What is the advantage of being a U.S. territory?

Thanks Jorge. It is good to read about concerns of Puerto Rico. I think someday we will go through the same problems your countrymen have now. I just hope the violence will not be part of it. May I ask if there is any concern about loosing identity or what is the case with land ownership in your island? Do families have complete ownership of the land or is it the states property? Do you have chiefly titles? What is their role in politics or land ownership? Are Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens? Sorry for the soo many questions.

I think this is one of the worries we have here in our islands. People fear of loosing their identity once their right to land ownership has been taken away. Power of money will take over properties and take hold of political positions. Influence from neighboring islands can also be a factor but I dont know how much.

Jorge-San Juan PR wrote:

<quoted text>
Please expand! For I want to know your concerns, also. We are part of the world's first, most pure and strong capitalist economy in the history of the world.
On the other hand, what are your worries regarding your own culture.
Jorge de P.Rico

Like I said above. this is the most important issue we are concerned about here in our islands. We are concern about loosing our identity. If we give up our rights to our lands and our title system. Will it gradually fade away in favor of the dominant culture. Will our people still practice their culture? Will they even continue to speak their native language once flock of people come here to buy land and mixed with the population. I know I sound like a protectionist but yeah! look at Hawaii. The language is only spoken in a few homes. The advantage of being a U.S Nationals is that we will continue to own and practice our culture and continue being a U.S. Territory. I know you talked about influence from your neighbors and how it affects the running of your island government. I feel we have the same thing here. Maybe not as serious but eventually it just might happen. It is a very sensitive issue because it is like two brothers with different opinions. I dont know how your islands land system works but is it like the states, where whoever wants to buy a house they will get?

[QUOTE
P.S.
When you say "our islands", what exactly are these islands?-you have withheld a lot of info. Tell me about your culture, what language do you speak?, what other island or cultures might influence yours?, etc.[/QUOTE]
Sorry I took so long to reply.
I am from American Samoa and we speak Samoan. We are a small territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean. Right now our people are planning a political status convention to discuss our political relationship with the United States. It has been over 40 plus years since our last convention and we need to address new changes that has occurred with time. Just like Puerto Rico, we are trying to work out an exceptable agreement that would remove our unfavorable mentioning in the United Nations decolonization list . I know there are different opinions regarding this Political Status in Puerto Rico. I am somehow in favor of the "enhanced commonwealth" status for our island. I just want to ask why or what were the obstacles that kept this "enhanced commonwealth" status from being placed on your recent referendum? I know we do not have the land size or the population to qualify for becoming a state. We certainly do not have the resources to be able to go it alone to become independent. I very much doubt that we would want to join our neighboring island brother as a united Samoa. I am sure the overwhelming majority would like to keep the status quo. Since the United Nations are pressuring our island territory to find a more workable status, the people of this territory would prefer something like this enhanced commonwealth status.

soia wrote:

<quoted text>
Sorry I took so long to reply.
I am from American Samoa and we speak Samoan. We are a small territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean. Right now our people are planning a political status convention to discuss our political relationship with the United States. It has been over 40 plus years since our last convention and we need to address new changes that has occurred with time. Just like Puerto Rico, we are trying to work out an exceptable agreement that would remove our unfavorable mentioning in the United Nations decolonization list . I know there are different opinions regarding this Political Status in Puerto Rico. I am somehow in favor of the "enhanced commonwealth" status for our island. I just want to ask why or what were the obstacles that kept this "enhanced commonwealth" status from being placed on your recent referendum? I know we do not have the land size or the population to qualify for becoming a state. We certainly do not have the resources to be able to go it alone to become independent. I very much doubt that we would want to join our neighboring island brother as a united Samoa. I am sure the overwhelming majority would like to keep the status quo. Since the United Nations are pressuring our island territory to find a more workable status, the people of this territory would prefer something like this enhanced commonwealth status.

Buenos Dias. I just so happened to be reading this thread and some of your postings. I was waiting for the continuation from my last post to you, but you have answered some of my questions here. Thanks.

Jorge wrote:

<quoted text>
So, what's left? You answer that question and let's see if you agree with the majority of Puerto Ricans.
Jorge de P.Rico

Well I dont think I am in the right position to answer that question, but for my island country, I still prefer the "enhanced commonwealth status". Since you said it lacks definition and the U.S would not support it. I guess we will have to work hard to find ideas and solution to get this enhanced status. I also would like to know why and what exactly is the United States against this proposal and what we can do to correct it. One thing for sure is we cannot become a state due to the lack in size and population.

how are the islands today , i miss them.

Monte wrote:

If you want to see what happens to a country that rids itself of being a US territory, check out how prosperous the Philippines is......

