labeled as an "activist" can be a difficult balancing act, according to current and past Guam politicians.

Former Sen. Angel Santos was one of the few activists to successfully make the transition to politics, said Robert Underwood, a former U.S. congressman and university president. Santos died in July 2003, at age 44.

"Angel Santos is the greatest example of an activist who became a politician," said Underwood. "He changed his behavior subsequently, but I don’t think anybody can say that he changed his fundamental position. He remained the voice for activism even throughout his political career. I admire that in him. But there's not very many like him."

Before Underwood served as Guam's delegate to the U.S. Congress from 1993 to 2003, he was known as an activist. He organized demonstrations and rallies long before he ran for office.

"Activism is trying to go against the flow — you’re trying to change the flow of a society by creating a general perspective and power and influence that is not normally available," Underwood said. "Just being an advocate is not being an activist. An activist is someone who goes out and organizes communities, speak-outs, demonstrations."

Activists should carefully pick their battles, said Sen. Mike San Nicolas, D-Dededo, who is running for congress. If they oppose everything, their message can more easily be dismissed, he said.

Angel Santos: Chamoru activist icon

On Guam, the title of activist usually refers to someone who actively fights for Chamoru rights to self-determination and the indigenous people’s control over Guam land.

One of the main issues championed by Santos was the implementation of the Chamorro Land Trust.

“I always come back to Angel Santos when I think of activists and advocates, because he cared about the Chamoru homeland,” said Republican Lt. Gov. Tenorio, who is running for governor. “He cared about making sure that people have an opportunity to have a home on their homeland, the Chamorus, by virtue of the Chamorro Land Trust … and he advocated for the implementation of that, and I respected that.”

Tenorio, like many others, views the late Santos as the ultimate icon of Chamoru rights activism.

As the leader of Nasion Chamoru, Santos worked to increase awareness of Chamoru rights by organizing sit-in protests and marches at the Governor's complex at Adelup.

Tenorio said some people disagreed with Santos’ approach in protesting at military bases, but Tenorio saw that Santos’ method of “pushing the envelope” set the example of what it means to be a Chamoru activist.

Activist politician is a 'rare phenomenon'

Underwood said it's rare to see a politician who is a true activist.

“Some of these politicians are talking about confronting the military and protecting the environment,” he said. “They seem to speak from an activist point of view, but we’ll see if they succeed. And if they do succeed, we’ll see what happens to them.”

Even if they say they support decolonization efforts, most politicians are unlikely to act on it, Underwood said.

“I think that for most major elected officials the commentary on decolonization is just pro forma,” he said. “It’s not a commitment. They say it because they’re supposed to be saying it, but they’re not really going to risk anything politically. They’re not going to wage any political capital on behalf of it.”

Activism complicates politics

Underwood was seen as "anti-military" before he was elected, he said. Sometimes that made it more complicated to negotiate with military officials who already had that perception of him, he said.

"At one level, the activism I was engaged in taught me how to deal with the opposition," he said. "There were some people who thought I wasn’t moving fast enough, while other people thought I was moving too fast. So I had to make the decision in my own mind how fast I wanted to move, and what I thought the greater good would be that would come out of this."

Tenorio: 'advocate for Guam'

Tenorio said many politicians aren't willing to take a stance on different issues. In contrast, he considers himself an activist for Guam.

“I think you would be surprised how much I’m an advocate, or an activist, if you will,” Tenorio said. “I’m an advocate for Guam. I’m an advocate for all the different cultures that make Guam our home, but starting first with Chamorus.”

Tenorio isn't a native inhabitant of Guam and therefore can't vote in decisions to change the island's political status, he said. He said he'll support whatever decision the people make, but believes Guam can benefit most from a closer relationship with the U.S. for economic and military support.

He said the country can do more to support the island in different areas, including the earned income tax credit, war reparations, compensation for compact impact, and the low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates.

The U.S. should also respect Guam’s indigenous people and the Chamorro Land Trust, which Santos worked to create for Chamorus who lost land due to colonization, Tenorio said.

“If I was governor of Guam, I wouldn’t put it past me to go to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and carry a Guam flag, if I thought that the White House was not giving us the respect that we are due,” Tenorio said. “And I would advocate for the people of Guam at the top of my lungs, from the depth of my soul, to make sure that the people in positions of authority and power to be able to rectify the problems that we face.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lou Leon Guerrero did not provide comment for this story. 

Underwood: politicians are not activists

True activism involves generating power where there is none, and challenging ideas and policies, Underwood said. Many politicians are most concerned about getting re-elected, and don’t challenge norms as activists do, he said.

“They’ll say they’re for expanded rights to vote for president and will pursue that, but they’ll also say they’re for Chamoru self-determination," Underwood said. "Those are not congruent with each other. One has to be more important than the other. They’ll say the people deserve a voice and the right to vote in the presidential election, and that the Chamorus should decide the political future of Guam? Well which is it? Because we can’t have all those things, and they’re kind of loosely connected.”

Activism as extremism?

Sen. San Nicolas said some activists fight the federal government over every issue instead of choosing their battles carefully to create long-term progress.

"The danger is, if the injustices of the Chamoru people get pushed into more of a fringe group mentality among the general public, then just as activists who 'swing at every pitch' are burning the fires too hot, it’s eventually going to get to the point where even righteous activism gets rejected," said San Nicolas.

San Nicolas said he's always considered himself an activist, but with a more moderate approach of working within the system of the U.S. government.

San Nicolas voted against a legislative resolution to delay construction of a military firing range complex near Ritidan in September 2017, despite efforts from Chamoru activists to protect the land.

The military buildup and firing range construction will proceed, whether Guam residents approve of it or not, San Nicolas said.

He said picking a fight over issues Guam can't control can ruin the island's working relationship with the U.S. to improve its socioeconomic status. San Nicolas said his long-term goal is to help Guam gain financial stability through federal aid, in order to become stronger and independent.

"Activist" title only for Chamoru rights?

Republican congressional delegate candidate Doris Flores Brooks said protecting Chamoru culture and artifacts is important to her.

Brooks said during her first term as a senator, she worked to stop construction at the Hotel Nikko Guam where ancient Chamoru remains were found, and to establish a shrine for the remains.

"It’s the preservation of our culture, our heritage," she said.

Brooks said that although she's never considered herself an activist, it's important to her to protect the Chamoru culture. She said the title of activist sometimes may have negative connotations.

Brooks said that on Guam, people usually only associate the term "activist" with those fighting for Chamoru rights — but not those advocating other causes, like medical cannabis or support for veterans.

The people will lead decolonization, not politicians

When looking at larger social and political movements, real change comes from the citizens rather than elected officials, Underwood said.

Politicians will do what the people want in order to get elected, he said.

"When the people lead, the leaders will follow. The issue for this particular thing on Chamoru self-determination ... needs people to speak out in a large enough voice so they cannot be ignored, so elected officials will feel threatened if they ignore it."

Guam residents can't rely on elected officials to push for decolonization, Underwood said.

"Really it’s a wake-up call to people that if they want it to happen they’re going to have to force elected officials to do it and do some risky things," he said.

Reporter Chloe Babauta tells the stories of perpetuating culture, accountability on Guam's land issues, and island life. Follow her on Twitter @chloebabauta and Instagram @mestisachamorrita. Follow Pacific Daily News on Facebook/GuamPDN and Instagram @guampdn.