A cultural myth

Editorial

Much is made of cultural sensitiv ity and the need to respect local traditions in the Pacific, a region so often referred to as Paradise for its white sandy beaches, clear blue waters and tropical sunshine.

However, for culture’s sake, let us stretch the analogy a little further and consider our leaders as God and the peo ple as the first human beings in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve. For being the devil’s advocates that they are, let us cast the region’s media organisa tions as Satan.

God, in his omnipotence, has banned Adam and Eve from partaking of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, for reasons of cultural sensitivity, national stability and protection from nation-destroying

negativism.

Satan, on the other hand, has full use of his capacity for thought and question ing and is determined to prove to Adam and Eve that ignorance is not bliss.

God, therefore, looks on Satan as a subversive element with no regard or respect for the culture and traditions of the Garden of Eden.

Ratu Jo Nacola, Fiji’s new information minister, can appropriately be cast as the

messenger of God, the Archangel Gabriel. However, he has done the unex pected and admitted that God uses the excuse of “cultural sensitivity” to skirt issues sensitive to Him.

What is it that makes our God so sen sitive to criticism, making Him stamp His feet and threaten censorship and exile from Eden (or deportation, as the case may be) each time the public seeks accountability and answers? It is fair that

governments promote responsible jour

nalism and expect accurate reporting of events. But it is not fair to expect journal ists to stop asking questions and demand

ing answers.

Our leaders seem to have forgotten that their purpose is to serve their coun tries and their people.

As the Archangel has prophesied, the next millenium will be an era of commu nications and information.

So, let’s hope God comes to His sens es and leads this Paradise into the next century as an adult, responsible for and aware of the consequences of His actions, and not as a spoilt, tantrum-throwing child.

And as for cultural sensitivity, well, most of our cultures are as borrowed as the above legend. ■