“Ate”, Childrearing, and Mechesil Belau

Contributed Commentary to Tia Belau, August 26, 2013 —- 

The following commentary was sent over for publication by Mr. Richard Salvador in response to article titled “Ate” and the young “Supervisor” which appeared in the column “Words from Orakidorm” last Thursday issue, August 22, 2013, in Tia Belau. 

by Richard Salvador

This is a strange piece of writing! It raises the relevant issue of locating one of the possible causes of aggression and violence among Belau’s youth. However, it’s informal even odd style of writing betrays the serious and troubling manner in which contemporary childrearing in Belau may be a contributing factor to youth violence.

A response to Belau’s community forum on crime and violence

The following comment was posted by Mr. Richard Salvador in the comment section of the post “Preventing Crime and Violence“.

I read this editorial. And yesterday, I sat down and listened to all of the audio recordings of the community forum on crime and violence. It seemed to have been a very good forum and I congratulate Belau for initiating such an important forum on such a vital issue of the day – that of acknowledging the ever increasing instances of crime and violence throughout the community and exploring ways to prevent them.

Re: 34th Anniversary of the Palau Constitution

The following is from Richard Salvador who commented on the post, 34th Anniversary of the Palau Constitution.

My take on things —

Wonderful Op/Ed Tia Belau. But I will take issue with you all about the proper significance of these days.

I begin with saying “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BELAU!” Let me explain:

Re: “Armarik”

The following is a comment from Richard Salvador in response to this post and I thought it deserve to have its own separate post.

Gaafar and everyone,

I apologize for the length of this reply. I hope my whole comment makes sense, as response to your concern about proper pronunciation.

Response to “Diaz blasts Palau 2012 Facebook Group”

The following post was taken from the comment section of this post:  “Diaz blasts Palau 2012 Facebook Group“, and which I took the liberty of making it a separate post of its own. —- 

Response to “Diaz blasts Palau 2012 Facebook Group” and Comments to “Palau 2012” Group

Richard Salvador
08 December 2001

Sometime back, I was invited by someone to join “Palau 2012” Facebook group. I have never been on Facebook and probably never will. I once listened to a radio interview where someone who was researching social media and open intelligence gathering was describing how some agencies of the US Government was using Facebook to spy on people. I vowed I would never join Facebook.

Two Questions for Richard Salvador

By Richard Salvador —-

Alii Villager, Ngirchoteot

You ask me two questions; I summarize them in my words below so that I can best respond to them:

[Question #1] – Why do you think the writers of the first Constitution give primacy to the English language not the Belau language in our Constitution? And do you think it’s time that we change this and elevate the Belau language as our primary language including translating all official deliberations and documents of our government into our Belau language.

Belau’s (Palau) Human Rights Development: Ironies and Challenges

President Toribiong’s UN speech “overrated”? Check out a new blog from Richard Salvador for his take.

Here it is at Oceania Cross Currents.

I originally was going to publish the above titled article by Mr. Salvador’s on its entirety right here on this page, instead I thought I send A Le Ko Kau’s readers to the article by introducing his new blogpage.

There are other posts now up at the site so make it a point to stop and check it out.

Gaps in affluence and scarcity: the capitalist ethos and the cultural tenets of community in Belau

Richard Salvador

The other night I went to attend a presentation at a local law firm by a local psychologist. She was describing hers and her organization’s work in war-torn developing nations. They do psychological therapeutic work with war and genocide survivors in these nations. I ran into someone I know from the local university, we engaged in some related discussions about people’s enduring abilities to emerge from the most traumatic experiences of war, and conflict, with assistance, of course, from the local pool of resources, their societal and cultural institutions, and whatever else was available in their local environments. The university person told me that she had just returned from a very nice and eye-opening two-week trip to Belau.

A Manifesto for Micronesian Diasporas: Heeding Leaders’ Calls, Doing our Best to Assist Nation-Building at Home

Our leaders’ appeals at the United Nations this week

The 62^nd session of the United Nations General Assembly will end tomorrow (Sept 25-Oct 3, 2007), but the presidents of FSM and RMI and the vice president of Belau/Palau have all addressed the General Assembly. FSM President Emanuel Mori, RMI President Kessai Note, and Belau/Palau Vice President Elias Camsek Chin addressed the UN General Assembly on behalf of our governments (See leaders’ speeches here: http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/62/ )