Should U.S. Territories Like Guam Be Independent? | AJ+ 

Agreed as all territories all over the world, such as Crimea, or Hong Kong

well Crimea are ethnically russians. so it's part of russia

They are. Puerto Rico constantly has votes on whether or not they want to be a state, independent, or remain a commonwealth. The vote for remaining a commonwealth always wins.

First let me say that native residents of Guam are American citizens as are those of Puerto Rico, as such they have an unconditional right to relocate to the mainland as any US citizen does and as do Puerto Ricans and they would then have the right to vote. Puerto Rico has consistently turned down statehood leaving open their future, as accepting statehood is an irrevocable step. Guam can certainly organize a referendum on it's status with the US and if through such a referendum Guam or Puerto Rico requested statehood or independence I think it would certainly be granted, it appears from this documentary there is no clear consensus among it's people about the future political status vis a vis the US.

K M Crimea was not a territory but an integral part of a nation called Ukraine. It's an important distinction. Hong Kong was truly a colony or territory, but it's status a bit more complicated for reasons I wont go into now.

Yes, USA needs to stop booshitten and bring PR, Guam, AS, into the Union. They let Dixie come back into the Union after Civil War, and Dixie backstabbed everybody, kept their "war" going.

That won't happen. :)

What about the virgin islands or American Samoa

Of course they won't change. How would they control the islands simply, if they had something to gain from these islands , like the Caribbean , like mining etc.

@@DoubeEdged7 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IM SAYING!!

Chocolate Kyle kulinski many did NOT even know Puerto Rican’s are U.S. citizens until Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico that’s is just 1,150 miles do you really expect for many Americans to know about Guam?? LOL 😂

Chocolate Kyle kulinski Americans r fool..they will believe in media

80% of statistics are made up

Sad, but true. I'm 39 and just learned this today!

Where did you get that statistic from? Source?

On a side note, thank you to all of the people from all of them for being so humble and polite. Don't change a thing and God Bless.

As a Puertorican I want my island to be independent, I do not dislike the United States I say we can maintain a healthy relationship but after 125 years it’s time for the shackles to come off.

All US territories should become a state.

@@amykami6830 except us Puertoricans we should be independent

I thought you guys were independent.

@@amykami6830i disagree

If they’re not a state, then no.

@anderson i agree with what you say, i just can't say it's a sweet deal. Rather a fair compromise.

jonathan Green Welp, governor is our highest offer.

Only if they want to be a state.... Is this what Guam wants?

Guam should just become its own country.

I was stationed there as well.. I heard that many school children don’t learn about what actually happened on their land during war and before.

@@personaldanceparty5518 no. Not until I took an actual Guam History class. Because of the pandemic right now and gov inaction, we LOST all our tourist attraction. Its very likely its just going to be a place of residency and military, and all natives just leave island. Kind of like whats happening in Japan rn

🤣

They're still a very small minority. They think China is their answer. Trade one colonizers to another

@@megasocky technically before the Asian people came to Japan there were other humans living there and that the Asians of that time kick them out but now they’re back living in northern Japan as natives

Would have been a burden to take care of anyways.

They are American citizens. They should be able to vote state or no state

​@@emptyhad2571they are second class citizen

you sure that corruption and neo-colonial anxiety will simply magically disappear if you surrendered yourself back to said american overlords? that neo-colonial anxiety will just remain as colonial anxiety and the corruption will remain just like the colonial days under spain and the US. no country is immune to corruption especially one who already had a history of it

@@xXxSkyViperxXx You have a very valid point. No country on earth is completely void of corruption. However, the corruption in the Philippines is at one of the worst levels of all nations and cripples the entire nation that could otherwise flourish. I lived in Hong Kong while it was under the British administration. Back in time it was TERRIBLY corrupt. But the British government stepped in and cleaned it up and now it is one of the least corrupt places on earth. My point is, the Philippines government officials will NEVER clean up the corruption because they themselves are corrupt. The only way for a corrupt nation to be cleansed from corruption is for an outside entity with the power and authority to do it.

PHTX Then leave Ph then..

@@niclna He is Filipino. What right do you have to tell someone to get out of their homeland?

Free Guam ✊ Guam not American 👎

True. As a Filipino, I can't help but wonder what would happen if we remained as a U.S. territory.

