Sharp Talk Week in Review

By GDW

(20-26/11/11)

 

Well this week we started off pretty much like we ended last week. The homosexual issue was again debated for two straight days. It looked like same old arguments were brought to the table. Some talkers got tired and asked people to move on. Don't worry folks! I've been with ST since its creation, and I know topics are seasonal. People eventually get weary of a topic and move on to others. I do note that the discussion eventually turned to religion, and attempts at poking holes in the Christian faith sparked some fire.

 

Some threads got so confusing at times as several discussion topics were built into one thread. I guess that's expected from people who are so opiniated about many things...related things. Id encourage Talkers to start a new thread if what you are going to say is not directly (but can be indirectly) related to the original post.

 

Martin Maden's challenge to Sam Koim for a 1-on-1 debate lead to a debate about debating. J Questions on how ST admins will regulate such a debate came up; because people love to get into the discussions when they want to say something. Ahh well, we'll figure out something.

 

Mid-week and towards the end week, thanks to Parliament's passing of the Equality and Participation Bill, discussions about the Bill thrived with equal or more passion to the homosexuality debate. I noted that threads could not remain consistent as there were some misunderstandings of a number of issues. Feminists and women advocates celebrated while hard-line democracy advocates decried the bill as "undemocratic". The issues I notice were:

 

-          Women in Parliament vs. Women not in Parl (this however was not really an issue. All agreed that Women should be in Parliament. The real question was the second issue)

 

-          Women in Parliament through normal election process vs. Reserved seats where women compete only with women. This is a question of whether it is really democratic to allow women to compete with themselves and then give them same status as those who compete in the "normal" elections.

 

-          There was also a lengthy discussion on whether the idea of reserved seats was "unPapua New Guinean"—that it was an idea pushing "foreign interests". Some sort of neo-colonialism mechanism. This was quite an interesting angle and brought some fiery debate among some leading Talkers. I do note that this issue wasn't debated on point but ventured into the above two issues.  

 

On this note I'd encourage Talkers to really understand a fellow Talker's point before countering it. I do this by attempting to ask a question that would clarify a point. Then I try to respond accordingly (not always accurately of course!). So please, do ASK QUESTIONS too!

 

Another Sharpie suffered a death in his family. "Odou ThirdGen" lost his son at POM Gen last week Friday. Sharp Talk wishes Anthony and family the Peace of God. Our sincere condolences.

 

There were pockets of discussions on the failed economic, and socio-political systems and structures which seem to hinder good governance and service delivery. I guess there is a consensus among Talkers that a great deal of our systems and structures need to be revamped to make our public service machinery more effective.

 

The lack of tourist activity in PNG was lamented. Despite our natural beauty our tourism industry struggles. General consensus was that WE THE People need to change. Our attitude seems to have the exact opposite effect to our natural scenic beauty. We need to each learn hospitality and friendliness and cleanliness and stewardship if this industry is to rival that of other Pacific nations. Other noted stumbling blocks to tourism include the high airfares and accommodation for PNG, and the lack of effective marketing and advertising of our beautiful land.

 

Speaking of people's attitude Jodam Allingam's suggestion for "liklik spet cups" being distributed to buai chewers sparked an array of condemnations on this terrible annoying little Papua New Guinean sin of which many PNGeans (dare I say us Sharpies included!) are guilty of. Calls for banning of chewing buai in public were raised. But reminders of the futility of banning can be seen in the smoking-in-PMVs ban. Still not followed! It would do PNG a huge favour if the 1700+ members of Sharp Talk would lead the change by not spitting the buai indiscriminately or littering all over the place. Let's WALK OUR TALK sharpies!!

 

And there's the other thing: in-house matters. Kevin Soli posted a really nice graphic for Sharp Talk with the slogan "Walk the Talk, Talk the Walk". Very attractive piece of work that got calls from Talkers to the administrators to make it the group profile pic. Admins are having a meeting this arvo and may endorse the same. Also in-house: A cautionary advice by Martin Maden regarding the internet phenomenon known as "trolling" was misunderstood to mean he was accusing some regular genuine Talkers as trolls. This lead to a half-departure of key Talker Frank M. Thankfully Frank and Martin reached an understanding and he remains on Sharp Talk. Later Martin posted a more comprehensive advice singling out the one suspect "troll" allegedly using the name "Clyde Willis".

 

On leadership, sharpies discussed ways of getting good leaders into Parliament who will STAY good leaders. So many times we've seen leaders get in there who seem to be the best...but then end up popping our balloons by compromising their standards and looking...well...just plain hypocritical. Suggestions of screening the candidates to accountability measures for incumbent MPs might help. Our checks and balances mechanisms could use a revamp! Anyway it kind of put us Talkers in our place too. We really don't know what these MPs have to deal with in their line of work. The bribes being offered on every side. The political implications of their decisions (e.g. being in Government to secure funds to better serve your electorate). Like Abraham Lincoln reminds us, character is best tested by access to power; more than in time of trials or ditch-low moments.

 

On that note I guess I can speak for Sharp Talk by wishing intending candidates on ST all the best for next year. And I guess I can also appeal on ST's behalf to you to maintain your integrity, professionalism and patriotism if/when you win next year. We have a unique opportunity here to give you our piece of mind and we trust that your leadership is mature enough to accept our comments. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING "GOOD" MEN LET US DOWN when they enter into Parliament. As members of this forum, we hope you will WALK THE TALK! Cheers!

 

Oh! Almost forgot to mention the drama in Parliament between Tiensten and that dreadful (my opinion) speaker Jeffrey Nape. Embarrassing moment again in our Parliament. Thanks to the journalists on ST for keeping us and the nation informed of how idiotic our Parliament can get. Speaker made a u-turn on his decision following proper advice....which came LATER in the week! Ah the circus!

 

To end I'd just like to appeal to Sharp Talkers. This may be a personal point. But I posted a couple of times informing ST of the Sovereign Wealth Fund forums to be held in different centres in the 4 regions. Please be watching and attend those forums where you can have your say. The Equality and Participation Bill passing and the subsequent debate tell us that we need to be proactive in our debate instead of Sharp Talking too much after the fact. Please make an attempt to attend the forums if you are in the relevant centres. I know you'll want to fry us (SWF team) after the law gets passed. But you have an opportunity to fry us NOW. Thanks!

 

Well another eventful week draws to an end. What do we do with all the ideas? A journalist in PNGFM suggested we arrange for a weekly sum-up talk on radio. This is being considered by the admins. I guess I can speak on behalf of other administrators to appeal to journalists on ST to talk to your bosses (news companies) with ideas such as this. I think a regular column like this (ST) or a talk-back program may gain for your company increased readership, listeners or viewers. So consider it, talk to your bosses and talk to us!

 

Having said too much...thanks Sharpies!

 

Heavenise week!

 

Ganjiki