my name is cat cheongha my race is Pacific Islander my ethnicity is
Pacific Islander my ethnicity is
Pacific Islander my ethnicity is marshalese and I’m a citizen of the
marshalese and I’m a citizen of the
marshalese and I’m a citizen of the United States of America for my entire
United States of America for my entire
United States of America for my entire life
life
life I have lived in a small country in the
I have lived in a small country in the
I have lived in a small country in the Pacific called the Marshall Islands but
Pacific called the Marshall Islands but
Pacific called the Marshall Islands but from now on I will most likely reside in
from now on I will most likely reside in
from now on I will most likely reside in the United States and I’ll explain why
the United States and I’ll explain why
the United States and I’ll explain why the u.s. is commonly seen as the ideal
the u.s. is commonly seen as the ideal
the u.s. is commonly seen as the ideal country with overflowing riches and
country with overflowing riches and
country with overflowing riches and offers of golden opportunities the
offers of golden opportunities the
offers of golden opportunities the idolization of the United States and the
idolization of the United States and the
idolization of the United States and the globalization of Western culture affects
globalization of Western culture affects
globalization of Western culture affects the entire world and this is proven
the entire world and this is proven
the entire world and this is proven daily in the Pacific many islanders
daily in the Pacific many islanders
daily in the Pacific many islanders migrate to the US or more specifically
migrate to the US or more specifically
migrate to the US or more specifically Hawaii due to proximity and other
Hawaii due to proximity and other
Hawaii due to proximity and other factors such as the preconception the
factors such as the preconception the
factors such as the preconception the America is a country on perfection and
America is a country on perfection and
America is a country on perfection and this has a lot to do with the history
this has a lot to do with the history
this has a lot to do with the history between the u.s. and the Pacific in the
between the u.s. and the Pacific in the
between the u.s. and the Pacific in the 18th and 19th centuries many Pacific
18th and 19th centuries many Pacific
18th and 19th centuries many Pacific Islands fell under Japanese controls
Islands fell under Japanese controls
Islands fell under Japanese controls including the Marshall Islands the
including the Marshall Islands the
including the Marshall Islands the Japanese rule was harsh middle
Japanese rule was harsh middle
Japanese rule was harsh middle marshalese as it was for other Pacific
marshalese as it was for other Pacific
marshalese as it was for other Pacific Islanders the marshalese that actually
Islanders the marshalese that actually
Islanders the marshalese that actually feared that they would be targeted by
feared that they would be targeted by
feared that they would be targeted by the Japanese soldiers daily so when the
the Japanese soldiers daily so when the
the Japanese soldiers daily so when the US Army frees the Marshall Islands from
US Army frees the Marshall Islands from
US Army frees the Marshall Islands from Japanese rule in 1944 the marshalese saw
Japanese rule in 1944 the marshalese saw
Japanese rule in 1944 the marshalese saw the master heroes the former territories
the master heroes the former territories
the master heroes the former territories of Japan were then economically
of Japan were then economically
of Japan were then economically supported by the u.s. in order to
supported by the u.s. in order to
supported by the u.s. in order to rebuild their economies according to the
rebuild their economies according to the
rebuild their economies according to the International Monetary Fund much of the
International Monetary Fund much of the
International Monetary Fund much of the economy in the Pacific focuses on
economy in the Pacific focuses on
economy in the Pacific focuses on agriculture and fishing while leases on
agriculture and fishing while leases on
agriculture and fishing while leases on US military bases and assistance from
US military bases and assistance from
US military bases and assistance from the US government in Selma for the
the US government in Selma for the
the US government in Selma for the majority of outside capital after
majority of outside capital after
majority of outside capital after liberation from Japan many Pacific
liberation from Japan many Pacific
liberation from Japan many Pacific Islands fell under American control and
Islands fell under American control and
Islands fell under American control and became economically and technologically
became economically and technologically
became economically and technologically depend on the u.s. to the point where
depend on the u.s. to the point where
depend on the u.s. to the point where their overwhelming reliance on the US
their overwhelming reliance on the US
their overwhelming reliance on the US has become detrimental to the Pacific
has become detrimental to the Pacific
has become detrimental to the Pacific nations become clear and that Pacific
nations become clear and that Pacific
nations become clear and that Pacific Islands are unable to survive without
Islands are unable to survive without
Islands are unable to survive without four and eight because they lack skilled
four and eight because they lack skilled
four and eight because they lack skilled workers money resources and land Pacific
workers money resources and land Pacific
workers money resources and land Pacific Islands are typically quite small the
Islands are typically quite small the
Islands are typically quite small the largest country Fiji is only seven
largest country Fiji is only seven
largest country Fiji is only seven thousand 56 square miles which is only
thousand 56 square miles which is only
thousand 56 square miles which is only half the size of the state of Hawaii
