Shifting Sand of Paradise

Political supremacy in ethnic strife-ridden island nations like Fiji and the Solomons has turned into an ugly racist issue that has conveniently trashed the essence of multiethnic democracy.

Indigenous Fijians claim racial supremacy arguing they are the first settlers. Ethnic Fijians (Indians) who have lived in Fiji for more than 100 years now live under threats of permanent displacement.

Indigenous Fijians wanted automatic political control or supremacy of local government even if it means the displacement of Ethnic Fijians who have lived there or were born into the culture of Fijian Life.

For years, Ethnic Fijians have been alienated from assimilation into an integral part of the Fiji Community. Despite it all, nothing stopped them from contributing sweat, expertise and capital into the greater community of an island nation that constantly keeps them at the front gate because of ancestral place of origin. It’s an obvious form of ethnic cleansing or bigotry.

The same strife is found in the Solomon Islands. The indigenous people have given ethnicity greater prominence than harmony or peaceful co-existence. In both island nations, descendants of migrants (whose land leases expire in the near future) would be denied renewal because indigents have claimed racial supremacy.

Then there’s the Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement, other indigenous movements, including the Chamorro Nation in Guam or our infamous Land Alienation (Article XII) in these isles. If anything, land was, is and will continue to be an emotional issue in islands throughout the Pacific. But it is wrong to use it as a basis to alienate and discriminate against others.

For all its problems, our mother country is a shining example of the very essence of multi-ethnic democracy. Let us give room to our commonalties rather than immature differences riddled with bigotry.
****

A friend with a great sense of humor related of his recent visit to the Pearly Gate. He said St. Peter and the angels are installing the most powerful computer equipped with a super sensor to detect Chamorros and Carolinians.

“Why would they do that to us?” I quizzed.
“St. Peter is miffed of our sentiment that Chamorros and Carolinians are the only children of the God,” he related.

“Definitely, that’s troubling, yeah?” I offered.

“Yeap! And as I was leaving, one of the angels the removed the sign ‘Chamorros and Carolinians Only’ from the pearly gate”. Ooops! No mo` da kine for “So What!”, it’s “Now What!” Many troubles, braddah!
****

“St. Peter also mentioned something about nit picking on all the right legislation”, he related.

“Eh, can you for explain da kine troubling news?”, a friend asked.

“Eh, da buggas up in the higher chamber have found bad things in good things, you know da kine sentiment riddled with negativism?”, he offered.

“Eh, we lucky braddah da kine senators are not da kine real doctors, oddawise, dey kill every patient at da hospital, yeah?” a friend said.
“You see braddah, da kine senators dey for think dey for smart, but you know, dey forget that we da kine for smart too, yeah?”
****

I was ready to offer that we come from a small island, therefore, our alleged visions or foresight are at best, childish and shortsighted. And we crystallize it all by confirming it with ad hoc solutions. It reminds me of what a friend once quipped “I know you’re stupid; please don’t confirm it!” Talk about tired old entrenchment, yeah?