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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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 Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: "Nerves on edge in Rome before Bush visit" |
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In an article entitled "Nerves on edge in Rome before Bush visit" in the Ottawa, Citizen today, the author explains how Bush is expected to face a wave of protests and anti-war resentment when he arrives in Italy this week. The Pope himself has let it be known publicly that he expects some 'answers' regarding what he's been calling the 'atrocities of the Iraq war' from the president.
The article actually suggests that, depending on what Bush says, it could have a huge effect on Catholic voters.
(Happy Diana?  request granted) |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Diglossia,
Well, the people of Italy can NOT vote for US President so it really wouldn't matter if they liked him or not. Also, there are only 25% Catholics in the United States.
Best regards,
Diana |
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RebeccaGMW
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 51
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 4:05 am Post subject: |
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Yes, the "infallibility" of the Pope has very little to do with how the American public votes.
Interesting. . .Italians have the right to protest today because the U.S. (and others) helped to liberate them from a facist dictator.
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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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On the other hand, an amazing amount of voters under the age of 40 respect the opinions of Acadamy award winning actors such as Tim Robbins and Sean Penn and Micheal Moore. What you say is true ladies, the Pope only adds his influence on what is already a quite huge group of well-known individuals from the States and beyond who disagree with what you have defended up to this point.
28% of Americans, according to the CIA World factbook, are Roman Catholic (85% of Guam, Diana ) Is that really so little? |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Diglossia wrote: |
On the other hand, an amazing amount of voters under the age of 40 respect the opinions of Acadamy award winning actors such as Tim Robbins and Sean Penn and Micheal Moore. What you say is true ladies, the Pope only adds his influence on what is already a quite huge group of well-known individuals from the States and beyond who disagree with what you have defended up to this point.
28% of Americans, according to the CIA World factbook, are Roman Catholic (85% of Guam, Diana ) Is that really so little? |
Yes, 85% of the people of Guam are Roman Catholics. But guess what Diglossia, we are not allowed to vote for US President because Guam is NOT a state. The same is also true of Puerto Rico, which is a commonwealth.
My island was never a state, Diglossia. We are a people who have our own language and culture that is uniquely different from the Americans. Nevertheless, we are also US citizens like the Puerto Ricans, but because Guam is NOT a state, we do not vote for US President. |
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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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I'm always happy to learn something new, Diana. In this case I'm kind of excited. Citizens who can't vote for their cheif of state.. sounds horrible having a Governor but no right to vote for a president (althought the same happens in some of the Departement Outre-Mer of France)
I realize the population of Guam has it's own language, Diana (Chamorro, like the name of the people, right?). Do you speak it? Do you speak any Japanese?
SO how important is the Pope to the 85% of Roman Catholics in Guam. If the meeting between the Pope and Bush didn't go well, who would the Guamanians cheer for : the leader and figure head of their religion or the chief of state thay didn't vote for, nor did they ever have the chance to vote for/against.
I ask these questions sincerely, Diana, and without any intent to tease you about the response. |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Diglossia wrote: |
I'm always happy to learn something new, Diana. In this case I'm kind of excited. Citizens who can't vote for their cheif of state.. sounds horrible having a Governor but no right to vote for a president (althought the same happens in some of the Departement Outre-Mer of France)
I realize the population of Guam has it's own language, Diana (Chamorro, like the name of the people, right?). Do you speak it? Do you speak any Japanese?
SO how important is the Pope to the 85% of Roman Catholics in Guam. If the meeting between the Pope and Bush didn't go well, who would the Guamanians cheer for : the leader and figure head of their religion or the chief of state thay didn't vote for, nor did they ever have the chance to vote for/against.
I ask these questions sincerely, Diana, and without any intent to tease you about the response. |
Diglossia, we can vote for our Governor, our sentaors, and congressperson, but we are not allowed to vote for US President. All our leaders are voted by the people of Guam except the US President. The only time the Chamorros can vote for US President is when they take up residency in the District of Columbia or any of the 50 States. In fact, my cousin who lives in Ohio can vote for US President. Living on Guam, we cannot do that. However, there is a positive side. Because we cannot vote for US President, we do not pay any federal tax to the US government. As a result, all money stays here to benefit our people.