They wanted independence, and unlike states, territories can choose to become independent. They actually would have achieved independence sooner if the Japanese hadn’t invaded. The Tydings-McDuffie Act stated that territorial rule would end in 1944. Because of World War II, independence had to be pushed back to 1946. In any case, that is what the people wanted. It’s sad that it didn’t work out for them, but that’s just how it played out.

@@winsome_15 hmmm. Maybe the Philippines would have become a state?

@@GabrielUngactaI really doubt that

That's awful. I hope Guam gets independence or statehood soon.

I am glad you do now. I'm from Saipan, also in the Mariana island chain a few islands away. Guam has lots of vocal and active activists of all ages, raise and background. I have learned so much from them while I was there for a long time. I had no idea too. Today, I am as well outspoken and an advocate for our Marianas.

Corporal Clegg and join the oppressor no way be free from this evil government

@@miracletutoring2123 yeah, China's much more free!

F*** it I say it probably

Chamoru by birth, American by force. That’s what hurts

That's something to think about. Makes sense to me.

Our star doesn’t fit on the American Flag I want my island to be independent 🇵🇷💪🏽

​@@Quepasaaqui718 how would you survive economically and you wouldn't be USA citizens

Or how about give Washington DC Statehood and all other territories independence? Its better that way

@Stephen Jenkins Why are you making things up? Guam NEVER voted for its status. Guam was specifically left out when the rest of the Pacific was decolonized through the UN.

Am. Samoa has it worse. They're not even citizens. They remain Nationals, as Chamorros were, before 1950.

They don't care.

If the big 6 don't approve, it won't get shown

I'm sure they have... .

Not a story that will male them money.

Edwin Holcombe pretty much

Philippines is a sh*t hole compared to Guam. Why are y’all coming to my country in droves if it’s soo “amazing”. This media segment is narrow and liberal they didn’t show the whole island.

@itachi-kun7736....I grew up in Guam and me,my family,friends and people I met never had a problem with living on a U.S Territory.

@@sagittariusone2753if you had a choice would you be independent or a state

How tf can French Polynesia have medics even though it's poorer, more isolated and less integrated. Cut the shit.

The country would be even poorer I mean really poorer if it becomes completely independent

How dare you use the word complain. Stop using Guam’s story and comparing it to other countries, thinking we have it waaaayy better. It’s clear you’ve never lived on my island or seen the struggles MY PEOPLE go through, especially our veterans.

I fully agree. we could of joined Gran colombia as Cuba, the dominican republic and many other countries tried to do. we could of been a federation of latino states the same way Simon BOlivar dreamed of.

Gustavo Rodriguez EXACTLY!!

puerto rico, philippines, cuba, virgin islands, and guam, northern marianas, fs of micronesia, and palau were all US colonies after the US took them from spain. philippines, puerto rico, and cuba even have the same flag layout with only the colors switched around in solidarity with the coordinated revolutions our countries made before. philippines and cuba got the independence while fs of micronesia, palau, northern marianas got independence with free association whereas guam, virgin islands and puerto rico were left to rot as colonies under the name "US territories". american samoa is also like this and hawaii is just the one that became a state.

Guam micronesian not Spanish 👎

Right to vote for every native in the territories!!!

Perhaps you ought to let you Chamorro brothers and sisters decide that.

Shadow Disorder yeah let's free the land from these colonizers of the USA

I'm here for you my Chamorro brother I wish I could say the same for us Native Americans

@Shadow Disorder....Trust me,Guam is much better off remaining with The U.S....Former U.S Possessions that choose Independence from The United States are not very prosperous Countries today,and it wasn't The U.S that ruined The Chamorro Culture and Language,it was 300 years of Spanish Rule.

Statehood to Guam!

They loss their citizenship

@@gashiyumi3124 But they gained their freedom.... Freedom>Citizenship

@@masp809 i mean U.S. citizenship

Guam is a stolen Territory of the Philippines. Prior to AmeriCUNT acquisition of Guam... Guam & Palau were governed by the Viceroyship of Manila which governed not just the Philippines but also Palau & Guam during Spanish colonial period. When the Philippines declared its independence & proclaimed the first republic in Asia what is known as the Malolos-Republic... the Malolos-Republic of the Philippines recognized Guam & Palau as part of Philippine Territory. Even Prior to Spanish colonial times in the history of what is now Philippines... the Maharlika-Lakanate of Tondo (Manila), both Guam & Palau were tributary vassals of Tondo (Manila)

Guam is a stolen Territory of the Philippines. Prior to AmeriCUNT acquisition of Guam... Guam & Palau were governed by the Viceroyship of Manila which governed not just the Philippines but also Palau & Guam during Spanish colonial period. When the Philippines declared its independence & proclaimed the first republic in Asia what is known as the Malolos-Republic... the Malolos-Republic of the Philippines recognized Guam & Palau as part of Philippine Territory. Even Prior to Spanish colonial times in the history of what is now Philippines... the Maharlika-Lakanate of Tondo (Manila), both Guam & Palau were tributary vassals of Tondo (Manila)

@@vinrup9568 and?

