Gatbo gi mena-hu, gatbo gi tate-ku. Gi hilo-hu
yan gi papa-hu mampos gatbo.
Beauty is before me, beauty is behind me. Above me and below me hovers the
beautiful.
Navajo Prayer
As a true Chamorru in every sense of the word, I had a special interest in reading the article by James Stellman. This was was due to the fact that a non-Chamorru had the interest to write about my culture's philosophy and traditions, and also because I am a native of Guam, I was able to relate to it the most, over all the other readings. I really enjoyed reading this short, but informative article that reminded me of the Chamorru way of life, most especially in the past. The concepts of respect, reciprocity, and maintaining peace and harmony in the community are the focal points in Stellman's article, and although we do still see these features in today's society, I would venture to say that it's to a lesser degree than in the past. Nonetheless, reading the article did bring back fond memories of life as a child and as a young adult.
image: www.juggle.com
quote: http://chamorrolanguage.blogspot.com/2008/10/famous-quotes-in-chamorro.html
Thank you for sharing Geri. I imagine you have many stories, especially since you come from the southern part of the island. I thought it was interesting too how some of the features discussed in the article are still present today in our society. Thank you again, for sharing...
ReplyDeleteSi Joe.