half the size of the state of Hawaii
half the size of the state of Hawaii Pacific Islands are subject to many
Pacific Islands are subject to many
Pacific Islands are subject to many natural disasters such as storms
natural disasters such as storms
natural disasters such as storms typhoons earthquakes and king tides
typhoons earthquakes and king tides
typhoons earthquakes and king tides rising sea levels ruined drinking water
rising sea levels ruined drinking water
rising sea levels ruined drinking water and the soil fertility of the islands
and the soil fertility of the islands
and the soil fertility of the islands which prevents agriculture without a
which prevents agriculture without a
which prevents agriculture without a rainbow soil the large populations can’t
rainbow soil the large populations can’t
rainbow soil the large populations can’t and do small countries are unable to
and do small countries are unable to
and do small countries are unable to support are unable to eat without the
support are unable to eat without the
support are unable to eat without the support of US imports the tides also
support of US imports the tides also
support of US imports the tides also cause erosion and decrease the size of
cause erosion and decrease the size of
cause erosion and decrease the size of the already tiny islands many islands
the already tiny islands many islands
the already tiny islands many islands also suffer through floods that tear
also suffer through floods that tear
also suffer through floods that tear apart our homes how is this in schools
apart our homes how is this in schools
apart our homes how is this in schools will be flooded with sewage once every
will be flooded with sewage once every
will be flooded with sewage once every month in the Marshall Islands only three
month in the Marshall Islands only three
month in the Marshall Islands only three miles away from my house a graveyard was
miles away from my house a graveyard was
miles away from my house a graveyard was recently washed away by the rising tides
recently washed away by the rising tides
recently washed away by the rising tides ten rows of grades and washed away
ten rows of grades and washed away
ten rows of grades and washed away now this horriffic event has made me and
now this horriffic event has made me and
now this horriffic event has made me and the rest of the pacific island
the rest of the pacific island
the rest of the pacific island population realized that we
population realized that we
population realized that we not consider anything safe or permanent
not consider anything safe or permanent
not consider anything safe or permanent in the Pacific we realize that it can
in the Pacific we realize that it can
in the Pacific we realize that it can all be taken away within just one hour
because of those many are forced to flee
because of those many are forced to flee to us in order to ensure the future that
to us in order to ensure the future that
to us in order to ensure the future that their family
their family
their family besides environmental push factors
besides environmental push factors
besides environmental push factors Islanders move to the US due to economic
Islanders move to the US due to economic
Islanders move to the US due to economic pull factors such as higher education
pull factors such as higher education
pull factors such as higher education and jobs in many Pacific Island
and jobs in many Pacific Island
and jobs in many Pacific Island countries there are high rates of
countries there are high rates of
countries there are high rates of unemployment in Marshall Islands 36% of
unemployment in Marshall Islands 36% of
unemployment in Marshall Islands 36% of the population is unemployed the severe
the population is unemployed the severe
the population is unemployed the severe lack of economic opportunities and these
lack of economic opportunities and these
lack of economic opportunities and these high unemployment rates in the Pacific
high unemployment rates in the Pacific
high unemployment rates in the Pacific and Facebook overpopulation further
and Facebook overpopulation further
and Facebook overpopulation further pushes Pacific nations into poverty
pushes Pacific nations into poverty
pushes Pacific nations into poverty now due to the lack of jobs many Pacific
now due to the lack of jobs many Pacific
now due to the lack of jobs many Pacific Islanders migrate to other countries
Islanders migrate to other countries
Islanders migrate to other countries including the US the 2000 census
including the US the 2000 census
including the US the 2000 census recorded over 900,000 Pacific Islanders
recorded over 900,000 Pacific Islanders
recorded over 900,000 Pacific Islanders in the u.s. in 2010 there are 1.2
in the u.s. in 2010 there are 1.2
in the u.s. in 2010 there are 1.2 million Pacific Islanders the Pacific
million Pacific Islanders the Pacific
million Pacific Islanders the Pacific Islander population is running the
Islander population is running the
Islander population is running the fastest growing population groups in the
fastest growing population groups in the
fastest growing population groups in the u.s. in the last decade this is referred
u.s. in the last decade this is referred
u.s. in the last decade this is referred to as brain drain brain drain results in
to as brain drain brain drain results in
to as brain drain brain drain results in a negative outcome for the Pacific
a negative outcome for the Pacific
a negative outcome for the Pacific Islands leaving them underdeveloped
Islands leaving them underdeveloped
Islands leaving them underdeveloped because they can no longer support
because they can no longer support
because they can no longer support themselves without skilled workers but
themselves without skilled workers but
themselves without skilled workers but the problems don’t stop there but
the problems don’t stop there but
the problems don’t stop there but marshalese come to the u.s. many
marshalese come to the u.s. many
marshalese come to the u.s. many experienced culture shock back home we
