In our last commentary we observed the resemblance of PNG to Israel of ancient. How well we would do if our leaders behaved like Nehemiah and took personal responsibility for the nation. The unique thing about Nehemiah’s leadership was his ability to get the people to believe that they and their own rotten attitude was ultimately responsible for the state of their nation.
I often lament the fact that our leaders are so blinded by the need for material progress that they forget to look back to see where we went wrong...and I mean EXACTLY what went wrong. As far as I can see most of our leaders miss the mark in assessing the real failures of this country.
You see patriots the problem in this country is kinda like this: the TOP LEADERS (politicians) are lost in their leadership. We have a classic case of the Blind Leading the Blind. The people are equally lost or even more so. The catch is that the top leaders will not change unless the people (who elect them) change. But the people will not change automatically. As some of you have rightly pointed out to me, the people will not change spontaneously and without leadership. Change must be led. Despite us saying that all individuals must change; that change must be inspired, provoked and assisted. Question is: BY WHOM?
If our top leaders are lost and we the roots are more lost, who then shall lead such a social change? Here’s the key (as we believe in Patriots PNG): THE MIDDLE LEADERS. What I would nickname the “Prophets”. These are people who have a more or less direct impact on people’s ATTITUDE. These include people in the Clergy, in Arts, in NGOs, in Media, in Education etc.. Basically people not only exposed to these sorts of ideals (as ours) but who believe them and believe in disseminating them to the masses. If we can get enough “Prophets” to ride this wave of thought the domino effect will kick in and great positive change can be achieved in the people. ONLY WHEN THE PEOPLE CHANGE WILL OUR ELECTED LEADERS REFLECT SUCH A CHANGE.
YOU can be in that influential group. Simply give some thought to these ideals. If you see a glimpse of hope in them, make them part of you, grow into them and help others catch these ideals.
HELP PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE TO CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES, TO BE TRUE PATRIOTS, LOVERS OF PNG...TO SIMPLY BE THE CHANGE.
GOD BLESS PNG!
Ganjiki
Thoughts and Ideas for and regarding Papua New Guinea, the country I love.
01 March 2011
08 February 2011
Do we Deserve the Leaders We Get?
"But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers so they could eat its fruit and other things it produces. Because of our sins its abundant harvest goes to the kings you placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress."
Neh. 9:36-37
There is a striking similarity between the nation of Israel as described by Nehemiah and our PNG. We have become like slave in our own nation. Receiving only the scraps of so called development and progress. Foreigners take the abundance of our land either directly or through our own puppet leaders. We toil everyday in business houses most of which are owned by foreigners, receiving a meager pay compared to the vast riches that they acquire and take back to their land. And the majority struggle for survival in a rich land.Why???
I find no other reason but that which Nehemiah and his people said of themselves in another time: "Because of our sins...."
I believe even our leaders (the number of corrupt compared to the underwhelming number of 'good' leaders) are a reflection of the of the character of "we the people". It does not matter how loud we shout and scream for better leaders. So long as the majority of the people in this nation possess a negative mentality and an almost complete ignorance of morality and propriety, we will have a majority of bad leaders rather than good.
This is a democracy and the majority choice is always reflected in our leaders. Our sins as a people have brought us to this state. Likewise I truly believe it is the prayers of those dedicated intercessors and God's Grace that keeps us from brink of disaster. To improve our situation we all need to change our way of thinking, all Christians need to start living they life they (we) so often preach about and pray for change.
Otherwise the leadership we will end up with will still reflect the same: Selfish, unpatriotic, immoral Majority; and the 'good' Minority.
In the end I would have to concur and say "We DO get the leaders we Deserve"....
God Bless PNG
Ganjiki
Neh. 9:36-37
There is a striking similarity between the nation of Israel as described by Nehemiah and our PNG. We have become like slave in our own nation. Receiving only the scraps of so called development and progress. Foreigners take the abundance of our land either directly or through our own puppet leaders. We toil everyday in business houses most of which are owned by foreigners, receiving a meager pay compared to the vast riches that they acquire and take back to their land. And the majority struggle for survival in a rich land.Why???
