Text Box: Page 1 of 6 Text Box: Opening Night Speech Saturday 17th May 2008 Text Box: PREFACE: This is a verbatim extract of High Chief Afoa Moega Lutu’s Speech at the campaign kickoff opening night on Saturday evening 17th May 2008. It establishes the basis for the AFOA/VELEGA team campaign for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. More than 100 years ago, our forefathers had to choose whether to enter the new century with the protection of a super power....or to go it alone, and be vulnerable to unknown invading forces.  It was a turning point in our history that changed the course of our lives, our people, our lands and our culture.  Our forefathers, created a relationship with the U.S. so they could protect us and help us advance as a people – while still leaving with us, the right to govern ourselves and keep our culture and our lands.  Today, we are not simply a small…unincorporated… and unorganized territory of the United States.  We are a real part of the United States...We are Americans and we are Samoans with a rich and vibrant culture.  But take a look at what is happening to us. The federal government is coming down hard on us...with immigration, with education, with the economy and the minimum wages.  Our teachers and parents are at a loss with an education system that is graduating our children-- ill-prepared to compete in the world market. We are at risk of losing our doctors and burdening our nurses even more, because of a poorly-developed and irrational policy of doctor’s exams.