experienced culture shock back home we
experienced culture shock back home we are taught that eye contact is a sign of
are taught that eye contact is a sign of
are taught that eye contact is a sign of disrespect in the u.s. eye contact is
disrespect in the u.s. eye contact is
disrespect in the u.s. eye contact is expected during a conversation in the
expected during a conversation in the
expected during a conversation in the Marshall Islands children and students
Marshall Islands children and students
Marshall Islands children and students are told silence is respectful in the US
are told silence is respectful in the US
are told silence is respectful in the US we are told to participate in class
we are told to participate in class
we are told to participate in class discussions there is a preconception
discussions there is a preconception
discussions there is a preconception that marshalese students do not value
that marshalese students do not value
that marshalese students do not value education but really we just show
education but really we just show
education but really we just show respect differently we show respect with
respect differently we show respect with
respect differently we show respect with silence we show respect with little nods
silence we show respect with little nods
silence we show respect with little nods we show respect with downcast eyes but
we show respect with downcast eyes but
we show respect with downcast eyes but because of the differences between
because of the differences between
because of the differences between American and marshalese culture
American and marshalese culture
American and marshalese culture marshalese students are thought to be
marshalese students are thought to be
marshalese students are thought to be disrespect
disrespect
disrespect many young marshalese students received
many young marshalese students received
many young marshalese students received bad grades and American schools which
bad grades and American schools which
bad grades and American schools which factors into the low graduation rates
factors into the low graduation rates
factors into the low graduation rates another cultural difference is how
another cultural difference is how
another cultural difference is how important we see education is many
important we see education is many
important we see education is many marshalese have never received any
marshalese have never received any
marshalese have never received any formal education throughout their entire
formal education throughout their entire
formal education throughout their entire lives many marshalese adults have never
lives many marshalese adults have never
lives many marshalese adults have never gone to high school much less college
gone to high school much less college
gone to high school much less college the lack of formal education makes it
the lack of formal education makes it
the lack of formal education makes it increasingly difficult for Pacific
increasingly difficult for Pacific
increasingly difficult for Pacific Pacific nations to have a skilled
Pacific nations to have a skilled
Pacific nations to have a skilled workforce and with the rapidly
workforce and with the rapidly
workforce and with the rapidly increasing populations the need for
increasing populations the need for
increasing populations the need for improved our education and the Pacific
improved our education and the Pacific
improved our education and the Pacific has become evident
has become evident
has become evident so when marshal is adult without high
so when marshal is adult without high
so when marshal is adult without high school diplomas or college degrees come
school diplomas or college degrees come
school diplomas or college degrees come to the u.s. in search of jobs they can
to the u.s. in search of jobs they can
to the u.s. in search of jobs they can only receive low wage jobs their lack of
only receive low wage jobs their lack of
only receive low wage jobs their lack of formal education also causes them to be
formal education also causes them to be
formal education also causes them to be unable to see the necessity of education
unable to see the necessity of education
unable to see the necessity of education for example if a student’s family needed
for example if a student’s family needed
for example if a student’s family needed help then the student would drop out of
help then the student would drop out of
help then the student would drop out of school and go find a job because a
school and go find a job because a
school and go find a job because a marshalese culture the group is more
marshalese culture the group is more
marshalese culture the group is more important than the individual Pacific
important than the individual Pacific
important than the individual Pacific Islanders have the highest high school
Islanders have the highest high school
Islanders have the highest high school dropout rates at 27% they also have the
dropout rates at 27% they also have the
dropout rates at 27% they also have the lowest graduation rates the four-year
lowest graduation rates the four-year
lowest graduation rates the four-year graduation rate for Pacific Islanders is
graduation rate for Pacific Islanders is
graduation rate for Pacific Islanders is only fifty one point four percent that’s
only fifty one point four percent that’s
only fifty one point four percent that’s the lowest graduation rate any
the lowest graduation rate any
the lowest graduation rate any population group in the US has ever
population group in the US has ever
population group in the US has ever received
received
received you see culture is a big part of who we
you see culture is a big part of who we
you see culture is a big part of who we are it makes up our identity the
are it makes up our identity the
are it makes up our identity the American culture is very diverse as is
American culture is very diverse as is
American culture is very diverse as is its population but many people of
its population but many people of