@@k00LGuY671 you say you're a "Patriot." Patriot of what? the Colonial power that rules your Island? That's not "Patriotism." that's what you call a VASSAL.

@@vinrup9568 yah and what of it? They gave me US citizenship, I benefit from being one, and colonizers have also been supporting the island financially, economically, and other benefits. I'm proud to be American. Regardless voting is minor all I have to do is relocate to mainland and have my residence be there and I can vote. lol

They won't become citizens until they become a state

Edwin Holcombe, People in Puerto Rico have dual citizenship; we are Puerto Rican citizens as well as North American citizens and I was under the impression that people in all the other territories, except those in American Samoa were also citizens of the U.S.A.! However, it really should not matter whether or not they are USA citizens the fact that they reside in U.S. territories should be enough of a factor to be eligible to vote for a U.S. president that makes decisions that affect them! We should also not think that the size of the territories' populations will not make a difference in the general outcome of the total vote, because having the right to vote, is simply a matter of principal! Aloha, Luis Enrique Ruiz ( Ruizart )

Edwin Holcombe they are already citizens. They can vote by simply moving to the states which they can do at any time

Rui Zart they can vote along with anyone else in the territories by simply moving and registering to vote in the states. It’s that simple

Of course they can. They can keep the US presence even independent. People saying they need the US to survive our ignorant. You realize they can still us the US dolor and retain US citizenship even independents. It’s called sovereign free association. America has 3 associated countries with it. All of them Guam’s neighbors.

@@jesusjesus534 Free Association Status gives The Local Government of Guam way more power and control,and trust me most people in Guam would not like that,especially if you've seen the way the Local Government of Guam runs things....Guam's Status as a U.S Territory is way more beneficial to the island,which is one of the reasons Guam's Economy is the largest in Micronesia and is also the reason why the people of Guam also have the highest standard of living in all of Micronesia as well....An Independent or Free Association Guam will lead the island downhill in my opinion...Guam has remained with the U.S since 1898 and the people enjoy freedom and a better quality of life living in Guam or to move back and forth from the U.S Mainland..Why give all that up????

If any territory is going to become the 51st state, it’s Puerto Rico.

Megalodon unfortunately, Puerto Ricans are very divided when it comes to this issue. It’s almost like 45% want Statehood, 45% want Independence, and 10% are satisfied with the status quo. A referendum with 2 choices: Statehood vs. Independence, would be VERY divisive among Puerto Ricans themselves.

@@siononalundula1699 Actually, independence will not be an option. It was an option in the first referendum a few years ago. The referendum offered three options: 1. Statehood 2. Independence, with the option to choose to be in Free Association with the United States in order to receive continued aid and protection, which is what the last territory to become independent, Palau, chose when it became independent in 1994. 3. Remain a territory/commonwealth. The result was pretty interesting. 97.18% voted for statehood, 1.32% voted for Puerto Rico to remain a territory/commonwealth, and 1.50% voted for independence with the option of Free Association with the United States. Granted, the overwhelming majority for statehood is largely due to a boycott by the Popular Democratic Party, it still showed a significant increase in the number of voters wanted statehood. Plus, even if voter turnout was higher (it was a record low that year), it’s likely that it wouldn’t have made much of a difference in votes for independence. The result probably would have been largely divided between maintaining the status quo or statehood, since the Popular Democratic Party wants Puerto Rico to remain a territory/commonwealth. Statistics have shown that the most recent generations of Puerto Rico (or at least those of voting age), don’t want independence, with that mainly being popular amongst older generations, particularly those Puerto Ricans born before 1950, and they are slowly dying off. The Puerto Rican Independence Party, the major political party of the independence movement, is barely hanging on, with a significant drop in members and very poor election results. They only have one senator left in the Puerto Rican senate, one Congressmen in the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and no municipal posts. Even amongst those that still favor independence, the overwhelming majority want a Compact of Free Association, maintaining close ties with the United States, as opposed to completely severing ties with the US. Free Association has a lot more support among younger voters than completely severing ties with the United States. As for the other major local parties, the party with the most elected positions, the New Progressive Party, is dedicated to statehood, the aforementioned PDP, which the NPP only has a slight majority over, wants to remain a territory/commonwealth, and the newest major party (formed late last year), the Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana, has no position on what Puerto Rico should be other than that it shouldn’t remain a territory/commonwealth. Because of this, and the results of the previous referendum, this year’s planned referendum will only have two options: 1. Statehood or 2. Remain a territory/commonwealth. Independence, with or without a Compact of Free Association, will not be an option.