I am Chamorro and can speak the language. I also have Filipino and Chinese blood in me. My father is from the Philippine Islands.
The people are 85% Catholic, but the people also have a mind of our own. Most of the people supported the US led war. Only a few were against it. Like the Iraqis, the Chamorros were once brutalized by a dictator who wanted us to bow down to him and call him "God." My uncle was beheaded and my grandfather was beaten. My entire family was put in concentration camps and were going to be executed. We have lived through both war and oppression. Of the two, we already know which is the WORST. It was the Americans who liberated us and rebuilt my island. |
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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Diana: So, in your heart, do you consider yourself an American a Chamorro or a Guamanian first ?
Rebecca: I hope that if you ever get the chance to go to Europe (of if you ever have) and you ever pass the British Isles and go to France or anywhere east of it, that you're smart enough to wear a Canadian Flag on your backpack like other Americans are doing these days. That "we saved your ass in WW2!" attitude really pisses them off, along with the rest of the world.
The Italian protests are about Bush being there. Bush wasn't even born when American soldiers (as well as others, as you said) liberated Rome in '44 so how can you suggest there's anything wrong? They're not carrying signs that say "American WW2 veterans suck!" (although I admit that to protest while Bush is thanking the American and Canadian soldiers that faught there is a little inconsiderate. But then again, protesters do that a lot)
Last edited by Diglossia on Sat Jun 05, 2004 8:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| In my heart, I consider myself BOTH a Chamorro and an American. In my car, I fly both the American and Guam flag. |
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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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So what part of Guam are you from? What kind of car do you drive? Are you a student or do you work? Are Chamorro woman hot?
Just a couple of questions crossing my mind at this moment... |
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RebeccaGMW
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 51
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 4:50 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| although I admit that to protest while Bush is thanking the American and Canadian soldiers that faught there is a little inconsiderate. |
This was my only point in making the comment about Italy.
As far as the opinions of Hollywood, yes there are many liberal voters in Hollywood and the rest of the U.S. However, in the U.S. there seems to always be an incredible voting gap. Many of the younger potential voters (18-25) simply aren't voting. In the election of 2000, less than 40% of voters in this age group actually went to the polls and only about 50% of 18-25 year olds have even registered to vote. Some of the biggest protestors in this country are in this age group.
As for the remaining under 40 voters, their turn-out (and registration) percentages are only slightly higher. For voters aged 25-34 - 63% were registered , 50% voted. For voters aged 35-44 - 70% were registered, 60% voted. I think this can also go back to the earlier post about the "yankee whiners" not complaining if they aren't voting.
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Diglossia
Joined: 01 Jun 2004
Posts: 31
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, Rebecca, I'll admit that I've always said the same thing (because the no-voting epidemic among younger voters is terrible in Canada as well) : don't complain about whoever got elected if you chose to not vote. If yo want to make a point and not vote for anybody because none of the candidates seem to care about your age group, then spoil the ballot. At least then it's counted and your voice is heard. |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Diglossia wrote: |
So what part of Guam are you from? What kind of car do you drive? Are you a student or do you work? Are Chamorro woman hot?
Just a couple of questions crossing my mind at this moment... |
What part of Guam I am from? Since it is a very small island, I don't think it really matters what part of the island I am from. It only takes 3 hours to drive around the entire island (2 hours if you drive fast).  |
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LucentShade
Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 542
Location: Nebraska, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder where I can score a Canadian flag. . .well, no, I don't really want to lie about my origins, if I go to Europe. Of course, I don't want to run around screaming "I'm an American! Bow down before me!", either. Really, are Americans that scorned east of the UK? In my uninformed opinion, I would say that as long as one shows a little courtesy, humility, and respect for local food/facilities/culture, being American wouldn't be a mark of shame. |
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Diana
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 494
Location: Guam, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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I think that many Stateside Americans here have shown great respect toward the Chamorro culture. I am proud of my heritage as a Chamorro, but I'm not afraid to declare that I'm an American citizen. I've always considered myself as both a Chamorro and an American.
Also, the Americans do come from many different cultures and religions In the US, you have African Americans, Arab Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. All these people have brought their foods, customs, and religions to the US. For the most part, these people have gotten along well in the US. |
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