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.