Beside Spanish, Mexicans, Central and South America...

Guam is one of the few territories allowed to have their own governing body that is basically left to do as they please which do absolutely nothing for its people but make excuses and fill their own pockets with money that should be going to the people. If left to be independent those few families that own the island would sink Guam to the bottom of the ocean

Van Arsdale how would you know that China would move in? How would you know if the economy would crash? Take a look at the neighboring islands that aren't a part of the compact of free association. They're doing well and the Chinese haven't invaded at all. I think you are the one who needs to study world geography, not world history. As it stands, Guam is an American colony as sad as it seems.

The chinese wouldnt invade even if guam became idependent because it just be a similar situation as you have with Japan. If anything it still be the same except not a U.S Territory. But the bases would still be there as they are in Japan.

@@mapache7317 when the US left the panama canal, china bought all those old US bases.

Being in the military you should understand the strategic importance of that location. You can and should support better treatment of the culture, environment, and heritage but you also need to look a little further into the future and think about the repercussions of what you're suggesting.

John Montes Japan paid the US to protect it and give monetarily to help upkeep the bases. Guam couldn’t do that so what would the US have to gain?

Or provide them a much higher degree of autonomy, trade and financial control on their own matters just as the Netherlands did with most of their Caribbean islands

@@jesusdavis2941 Yes, something like that could work.

Y'all need to stop trying to tear us who live on territories away form our country.

No dignity what a shame🥲​@@thekiwiindustry1527

Why specially Puerto Rico?

Idk why specially, but I do know that we need ti get that issue wrapped up already so we can finally progress

You need to elaborate on why Puerto Rico is somehow _more_ deserving than the other colonies.

Zedek Puerto Rico has never been an independent nation. 300 years of rule & abuse under the spanish & 100 years of rule & abuse & total dependency on the usa.

I always thought Puerto Rico was an independent southern American country

@relsba Yes....Anyone born in Guam that moves to the U.S Mainland can vote in Presidential Elections.

what you're describing is protectorate status, just like what the US offers south korea and japan

Now that would be much better option than remaining a colony. @@xXxSkyViperxXx

xXxSkyViperxXx and Japan paid the US to have the military there. Quite nicely

Guam is a stolen Territory of the Philippines. Prior to AmeriCUNT acquisition of Guam... Guam & Palau were governed by the Viceroyship of Manila which governed not just the Philippines but also Palau & Guam during Spanish colonial period. When the Philippines declared its independence & proclaimed the first republic in Asia what is known as the Malolos-Republic... the Malolos-Republic of the Philippines recognized Guam & Palau as part of Philippine Territory. Even Prior to Spanish colonial times in the history of what is now Philippines... the Maharlika-Lakanate of Tondo (Manila), both Guam & Palau were tributary vassals of Tondo (Manila)

Wesley J what abt usvi

None of those should be a state.

Marlon Moncrieffe Why

@@hyperhawk27 Because they should be independent.

Marlon Moncrieffe Well they should hold referenda on it then. I bet a lot of people living on those territories would recognize the financial benefits of being formally recognized as a U.S. state and would vote for statehood. I would worry that the economies of these islands would fall into disrepair and possible poverty without their association to the United States

as if it was easy 🙂

u too Puerto Rico 😘

Guam was a former spanish colony under the Spanish East Indies just like the Philippines, Northern Marianas, Palau, and FS of Micronesia. colonial decree in Manila in the philippines gave out spanish family names to natives without registered family names when the government first start making government records. this the same reason why people in the philippines, palau, marianas, micronesia can also have spanish last names

And protect natives from foreign conflicts.

What you're saying is innaccurate.