I find no other reason but that which Nehemiah and his people said of themselves in another time: "Because of our sins...."
I believe even our leaders (the number of corrupt compared to the underwhelming number of 'good' leaders) are a reflection of the of the character of "we the people". It does not matter how loud we shout and scream for better leaders. So long as the majority of the people in this nation possess a negative mentality and an almost complete ignorance of morality and propriety, we will have a majority of bad leaders rather than good.
This is a democracy and the majority choice is always reflected in our leaders. Our sins as a people have brought us to this state. Likewise I truly believe it is the prayers of those dedicated intercessors and God's Grace that keeps us from brink of disaster. To improve our situation we all need to change our way of thinking, all Christians need to start living they life they (we) so often preach about and pray for change.
Otherwise the leadership we will end up with will still reflect the same: Selfish, unpatriotic, immoral Majority; and the 'good' Minority.
In the end I would have to concur and say "We DO get the leaders we Deserve"....
God Bless PNG
Ganjiki
24 January 2011
Change The People, Change The Nation
Hi Patriots!
Wow we haven’t been in touch since what November last year! Anyway I’m sure you’re happy with the break from our mind-toggling commentaries. But we’re back. Allow me to just remind you all what Patriots PNG stands for.
PPNG was created for one reason: CHANGE THE PEOPLE. What we try to do is awaken the people of PNG, more- or less- educated, to the need for and to embrace a new mindset. All of us in this country need to rethink our way of thinking. Only when we change our way of thinking can we embrace a new attitude. With new attitude comes new behaviour; and with the right behaviour our nation can be changed for the better.
Engaging in such an adventure is an obviously mammoth task. How do we reshape mindsets that have been shaped for many years to the current state? And at a time when other forces also vie to shape our mindsets in a certain way? How do we try to reshape what most will call “stubborn” and “unwilling-to-change” mindsets? The answer: GRADUALLY.
Such an adventure requires dedication, focus and strategy. And of course heaps of time and resources, and of course leadership. These are all needs in PNG as well as in Patriots PNG. One thing we are not short of in PPNG is passion. But that’s not enough. We need to overcome the above limitations in order to take such a message effectively to the people.
I call on you PNGeans who already have such a passion to come on board with Patriots PNG and help us help our people to change our mentality.
A BETTER PEOPLE EQUALS A BETTER NATION.
GOD BLESS PNG
Ganjiki
PPNG
PS: BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR! HEAVENISE ONE!
Wow we haven’t been in touch since what November last year! Anyway I’m sure you’re happy with the break from our mind-toggling commentaries. But we’re back. Allow me to just remind you all what Patriots PNG stands for.
PPNG was created for one reason: CHANGE THE PEOPLE. What we try to do is awaken the people of PNG, more- or less- educated, to the need for and to embrace a new mindset. All of us in this country need to rethink our way of thinking. Only when we change our way of thinking can we embrace a new attitude. With new attitude comes new behaviour; and with the right behaviour our nation can be changed for the better.
Engaging in such an adventure is an obviously mammoth task. How do we reshape mindsets that have been shaped for many years to the current state? And at a time when other forces also vie to shape our mindsets in a certain way? How do we try to reshape what most will call “stubborn” and “unwilling-to-change” mindsets? The answer: GRADUALLY.
Such an adventure requires dedication, focus and strategy. And of course heaps of time and resources, and of course leadership. These are all needs in PNG as well as in Patriots PNG. One thing we are not short of in PPNG is passion. But that’s not enough. We need to overcome the above limitations in order to take such a message effectively to the people.
I call on you PNGeans who already have such a passion to come on board with Patriots PNG and help us help our people to change our mentality.
A BETTER PEOPLE EQUALS A BETTER NATION.
GOD BLESS PNG
Ganjiki
PPNG
PS: BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR! HEAVENISE ONE!
29 November 2010
“AS I AM SO IS MY NATION”
(I received a few writings of one of our leading thinkers and thought it’d be nice for you fellow Patriots to hear from him. Enjoy.)
