Letters To The Editor
Letters To The Editor
| I am impressed with Pacific Magazine's coverage of sensitive issues, to
the Pacific Islands. On the face of it, a Honolulu publication with a Sydney
based Fijian managing editor; it seems almost as much of an enigma as the
Pacific itself.
I am interested in Samantha Magick's October editorial "Embracing the Expat." The key issue is how much we contribute to our various islands' economies, not where we are geographically located. A Samoan living in New Zealand, remitting back an average of NZ$100 per week to Samoa (as they all do), is making a substantial contribution to Samoa's economy, and that contribution is both appreciated and fully recognized. - ADVERTISEMENT -
Indeed, an international Samoan movie star and wrestler (Seiuli "Rock" Johnson) is a major contributor to Samoa's economy. His acute sense of national identity with Samoa, and his cultural awareness and appreciation of his Samoan roots, make him a multi-million dollar marketing tool for everything Samoan. In recent holidays, I was impressed to note the bottled water of choice at the Maui Hyatt Regency, was Fiji Water. With annual exports exceeding FJ$35 million, Fiji Water now has surpassed Evian as the biggest selling water in the United States. This is Pacific Power! Pacific Power is Fiji's Vijay Singh surpassing Tiger Woods as the No 1 Golfer in World! Samoa's Tana Umaga becoming Captain of New Zealand's All Blacks. The Pacific Rugby Team surviving with distinction three gruelling tests in a row against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
It is absolutely of no significance where these various people may live or reside, they are first and foremost Pacific Islanders, and will always be recognized as such. There has been extensive academic literature recently concerning the so-called New Zealand born "Samoans." Who are these "poor" cross-cultural icons - caught in an identity crisis, not of their own making? I strongly object to such a category of "Samoan." I have written extensively that we know a Samoan by how he "behaves," not by where he "lives." If a person does not give up his seat in (a bus) for older people, he is not a Samoan! If he (or she) talks back to parents, are they Samoan? Even if they live in Samoa. A Samoan does not "talk back" to parents, stands up for old folk in buses, speaks with respect to elders. Fourth generation New Zealand born Samoans who do not do these things, should not be described as Samoans. Neither should Samoan born Samoans, who do not practice these common courtesies, so basic to the Samoan culture. Descartes said "Cogito, ergo sum." - "I think, therefore I am." This logic applies to one's identity. This also applies to one's profession. In an address to the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) in 2003, I told them they are Pacific Islanders first, and journalists second. There is a "Pacific Way" as the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara put it, not just in politics, but in all aspects of life in the Pacific. The Pacific Way is however, not an excuse for idleness or corruption. The Pacific Way is a way of life, a celebration of Pacific cultures. In this regard, every Pacific Island is unique. So when Seiuli "Rock" Johnson said to me (at the Airport when I officially farewelled him) how much he appreciated the Samoan culture and identifying his roots, I was able to thank him for his major contribution to Samoa, through being the humble, great but gentle giant of movies and wrestling, that he had become. The Rock is no less a Samoan because he is now a multi-millionaire movie star with residences in Beverly Hills and Miami. When my friends Papaliitele Tihati and Cha Thompson, helped ESPN Television to bring back Jesse Sapolu (ex 49ers), Pisa Tinoisamoa (St. Louis Rams) and Isaac Sopoaga (49ers) to find their roots in Samoa earlier this year, it was a moving and emotional event. All these football "heroes" were moved to tears by the emotional impact of their homecoming. As did Seiuli "Rock" Johnson, they all knelt before King Malietoa, their chief, and thanked God for their heritage. It was just as emotional a spectacle for we Samoans who witnessed these events. I am in full agreement with Samantha Magick; we are who we feel we are, it matters not one iota where we live. Should Mufi Hannemann become mayor of Honolulu on November 2, we shall celebrate our first Samoan/Hawaiian mayor of Honolulu. We shall, all Samoans everywhere, be so proud of Mufi's achievement! (Editor's note: Hannemann won the election.) Let us in the Pacific all celebrate our cultural and racial identities, regardless of where fame and fortune may lead us to live. God Bless Photo Use Insensitive And Brash It was insensitive and brash of Pacific Magazine to use photos of active duty Marshallese soldiers serving in Iraq for its November issue title, "Micronesia's Iraq Death Toll Rises," by Giff Johnson. Use of these photos, which were taken from Yokwe Online's Honor Gallery, was inconsiderate for those individual Marshall Islands soldiers' relatives and friends. If we had been contacted, approval for such use of the photos would surely not have been given. It seems only reasonable that use of these photos would require a mention somewhere that these Marshallese soldiers are not deceased, but relate how they are currently serving their nation proudly and bravely. These photos are part of a special on-going presentation by Yokwe.net to encourage our active service personnel and provide means of contact with the home islands. We join in mourning the loss of fellow brave Micronesians in this Iraqi conflict. Use of the Marshallese soldiers' photos did nothing to honor these deceased, nor did it bring appropriate recognition to our own soldiers. Aenet Rowa, Editor's Note: We apologize to anyone offended by the use of photos of Marshallese soldiers in the Pacific's November issue. No disrespect was intended and any distress caused to the families of these soldiers is deeply regretted.
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