Exactly, The Dept. of Interior probably sends about $100 million a year.
And also just look at africa when they threw out the non-afros, those countries are now broke/poor/corrupt etc.

JaSan wrote:

lol....
The only reason why Am Samoa are belittled by Sisifo is becuase the tides have turned.
You will always be Samoan...American or not.
USA suck!

USA is still #1;stop your hatred and nonsense. I smell stink sushi..

Roscoe 5 wrote:

Troll-- pay no attention to Ja San and the revisionistas.
USA the Land of The Free, Home of the Brave
See the problem with these people, from Fiji or Samoa is they DO NOT read history. History tells us they could have been lamp shades or meat for sushi if the Japs or Germans won
That's O.k-- As a Samoan American I will keep telling the story that our revisionistas hope to remake.
Samoa and Fiji or that matter the rest of the Pacific. While, your parents we're running for cover. The G.I from farm communities across America-- from New York to California From The Dakota Mountains and Tetons to the border of Texas was shooting the bastards in the eye's to make sure you had your freedom.
Nuff Said

You are correct brother...Amen.

Pilikaki wrote:

<quoted text>lets stick 2 the topic n not try 2 get samoa involved,4 your info u ignorant uneducated ass, if samoa is trying 2 do that,its 4 am.saomas own good, yeah u have it good rite now being free loaders 2 the u.s, but whats gonna happen when the u.s decides 2 cutt off all their spending and the annual budget 4 am.samoa then what? you'll b crawling back 2 ask samoa 4 their help.and if you really know your history, then you should know that the only reason u.s wanted am.samoa in the beginning was 4 military purpose,make that naval purpose,thats rite you might want 2 look into it. so again lets stick to the subject....PEACE OUT...PILIKAKI AND DA FAM BAM..........

China gave 300 million dollars to western samoa. is that free money. Hurry back home the chinese is buying all of your land, and is running your government. You are talking from your arseee.

mars wrote:

FREE LOADERS....das rite, they ask the u.s for money using excuses such as fixing the roads, renewing lbj, that's something samoa never runs out of, but the real deal is samoa still look like shit, all dat money is only going to the corrupted government and it's people who follows behind him, trust me i'll tell you like it is, we all no dat. that's y am.samoa is constantly being investigated, and yet the people of kukuila still voted for the very leaders that r being prosecuted. for the rest of you who thinks that you won't get caught e le lilo se mea eke faia, to my people back home who r honest much love, and hopefully one day our people will learn to be better leaders, instead of bettering they're own families n friends, n run our country by "what you know" and not by "who you know" o le mea ga ua kaea ma pipilo ai sio tatou atunu'ul. hire the qualified not the undereducated people to do a job they have no knowledge of. God bless....

moimimi, I bet you are on welfare.Go spend your food stamps and stop being so jealous. So what if amreican samoa gets free money? It is a blessing from god. Every Island in the pacific gets free money/assets from developed nation. The US gives out more foreign aid.

Pilikaki wrote:

poposamoa,,,oh how i pitty you..my dear uso lets not denied who we are..its what makes us unique and differnt, its our identity as 2 who we are.. and who we are? we are samoans and proud of it too..we are not americans, we live in this great free land and i thank God and our parents for all their hard work and their sacrifices 2 get us 2 where we @ now, but to claim something that you're not..i never thought a discussion such as this would actually make another samoan uso change what he is..if thats the case then your name should change from poposamoa 2 popoamelika...
don't b mad, i just call it as i c it..PEACE OUT..
PILIKAKI AND DA FAM BAM...

America must be great;move back to samoa and live. I know why. Yu talk a lot of shit; sound like an overstayer, or did you get a piikaga. We are americans samoans, and if you do not like it, move back to your village. Or ask the immigration, the will deport u for free. Let me guess, you became an american citizen. traitor...maybe collecting welfare...free money..u people make me laugh.

Factchecker wrote:

<quoted text>
We are all part of the one world now. This IS the Puerto Rico site for this topic. Pilikaki needs tolearn to share better with others.

I agree..that pilikae is turd head.

manoa wrote:

<quoted text>I agree..that pilikae is turd head.

manoa why are you bringing all this headaches back. I tlod you it was a misunderstanding between Pili and me. It was an A B arguement. We got to settled our differences and we both appologize to each other. faamolemole manoa kuu ia ga lapisi ua uma ga sasaa.

Okay Soia. Sorry...I will stop...maybe we can mmm...where u live? You sound like a very nice person...I am also a teacher.

manoa wrote:

Okay Soia. Sorry...I will stop...maybe we can mmm...where u live? You sound like a very nice person...I am also a teacher.

A Pago resident. where do you live? let me guess...you are a manukan and a nuuuli.