By Kumalau Tawali
I begin with these powerful words I learnt when I was at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1969, “AS I AM, SO IS MY NATION”. The way you think, the way you talk, and the way you act in spirit is the way this nation is going to be. The way I walk down the village or in the city is the answer for our people, now and the future. The challenges for our nation is our thinking and living. Your pride, greed or lying will determine the future of our people. So let me guve these words to encourage us now.
1. The Power of Love
The real leader must truly love your people with all your heart. There seems to be many leaders who never truly serve the people. Greed for example, is the destruction of our daily living. Gandhi said, “Civilisation does not consist in accumulation of things, but rather in the reduction of wants.” Just before World War II, Dr. Frank Buchman said these words: “There is enough in the world for everybody’s need, but not enough for everybody’s greed. If everybody cares enough and everybody shares enough, wouldn’t everybody have enough? Empty hands are filled with work, empty stomachs are filled with food and empty hearts with an idea that truly satisfies.”
One of the challenges of our leaders today, is that of destroying the spirit of greed, an enemy in our nation.
2. The Power of Humility
A true leader is a man of great humility. He is willing to listen to others before he speaks. His presence itself is authority of power. Jesus Christ the Greatest Teacher who ever lived magnified the virtue of humility when he said, “The meek and lowly are fortunate, for the whole wide world belongs to them”. The Apostle Paul said, “Don’t do anything from selfish ambitions or from cheap desires to boast, but be humble towards one another, always consider others better than yourselves.” It was the meek spirit of Gandhi that precipitated the Independence of India. A President of Uganda stated “Humility is one of the most important attributes necessary for good leaders. When you observe leaders at all levels of society, all over Africa, and I suppose throughout the world, you will find them overcome by power, greed and self interests.”
Without the spirit of humility, our people will destroy our nation.
3. The Power of Truth
My own life tells me, that there is neither small nor big sin, whether it has to do with the Prime Minister or other MPs or anyone in our nation. One of our writers, Bernard Narakobi expressed, “No leader who is full of cunning and trickery, will have the charisma that will inspire people to want to make sacrifices.” A well known poet from the West Indies, Aime Cesaire warned of this danger when he said, “A civilisation that uses its principles of trickery and deceit is a dying civilisation.” To be a true leader, truth is most important both individually as well as the nation. Truth is the foundation of our national existence. A nation cannot continue to enjoy freedom and prosperity without truth being practiced by all sections of its community. As someone said “You cannot live crooked and think straight.” A corrupt churchman, businessman, or politician is most likely, unable to think straight on matters of public concern. Truly one cannot live a crooked private life and expect to think clearly on public issues. What is done in darkness of our own private lives will one day be shouted from the rooftop. “AS I AM SO IS MY NATION”
I cry that the God I love, will give great hope to our nation.
--------------------------------------------
Change Starts With Me!
By Kumalau Tawali
I begin with these powerful words I learnt when I was at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1969, “AS I AM, SO IS MY NATION”. The way you think, the way you talk, and the way you act in spirit is the way this nation is going to be. The way I walk down the village or in the city is the answer for our people, now and the future. The challenges for our nation is our thinking and living. Your pride, greed or lying will determine the future of our people. So let me guve these words to encourage us now.
1. The Power of Love
The real leader must truly love your people with all your heart. There seems to be many leaders who never truly serve the people. Greed for example, is the destruction of our daily living. Gandhi said, “Civilisation does not consist in accumulation of things, but rather in the reduction of wants.” Just before World War II, Dr. Frank Buchman said these words: “There is enough in the world for everybody’s need, but not enough for everybody’s greed. If everybody cares enough and everybody shares enough, wouldn’t everybody have enough? Empty hands are filled with work, empty stomachs are filled with food and empty hearts with an idea that truly satisfies.”
One of the challenges of our leaders today, is that of destroying the spirit of greed, an enemy in our nation.
