Dear Source:
Alas, narrow mindedness of an albeit small group of Constitutional Delegates will seemingly again rob our territory and its citizens of one their few chances to be heard as a cohesive and harmonized voice. And for what? For the loose definition of what is who and who are what? Actually then, what is the difference when we compare our children? Our children and future leaders of our great territory irrespective of the race, color, creed or national origin. Shall we not afford to all of our children an equal share of every dream which lay within their grasp?
Most of Constitutional Delegates are doing an excellent job. But these same Delegates need to moderate those of their colleagues which have an agenda which clearly disenfranchises some of our citizens. Yes, please do afford every protection to those citizens who are economically set upon through no fault of their own. But do afford them those same protections without trampling upon the rights of others. Let us draft a sound constitutional document with keeps in mind the future of all of our children and grandchildren–this should be truly our first order of business; irrespective of where their parents are from.
Viewing the future of our latest Constitutional efforts, I am filled with trepidation and disdain when I contemplate even the smallest measure which alienates or disenfranchises any sector of our Territory's citizens. We shall be doomed to failure if we choose to punish or disenfranchise any of those who come to our shores from afar and are thence transplanted.
Let us do our level best within a collective effort to establish a living, viable, cohesive and sensible constitution with all of our citizenry in mind, not just a chosen few or a pre-designated group, for after all aren't of us an integral part of our territory? Vindictive measures, hollow gestures, racially or politically motivated idealisms have no place in the annals of our constitution. Woe be us, if the present tomfoolery is permitted to continue and yet again we are bound to failure. Do remember that there are checks and balances built into the constitutional process which will bring our current efforts to naught if all is not for the common good, namely those further approvals and referendum which will decisively shut down and part of a run away process. Further, attempting to stall the process while contemplating a change in the Presidency will prove to be a mistake, as all of our elected officials are bound to uphold the U.S. Constitution first.
Similarly, we must be guarded in our contemplations and choices in mainland politics. We are mere cogs in the wheel of a process which is removed from our shores, and more often than not we must control the ultimate destiny of our great territory and its diverse citizenry. What happens if someone who we didn't plan on attains the Presidency, all the while remembering that we supported other politicians while thumbing our noses to one who eventually was victorious–what then will we do when our Delegate must fight tooth and nail for every set aside that we truly need?
For once, let's not bicker about who is what and what is whom. Instead, let us all unite for the common good and not single out any sector of our diverse populace–for good or for bad. Let us all actively prosper as equals while being afforded common sense protections, protections which we all want and deserve as afforded to us by the U.S. Constitution.
Joseph P. Stropole
Frederiksted, St. Croix
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