To the Editor

Don't mean to be a downer, but this is pretty crazy. It's a letter to the editor in Samoa News today.

"WOW. JUST WOW"

Dear Editor,

Let me see if I've got this straight.

1 ­ The Governor of American Samoa jumps on a shiny military jet/limousine and is rushed 2,500 miles away because he could not get the necessary care at the hospital a few miles from his home.

2 ­ A few weeks later an American Samoan infant dies after being delayed attempting to get to a hospital 2,500 miles away because his family could not get him the necessary care at the hospital a few miles from their home.

3 - A few days later the Senators of American Samoa pass legislation that allows uncertified "doctors" to continue practicing "medicine" at the "hospital" a few miles from their homes.

Are you kidding me, citizenry of American Samoa?

Why are you putting up with this?

My heart weeps for Baby Futi, and all of you should be in the streets right now demanding that this situation changes today. The status quo is no longer acceptable. Institutionalized mediocrity has resulted in not just a frightening disparity between those who rule and those who are ruled, but also the death of a child.

Signed,

Talkin' about a revolution

Also surprising is how Samoa News doesn't seem to screen letters--they'll publish anything! This is a portion of a different letter.

...Another issue that I just want to "touch" on has to do with police officers. Not all police officers are affected with what I have to say, it's just those small number of officers that give the department a bad name. Some of you act like you all are in the army or some branch of the secret service. I mean seriously, some of you act like jerks. When you walk you put your shoulders up so high that your heads are barely visible. You think you guys are all that. Well I've got news for you, you're not! Try gong to the mainland and enrolling in any police academy there and see how far you're going to get.

There is this one particular police woman that I often see giving tickets to people on the road everyday. I don't have anything against you when you're doing your job lady, just so you do it with some respect
and some dignity. And lady, learn how to smile. And just as a reminder, in case some of you do take up the challenge to go and enroll in a police academy, it's not who you know, its WHAT you know that's going to get you in. And you actually have to PASS the academy.

If I have offended some people in any way please don't take it personally, it's just my opinion and everyone is entitled to have one.

So, "lady, learn how to smile" isn't supposed to be personally offensive? It's a small island. Even I know which officer she's talking about. She'll be smiling now.

What a great place!