2. The Power of Humility
A true leader is a man of great humility. He is willing to listen to others before he speaks. His presence itself is authority of power. Jesus Christ the Greatest Teacher who ever lived magnified the virtue of humility when he said, “The meek and lowly are fortunate, for the whole wide world belongs to them”. The Apostle Paul said, “Don’t do anything from selfish ambitions or from cheap desires to boast, but be humble towards one another, always consider others better than yourselves.” It was the meek spirit of Gandhi that precipitated the Independence of India. A President of Uganda stated “Humility is one of the most important attributes necessary for good leaders. When you observe leaders at all levels of society, all over Africa, and I suppose throughout the world, you will find them overcome by power, greed and self interests.”
Without the spirit of humility, our people will destroy our nation.
3. The Power of Truth
My own life tells me, that there is neither small nor big sin, whether it has to do with the Prime Minister or other MPs or anyone in our nation. One of our writers, Bernard Narakobi expressed, “No leader who is full of cunning and trickery, will have the charisma that will inspire people to want to make sacrifices.” A well known poet from the West Indies, Aime Cesaire warned of this danger when he said, “A civilisation that uses its principles of trickery and deceit is a dying civilisation.” To be a true leader, truth is most important both individually as well as the nation. Truth is the foundation of our national existence. A nation cannot continue to enjoy freedom and prosperity without truth being practiced by all sections of its community. As someone said “You cannot live crooked and think straight.” A corrupt churchman, businessman, or politician is most likely, unable to think straight on matters of public concern. Truly one cannot live a crooked private life and expect to think clearly on public issues. What is done in darkness of our own private lives will one day be shouted from the rooftop. “AS I AM SO IS MY NATION”
I cry that the God I love, will give great hope to our nation.
--------------------------------------------
Change Starts With Me!
11 November 2010
REVIEW OF LAW DECRIMINALISING PROSTITUTION AND HOMOSEXUALTIY~~“AN IDENTITY CRISIS”
Firstly let me say that Patriots PNG is not a political activist organisation. It is a movement focused on promoting patriotism and attitude change. Our fundamental message is for “WE THE PEOPLE” to change from within. We do not divert from our commitment to steer clear of politics unless we see a need to engage and only in a manner consistent with PPNG’s philosophy of change. We are pro-truth and pro-morality and see ourselves as proponents of our National Identity. To the extent that our nation’s laws/policies touch the mindset, moral direction and attitudes of our beloved people, we will speak when we perceive harm to these from both foreign and local elements. Now on the issue of reviews to our “sex laws” in PNG, potentially legitimising homosexuality and prostitution, we say this:
It is absolutely absurd and shameful that Papua New Guinea, a “Christian Country”, is now considering laws that directly contravene the supreme laws of the God we believe in. It is unimaginable that our leaders could even have these laws on the table (but then sadly it is not surprising). Who are we? Where is our identity? Why do we think that the problems we face in our nation cannot be solved by home-grown solutions in the Spirit of our Nation? Why do we always have to adopt a western materialistic philosophy and force it on a people whose spirituality is fundamental to our identity?
Are we not ashamed to even consider calling what God says is evil, “a legitimate practice”? “LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR”. That’s how His own Word describes man’s philosophy compared to His. And now our best argument is that of “social and public health perspectives” and to “strengthen PNG’s response to HIV/AIDS”? What about truth, morality, inner peace, human dignity and self-respect? What about family values? Let’s not forget our sanity. Are these not vital compared to material, economic and democratic values (which are designed for man, by man and of man)?
Our Nation’s Constitution sets out two important things which we bring to our lawmakers’ attention in respect of this issue: (1) It provides a National Goal for “Papua New Guinean Ways” (NGDP 5); and (2) it proclaims as the first Basic Social Obligation of every resident in PNG to “to respect, and to act in the spirit of this Constitution”. Are these potential laws we now contemplate within the ambit of “PNG Ways”? Aren’t we breaching our first duty by considering laws that effectively make us another people? Acting in the spirit of our Constitution means striving for the PNG Way, adhering to “Christian principles that are ours now” and protecting our dignity. This is an integral part of our national identity—and hence our personal identity.
