(17 July 87) “At this point five or six hundred brown-skinned islanders – apprehensive for the last three days because of the big foreign canoe with spreading sails – began to approach. They were people of medium size, with broad dark faces, black hair and eyes and large grinning mouths. One of the Globe’s crew later granted that they were well-made and handsome…” Click on image to enlarge.
This encounter between American mutineers and Marshallese occurred in 1824 on Mili Atoll, at the southern end of the Marshalls Ratak chain.
You can still find Marshallese who fit this description but also a significant number who don’t, especially among those on Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, where over 60 percent of the 42,000 population resides.
Many islanders have evolved into overweight, unhealthy and slow moving victims of the junk food age. Even those who remain slender suffer the effects of a fast food diet. Junk food malnutrition is a problem among the very young. I often see Marshallese children eating their meals from vending machines on Kwaj. The problem is bad enough that in some cases children have died from such a diet.
Shortly after the Americans landed in the Marshalls, the islanders became acquainted with K-rations. They most likely associated this food with the excellent physical condition of the American GI although it was only for use when other food was not available.
Today, canned processed food has become a favorite of the Marshallese. Colas, beer, and fast food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, donuts, cheetos, potato chips and candy bars are also popular with the islanders.
In Majuro, over one million cans of beer are consumed yearly. This averages out to one beer every other day for every adult on the atoll. Abuse of beer and hard liquors is a serious social problem facing the RMI government. Alcohol related crimes consistently lead the entries on the police blotter. Some examples are: vandalism, assault, burglary, robbery, creating a disturbance and traffic accidents. Hitting a tree at 80 mph is a favorite past time (usually played once by a driver) of inebriated islanders. And of course, almost all suicides are preceded by a large amount of drinking. Beer companies attract consumers with advertising and giveaways. Beer companies appeal to consumers by identifying the product as Majuro’s choice of beer, with the name on each can.
In a recent edition of the Marshall Islands Journal, a survey showed a high rise in the crime rate over the last two years in Majuro.
The atoll, with a population of only 14,000 “…is averaging three arrests every two days for disturbing the peace; an assault and battery arrest every third day; and a robbery every other day.”
The Marshallese government has programs in place to educate islanders on the importance of proper diet and exercise as well as the dangers of alcohol abuse but, considering the clearly observable and definable trends taking place, education has not been an effective tool towards the goal of solving these problems. What they need. What everyone needs, is a reason for their existence. Many won’t find it here. Not in this environment with two opposite cultures and no way to merge gracefully.
Earlier today we received a report from Army counterintelligence that four to eight Soviet submarines are offshore of Kwajalein Atoll. I was told that the subs are used for triangulation measurements in order to identify the impact point for RVs. Brand X and her sister ship have not been seen for about six weeks.
Filed under: Almost Paradise Volume 2
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