Flashback:ONRA.January2008/AngelSantos

Generations will come and Generations will pass, but if no generation has the conscience, courage, and moral convictions to right the wrongdoings of the  past, then the next generation will have to live with the  same injustices in the future.

We cannot be passive or silent when human beings endure suffering or humiliation. We must step forward and take sides, we must assist immediately.

At times we may fail, at times we may make mistakes.  But we must never make the mistake of failing to try. People deserve nothing less.

Fanohge Chamoru.
-Angel Santos

These are the great words of a good man who stood and fought passionately for the sake of our people and the perseverance of Chamoru culture. I cant say that I ever really got to know him. That’s my loss. But its never too late to learn. As weve been recently discussing
Marianas combatives as a tool for Island Unification and for the added purpose of paying tribute to the ancestors of this land, these words have been a great model for the focus of the fighting spirit cultivated in combat sports. I dont think its necessarily just about  taking sides or about  correcting old mistakes, but its also about positive initiatives  not just for the sake of victory in sport, but lso for the sake of fortitude in Life.

For the record, This column is not just about keeping us updated on locally connected combatives, its also about celebrating the sacrifice and accomplishments of our fighters and fighter-athletes. .

And really, there are loads of different battles, defeats, and victories. Unfortunately we cant cover them all but we will do what we can.Conflict and confrontation exist everywhere; the cage, the ring, the office, at home…Overwhelming stuff. MMA is celebrated here as a tool to invigorate the spirit and prepare us to face these challenges and to walk away in strong spirit, whether in victory or defeat.

So today really, Onra wouldlike to pay tribute to a man who incessantly fought a great fight, event to the point where he was criticized by the people he fought so hard for. And he continued to fight event o the day that he died. So lets continue his fight. Not necessarily in his method,a s we all expres ourselves differently. But in this day and age of westernization. We should learn to embrace technology and our expanding families even to our brothers from different places, inthe spirit of these lands,  and respect to those that came before us and those that will come and go after us. Forever watering these roots, so the fruits of our ancestors will continue to feed and nurture our people.

Fanohge Chamoru. AngelSantos.