I thought some of you might find this interesting.   
      
      
   History Of Guam's Political Status   
   ==================================   
      
   Extracts from a Pacific Daily News editorial published on August 29, 2010:   
      
   ----- Begin Quote -----   
      
   Guam's quest for a final political status has taken decades since the United   
   States took control of the island in 1898, after the Spanish-American War,   
   and continues still today. A 1901 U.S. Supreme Court ruling established the   
   island as an unincorporated territory -- belonging to, but separate from,   
   the United States.   
      
   Island residents were granted U.S. citizenship by the Organic Act of Guam in   
   1950. In 1976, Congress established a process for Guam to adopt a   
   constitution locally, but the effort failed. In 1997, a commission was   
   established to work toward holding a plebiscite to allow island voters the   
   opportunity to express a preference for independence, free association or   
   statehood. To date, that plebiscite hasn't been held.   
      
   Before the 1901 Supreme Court ruling, all areas acquired by the United   
   States were incorporated by default, and thus could become states, or seek   
   independence.   
      
   Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote the dissent in the ruling and said, "The   
   idea that this country may acquire territories anywhere upon the earth, by   
   conquest or treaty, and hold them as mere colonies or provinces -- the   
   people inhabiting them to enjoy only such rights as Congress chooses to   
   accord to them -- is wholly inconsistent with the spirit and genius, as well   
   as with the words, of the Constitution."   
      
   ----- End Quote -----   
      
      
      
   Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23   
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