Every single true PNGean within the sphere of influence of the reviews must search him/herself. Recall his/her true identity and resolve never to compromise it. To you who are in that sphere: TAKE NO PART IN MAKING THESE LAWS A REALITY. For in these potential laws we will surely lose ourselves. And without an identity everything else, even our survival, is utterly meaningless.
WE ARE WHO WE ARE, AND WHO WE ARE IS BEAUTIFUL.
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT PAPUA NEW GUINEA...
Ganjiki D Wayne
It is absolutely absurd and shameful that Papua New Guinea, a “Christian Country”, is now considering laws that directly contravene the supreme laws of the God we believe in. It is unimaginable that our leaders could even have these laws on the table (but then sadly it is not surprising). Who are we? Where is our identity? Why do we think that the problems we face in our nation cannot be solved by home-grown solutions in the Spirit of our Nation? Why do we always have to adopt a western materialistic philosophy and force it on a people whose spirituality is fundamental to our identity?
Are we not ashamed to even consider calling what God says is evil, “a legitimate practice”? “LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR”. That’s how His own Word describes man’s philosophy compared to His. And now our best argument is that of “social and public health perspectives” and to “strengthen PNG’s response to HIV/AIDS”? What about truth, morality, inner peace, human dignity and self-respect? What about family values? Let’s not forget our sanity. Are these not vital compared to material, economic and democratic values (which are designed for man, by man and of man)?
Our Nation’s Constitution sets out two important things which we bring to our lawmakers’ attention in respect of this issue: (1) It provides a National Goal for “Papua New Guinean Ways” (NGDP 5); and (2) it proclaims as the first Basic Social Obligation of every resident in PNG to “to respect, and to act in the spirit of this Constitution”. Are these potential laws we now contemplate within the ambit of “PNG Ways”? Aren’t we breaching our first duty by considering laws that effectively make us another people? Acting in the spirit of our Constitution means striving for the PNG Way, adhering to “Christian principles that are ours now” and protecting our dignity. This is an integral part of our national identity—and hence our personal identity.
Every single true PNGean within the sphere of influence of the reviews must search him/herself. Recall his/her true identity and resolve never to compromise it. To you who are in that sphere: TAKE NO PART IN MAKING THESE LAWS A REALITY. For in these potential laws we will surely lose ourselves. And without an identity everything else, even our survival, is utterly meaningless.
WE ARE WHO WE ARE, AND WHO WE ARE IS BEAUTIFUL.
GOD BLESS AND PROTECT PAPUA NEW GUINEA...
Ganjiki D Wayne
01 November 2010
Are We Any Better??
Patriots
This morning on way to work a young man among the crowd was suspected of picking a pocket and was beat up. People hurled verbal abuses on him, cursing his very existence and condemning him to hell. I struggled to let out similar words as I remembered my own failures: my own robbing of others and violation of the law. Here we were condemning a young man for doing what most of us were practically doing.. Are we really any better than him?! We put on our fancy clothes; go to our fancy jobs and in the evening we lie on comfortable beds after a hearty meal.
Along the way we’d chew our buai and colour the pavement up a bit. We’d pay half the required bus-fare, then in a bus or in private cars we’d run the red light 10 seconds after it’d turned; we get paid a full day’s pay for a 2-hour presence, we’d cut some cues to be served ahead of others, we’d litter on the streets, smoke in busses whilst sitting next to mother and baby; and not being guilty of the above, we remain silent against those who are...
We hurl our criticism on a government lacking in patriotism, at the Kumuls n Pepes for a lacklustre performance, at our disciplined forces for human rights violations and ill-discipline, at the petty criminal for being a nuisance to society...
But are we so INNOCENT? Are the wrongs WE commit against country and countrymen so insignificant? Do we not affect others by our thoughts, words and deeds? Can we not see beyond the blue smoke of our cigarettes; of the buai spittle once it leaves our mouths? Do we not realise our duty towards one another and towards our country? We’re all endowed with an inalienable duty.
A duty to BETTER OUR NATION...A duty to BE BETTER PEOPLE....
COME...............LET US CHANGE.....
G
PATRIOTS PNG INC.