its population but many people of different ethnicities and cultures come
different ethnicities and cultures come
different ethnicities and cultures come to the u.s. only to adopt the American
to the u.s. only to adopt the American
to the u.s. only to adopt the American lifestyle rather than preserve their own
lifestyle rather than preserve their own
lifestyle rather than preserve their own culture due to the popularity of Western
culture due to the popularity of Western
culture due to the popularity of Western culture many cultures of the Pacific are
culture many cultures of the Pacific are
culture many cultures of the Pacific are dying out including the marshalese
dying out including the marshalese
dying out including the marshalese culture less and less children are
culture less and less children are
culture less and less children are taught their native language less and
taught their native language less and
taught their native language less and less children know our word of greeting
less children know our word of greeting
less children know our word of greeting Yahweh we means which means you are a
Yahweh we means which means you are a
Yahweh we means which means you are a rainbow less and less children are
rainbow less and less children are
rainbow less and less children are taught that we don’t have a word for
taught that we don’t have a word for
taught that we don’t have a word for goodbye because we’re always
goodbye because we’re always
goodbye because we’re always was together in attempt to reserve the
was together in attempt to reserve the
was together in attempt to reserve the dying culture in a foreign country such
dying culture in a foreign country such
dying culture in a foreign country such as the US Marshal ease honor family and
as the US Marshal ease honor family and
as the US Marshal ease honor family and community I mentioned before that the
community I mentioned before that the
community I mentioned before that the group takes precedence over the
group takes precedence over the
group takes precedence over the individual
individual
individual and this shows by how every event and
and this shows by how every event and
and this shows by how every event and holiday is spent with entire communities
holiday is spent with entire communities
holiday is spent with entire communities of marshalese instead of just within one
of marshalese instead of just within one
of marshalese instead of just within one family we celebrate the first birthday
family we celebrate the first birthday
family we celebrate the first birthday of an infant as a community we dance on
of an infant as a community we dance on
of an infant as a community we dance on Christmas as a community we sing our
Christmas as a community we sing our
Christmas as a community we sing our national anthem on Constitution Day as a
national anthem on Constitution Day as a
national anthem on Constitution Day as a community in face of the overhanging
community in face of the overhanging
community in face of the overhanging American culture and society marshalese
American culture and society marshalese
American culture and society marshalese and other Pacific Islanders and other
and other Pacific Islanders and other
and other Pacific Islanders and other minorities as well how to fight daily to
minorities as well how to fight daily to
minorities as well how to fight daily to preserve their culture Pacific Islanders
preserve their culture Pacific Islanders
preserve their culture Pacific Islanders face problems wherever we go in the US
face problems wherever we go in the US
face problems wherever we go in the US we face being that minority cultural
we face being that minority cultural
we face being that minority cultural loss low wage low wages and prejudice
loss low wage low wages and prejudice
loss low wage low wages and prejudice and the Pacific we face overpopulation
and the Pacific we face overpopulation
and the Pacific we face overpopulation poverty unemployment and meager
poverty unemployment and meager
poverty unemployment and meager education I am NOT arguing that Pacific
education I am NOT arguing that Pacific
education I am NOT arguing that Pacific Islanders should choose the US I am
Islanders should choose the US I am
Islanders should choose the US I am saying the Pacific Islanders need to
saying the Pacific Islanders need to
saying the Pacific Islanders need to establish their place in this world
establish their place in this world
establish their place in this world our countries are disappearing but if we
our countries are disappearing but if we
our countries are disappearing but if we come to the u.s. our lands our
come to the u.s. our lands our
come to the u.s. our lands our traditions our culture’s our languages
traditions our culture’s our languages
traditions our culture’s our languages may very well be forgotten as we
may very well be forgotten as we
may very well be forgotten as we assimilate into American culture many
assimilate into American culture many
assimilate into American culture many have chosen to put all their hope and
have chosen to put all their hope and
have chosen to put all their hope and their perception of America’s perfection
their perception of America’s perfection
their perception of America’s perfection without thought of their past or culture
without thought of their past or culture
without thought of their past or culture others have chosen to stay in the
others have chosen to stay in the
others have chosen to stay in the Pacific without thought of the future we
Pacific without thought of the future we
Pacific without thought of the future we the people of the Pacific must choose
the people of the Pacific must choose
the people of the Pacific must choose the best course of action that would
the best course of action that would
the best course of action that would sustain not only our futures but also
sustain not only our futures but also
sustain not only our futures but also our past thank you
our past thank you
our past thank you [Applause]
”
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