Dear Source:
For a significant other, a person would look to character, honesty and such so-called nonsense. Why not for a political candidate? No, I am not speaking about his/her personal social life but one's public community service life.
Ask yourself, how can a politician, even with the high salary we pay in our Virgin Islands, afford a 3 by 5 foot three-color semi-billboard to post all around the village? How can a politician concentrate on telephone companies, business mergers and acquisitions, intra-business relations and senate investigations when the two functions of a senate are to find revenues to afford the executive branch's spending and to make laws?
The only reason a senate holds hearings is to gather knowledge to either make a law, correct an old law or repeal a law. They have no executive authority nor oversight provision in any law, of the land or otherwise. Do they go to church? Not that going to church is a reason alone to vote, but to see at least whether they are attempting to do the right thing. Oh yes, it does not matter if you go to church or believe in God. You are not running for office where you must be trusted with the authority of the people. What about spirituality and morality? Are those not the laws which people adhere to so they will not violate the legal laws? Are color, qualities, ethnicity, culture really important factors in being an American? What difference does it make if one is from down-islands, off-island, or anywhere else if one is an American, born or naturalized, and have the ideals of democracy and Americanism in mind to serve?
Who are we to insist on our ancestral culture and language, ethnicity and games becoming part of acceptance for citizenship? Japanese-Americans were interned during World War II for being perceived more Japanese at a time when they were really Americans. The Chinese have been suspect, born or naturalized American or not, as more loyal to China then America. And, surely, the Jews have been known to place their religious commitment above their American commitment.
America requires more. America requires that one be more than a mere citizen, and must perform deeds. America requires that although you may not believe in religion, ideas and government/politics as other Americans do, you must practice the Americanism of America. America believes in placing humanity above your earned and learned cultural, ethnic, language, moral and spiritual requirements. America requires, demands and insist that Americans simply be American.
Krim Ballentine
