Guam-A Different Perspective

At a time when attention is being drawn to Guam for military threats being made from North Korea, I felt it would be a good time to take a different approach to this whole matter. 

I would like to invite you to Guam to visit our beautiful island.  Paradise Guam is seeing record tourism numbers this year.  They are coming from Russia, China, Korea and our number one market-Japan.  With the white sands, warm temperatures, blue skies and turquoise waters-Paradise Guam is the place to be.  If you like shopping, Guam offers some of the best products and services from  America. Thanks to our Duty Free designation, there is much more that your foreign currency and or your US dollar can buy.  Gifts, fine jewelry, high end clothing are all here.  For the more adventurous, Golf is big in Guam-seven courses are spread throughout  our 240 square miles here in the Western Pacific to challenge the beginner to the seasoned professional. Diving Guam is spectacular as well-don't forget "Blue Hole"!  Also, great international cuisine is abound to catch your fancy.  Finally Guam is rich in heritage and culture that we encourage you to explore on your own and see why this Chamorro and Micronesian center of the Pacific is so important to the region as a whole. 

Guam is a safe destination.  The U.S. military "book-end" our island.  American service men and women proudly defend democracy in this part of the world-including many young people from Guam.  Local law enforcement remains committed to protecting the 10,000 plus visitors on any given day here.  From Yigo to Merizo, Paradise Guam is ready and willing to welcome you with open arms.

With all the attention, couldn't we find other ways to broker peace in the region?

 This week, on a sport talk radio program here a listener recommended the Guam Football Association reach out to FIFA and the North Korean National Soccer Team to plan immediately and play a friendly soccer match-a variation of the table tennis diplomacy employed in the 1970's to foster peace between the US A and China. North Korea is ranked 102 in the world.  Guam sits at 179 on the world soccer governing body's recent rankings.  The match could be played here or in Pyongyang.  Invite the President of North Korea to watch.  Bring a delegation of US Officials to witness the match.  Throw in our "live-event starved" visitors and locals and you have the potential for a great event. Probably would draw more attention than the recent exploits of former-NBA Star Dennis Rodman who was in North Korea , as part of serious binge, to bring peace to the region.  Leo Palace Resort in Yona or GFA Headquarters in would be good venues-a huge chance to showcase Guam's sports tourism efforts .By the way,  it would not be the first time these two teams would have engaged on the pitch.  North Korea beat Guam 5-0 back in December of last year as part of the East Asian Football Federation's East Asian Cup.  Positive, not negative, news would result in such a match.  It would surely help the amount of games for the Matao as part of the FA's Vision efforts.  More importantly, the attention would take the edge out of this growing and very tense situation.

Drawing away thoughts about the crazy Korean President, closure of work into the North from South Korea, and Pyongyang moving a medium range missile to its eastern coast is the intent.  Good media is always better than bad.  

The rhetoric has people here a bit on edge. We need to turn it around and make this situation a better one for everyone involved.