“CHANGE STARTS WITH ME”
This morning on way to work a young man among the crowd was suspected of picking a pocket and was beat up. People hurled verbal abuses on him, cursing his very existence and condemning him to hell. I struggled to let out similar words as I remembered my own failures: my own robbing of others and violation of the law. Here we were condemning a young man for doing what most of us were practically doing.. Are we really any better than him?! We put on our fancy clothes; go to our fancy jobs and in the evening we lie on comfortable beds after a hearty meal.
Along the way we’d chew our buai and colour the pavement up a bit. We’d pay half the required bus-fare, then in a bus or in private cars we’d run the red light 10 seconds after it’d turned; we get paid a full day’s pay for a 2-hour presence, we’d cut some cues to be served ahead of others, we’d litter on the streets, smoke in busses whilst sitting next to mother and baby; and not being guilty of the above, we remain silent against those who are...
We hurl our criticism on a government lacking in patriotism, at the Kumuls n Pepes for a lacklustre performance, at our disciplined forces for human rights violations and ill-discipline, at the petty criminal for being a nuisance to society...
But are we so INNOCENT? Are the wrongs WE commit against country and countrymen so insignificant? Do we not affect others by our thoughts, words and deeds? Can we not see beyond the blue smoke of our cigarettes; of the buai spittle once it leaves our mouths? Do we not realise our duty towards one another and towards our country? We’re all endowed with an inalienable duty.
A duty to BETTER OUR NATION...A duty to BE BETTER PEOPLE....
COME...............LET US CHANGE.....
G
PATRIOTS PNG INC.
“CHANGE STARTS WITH ME”
12 October 2010
PNG Growing Up...
Patriots,
In light of the recent tribal and ethnic fights (& killings) around the country, I just thought I’d share a thought. The problem of regionalism is not the only reason for the violence going on. But the major challenge in us Papua New Guineans is our EMOTIONAL IMMATURITY.
Unfortunately in PNG very little or no progress is made in the emotional growth of the majority. From my (unscientific) assessment I think most PNGeans have emotional levels equal to that of toddlers. That’s why we react more with how we feel rather than logic and reason. That’s why the educated elite still fight in towns like their brethren in the village. We throw tamper tantrums, feats, sulk, seek revenge foolishly and basically do WHATEVER WE FEEL AT ANY MOMENT without consideration of others—of course with the adult twist!
This may be a tough assessment of ourselves but I think we must confront such problems in ourselves in order to advance our attitudes.
Next time you’re faced with a choice. STOP AND THINK. Are you reacting according to your feeling or responding according to reason and logic? The sooner we shift the basis of our decisions from FEELINGS to REASON then the sooner we’ll establish peace between our tribes, provinces and regions. And give UNITY a chance…
EMOTIONAL MATURITY is being in charge of your emotions rather than the other way around.
Heavenise Week!
Ganjiki
PPNG
“Inspiring Change”
In light of the recent tribal and ethnic fights (& killings) around the country, I just thought I’d share a thought. The problem of regionalism is not the only reason for the violence going on. But the major challenge in us Papua New Guineans is our EMOTIONAL IMMATURITY.
Unfortunately in PNG very little or no progress is made in the emotional growth of the majority. From my (unscientific) assessment I think most PNGeans have emotional levels equal to that of toddlers. That’s why we react more with how we feel rather than logic and reason. That’s why the educated elite still fight in towns like their brethren in the village. We throw tamper tantrums, feats, sulk, seek revenge foolishly and basically do WHATEVER WE FEEL AT ANY MOMENT without consideration of others—of course with the adult twist!
This may be a tough assessment of ourselves but I think we must confront such problems in ourselves in order to advance our attitudes.
Next time you’re faced with a choice. STOP AND THINK. Are you reacting according to your feeling or responding according to reason and logic? The sooner we shift the basis of our decisions from FEELINGS to REASON then the sooner we’ll establish peace between our tribes, provinces and regions. And give UNITY a chance…
EMOTIONAL MATURITY is being in charge of your emotions rather than the other way around.
Heavenise Week!
Ganjiki
PPNG
“Inspiring Change”
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