By Santy
Alii Professor Richard,
With your non-conformist outlook towards major players in the international arena, especially US, I am surprised and then again I should not knowing your perseverance for attaining such a monumental achievement-Professor. Sign me up. Congratulations are in order. Easy on them college especially on their infractions in Pacific studies and issues. At least I know that no thesis paper is going to misconstrue Pacific cultures and get passing grades from you for it for being too exotic to be verified.
Many years ago a student who asked me not to reveal her identity wrote on the topic of “klemengelungel” and recklessly misrepresented a complex culture though frowned upon in the era of Christendom as simple as Mary Jane on 52th Ave at night fall. For those who know and respect history regardless of the moral debate can appreciate the complexities of this practice of the past.
I have read Landisang’s (a young graduate of University of Utah) recent piece in Tia Belau on the traditional practice of receivingthose who washed upon our shores. There is one fundamental fallacy in the recent depiction of this tradition in relation to Uighurs controversy. One should take note that a critical aspect of this practice is it specifically deals only with those who “washed upon our shores.” Extending this practice beyond the horizon would be creating a totally new practice and would not fall under the auspice of
traditions per se.
I am alarmed at how casual we treat our traditions as if they possess no criteria or guidelines. I understand Captain Wilson for calling us ”noble savages” for lack of words and on the most part because of his ignorance. This is a classic oxymoron because he saw people who did not fit any semblance of civilized society as he knew but yet at the same time recognized the order and stature and above all grace in the culture of the native inhabitants of Palau upon his arrival. Captain Wilson can be excused but what excuse do Palauans offer for trashing a unique and beautiful culture and traditions like ours?
It is good to hear from you again. This discussion reminds me of one of our discussions many years ago that it is only our fault for not articulating, and more importantly, interfacing the two elements between our traditons and democracy to reach our own brand of democracy. One that fits our culture and not necessarily kowtow to foreign influence and/or systems of governance. I can still envision a Palau National Assembly Government comprise of elected and traditional leaders. Yesterday HOD introduced a Court of Traditional and Cultural Matters which I introduced in my last term. This is an attempt of interfacing the two elements but I must admit is a poor approach.
Okay professor I think you said you have lots of reading materials so better let you go for now. Ma uriul.
— The above was an email to Richard Salvador and is reprinted here with permission of the author. —
