"Send The Foreign Aid Check to the Republic of Micronesia"

The title is a comment made by Congressman Charles Djou of Hawaii concerning the citizens of what he called the Republic of Micronesia. He made it clear that he did not want the Micronesians to come to Hawaii and use up all the social services and become burden to the state especially because they are not paying taxes to the state. In fact, he'd rather that the "Foreign Aid Check" should go to the government of the Republic of Micronesia and that they should take care of their own citizens. He also wanted to require these citizens of the Republic of Micronesia to apply and have visas whenever they enter the United States just like any of its allied countries' citizens.
Well, while his concerns may be legitimate, it is rather sad that his rather prejudice viewpoints had blinded him to the fact that there are many more Micronesians that are working and paying all sorts of taxes to the state of Hawaii. For each Micronesian that is utilizing the social services, there are at least three that came to Hawaii because of that one person and they are working and paying taxes to the state just like everybody else.
Mr. Congressman, we will be here in Hawaii and elsewhere in the United States seeking out opportunities for ourselves and for our children. We won't go away just because you don't want us here. But we will if both of our countries agree that the Compact of Free Association should be terminated or if you started a Pogrom and haul us all back to the Republic of Micronesia. Until then, Mahalo.

It's Not Only Kunol

  I remember posting somewhere that I survived a bout with Kunol or "Iokone" as they say in Lagoonese. Turned out, it was a full-blown infection that if I didn't go to the emergency room on time, I would be a goner. It started with a my small toe-nail which I stubbed on something but didn't give it much thought. On Thursday night August 12th, I started having chills and fever. Friday the 13th , it got worse and I kept wolfing down pain killers and burning my left leg with hot water to relieve the pain. The leg became red and swollen that standing and walking was almost impossible.
  Saturday was our last day at our old apartment, so I helped Believe and the other guys moved our stuff to the new home. The leg was still swollen and red so at the end of the day, I drove to the Queen's emergency room to get treatment and to ask for prescription for the problem. I thought it would be an easy in-and-out situation. I was wrong. After checking the leg and running some blood tests, the doctor advised that I be admitted to the hospital right away. He said the infection was entering my blood-stream and it started to affect some of my vital organs. I ended up staying for a whole week and they were pumping me full of anti-biotic medicine.
   After that one week, I was released from the hospital and I came and laid down in my new apartment for the very first time. I was lucky to have recovered from that infection disease. So, I thank God for giving me another chance to continue to live for His sake and for the sake of my children.