…and why in the end he came to accept that he should share it himself.
Part three of CommonMan’s series on the vexed question of a common national identity and the issue of belonging.
One man’s view from the grassroots in the vanua. Coming here after midday tomorrow. Don’t miss it.
Talanoa~
What will it take / What will it not take to become a Kai-Viti?
Being a Kai-Viti
Becoming a Kai-Viti.
The Western construct of birth-place based citizenship is being vetoed because it is seen as an imposition and suppression of indigenous common rights ie. The term ‘Fijian’ is exclusive to the First People of this nation.
Equality is actually a foreign concept to the Indigenous and Pacifica ideologies. Power is hierarchical and passed through ancestral lineage rather than on merit and achievement.
The ‘Common Good ’ is decided by one’s Chiefs. So will the Common men /women , grassroots one day , some day decide to revolt and create a new order and remove the Aristocrats like in 1879 -the French Revolution.
Only Time will tell. Will a more liberal i-Taukei society be founded based on sound moral values and on merit some day in Fiji? Will Chiefs become more inclusive ,less politically inclined and more transparent and humble and build their own people fairly someday?
The belief that the i-Taukei cultural heritage will perish once the Chiefs are not around has been used as a political weapon by the scheming elite . Do these Chiefs reciprocate the goodwill and honour given to them by their people? In what concrete terms and who accounts for this reciprocity for their people ? How are they accountable and the power that they wield in today’s modern Fiji , how is it to be shared equitably amongst all provinces ? Are some Chiefs more powerful than others ? How does this impact those who do not belong to the Chiefly class ?
Perhaps many in the i-Taukei community are not aware that being called a Fijian , to many in the minority communities is to finally , truly belong somewhere .Like never being lost again. Having found your true self .
If the minority communities in Fiji today make an honest attempt to not just be a Fijian citizen but become one in all essence of being one, then change may be possible.
Becoming a Fijian is not at all about a name or a Passport but as Common Man shared , simply it is about humility, mutual trust and respect , giving self-lessly and sharing genuinely. We all , in many respects , honestly have not imbibed all these qualities and yes due to fear of being a lost tribe, we clamour for equality and often only hear our voices .
We all have come this far together. So much uncertainty , discord and distrust of each other is deeply entrenched in our communities and these attitudes will worsen and deteriorate with time.
So Yes, let’s start the Talanoa ourselves and request as honoured guests if we can genuinely share and become a part of Fiji .
This will be the beginning of Becoming and truly Belonging . More than a label.
We await the next instalment CM !
CW
If as you say the Chiefs will decide as they always do, then the idea that the Government led by the PM should formally ask of that to the GCC makes sense.
The onus is on both the PM and the GCC to lead the way and put the whole issue of equal citizenship to rest.
There is KVT in Australia too Graham.
Frankly so much fuss .
For what it’s worth being given a common name does not mean we actually belong and are welcome.
Saying something and actually doing it is different
If we are welcome and the actions say so,stay.
Move on otherwise as so many of us have done.
Let ‘them’ have Fiji
Reward the country you move to with your skill,industry and ensure the next generation do not have to endure the racism ,bullying and insecurities you suffer
Live with dignity and stop chasing equality in Fiji.
Won’t happen.
Accept it please for everyone’s sake.
Didn’t think I’d ever agree with sentiments like by @Enlightened One.
However, every day, more and more overt racism is now unbelievable and becomes unbearable.
The hateful bullying and pure vile idiocy simply demonstrate deliberate and targeted racism the ex-bottle collector invokes.
The serial adulterer, serial treasonous bastard sowed the seed of this hatred, racism and bigotry in 1987.
The same gold rolex-wearing corrupt thug and his cabal of thugs continue to nurture the evil beast of racism today.
Shockingly, Indo-Fijians traitors from NFP aid and abet -indeed, even embrace and encourage this senile treasonous bastard.
It is time for minorities to go, not that there ever was a time to remain. The minorities-especially the Indo-Fijians, have long lived in the false hope that one day we’d be accepted as equals.
Sadly, that is something that’s never gonna happen.