We the People--A snippet from Dreams of a Nation

We The People

Our Constitution opens up with the words "We, the People..." This tells us five important things:

1. EXPRESSION of the People—the Constitution is the voice of the people. It speaks the People's will. When we amend the Constitution and any other law under it, we are changing the will of the people. The will of the people must therefore be understood before it (the law) is changed.

2. UNITY of the People—the People speak as ONE. Unity is assumed. Together We the People spoke into the world, declaring ourselves to be one nation.

3. ESSENCE of State—the existence of the nation rests primarily on the People. Not the law, the boundaries, the physical landscape, the geography etc.

4. SOVEREIGNTY—the People are the ultimate source of Power. They are superior to the Government, Parliament and the laws. They are even superior to the Constitution, but only collectively.

5. RESPONSIBILITY for the Nation—the People, if sovereign, are responsible for both the progress and the problems of the nation. No one else. We cannot claim to be masters of our own destiny whilst blaming external factors for our problems.

See Video 2 here. 

Dreams of a Nation: Part 2--Source of Power

By GDW

In this next video in my Dreams of a Nation series, I discuss the opening three words of the Preamble of the Constitution, which gives a clue as to the source of power in PNG.

Dreams of a Nation: Intro

I recently started a brand new personal adventure: video blogging. This activates a You Tube account that I have had for several years and never used it for anything apart from watching videos. 

My first project is a series of videos called Dreams of a Nation”, a commentary on the Preamble of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. I have had the burden for a while now to share my thoughts publicly on the importance of the Preamble in the life of PNG. I have said it before in writing that it should be mandatory reading for Papua New Guineans. I have given a few talks on the Preamble already and found that my audience really appreciated it. 

I had not even thought of putting my thoughts out on video until I got here to the UK for my post-graduate studies. Since technology can go places that I cannot go, it makes sense to use it to share my thoughts. 

So here it is! Not the best quality for now but should suffice to communicate my message. 

My first video post is an introductory video. In it I mention why I am doing this particular topic and the main headings of the Preamble that will be discussing. 

Here’s a synopsis of the introduction. 

The Preamble is a fundamental pivotal piece of literature for PNG. It provides our foundational beliefs, goals, and values. As a statement of our vision, it was vital that the Preamble should have been mandatory reading for Papua New Guineans from Day 1. The tragedy is that that has not been so. And now majority of Papua New Guineans have no clue what the Preamble is, let alone its contents.  

As former US Senator Robert Dole said of the Preamble of the US Constitution (Declaration of Independence), “If the lost art of memorization ever returns to our educational system, I recommend that every American student learn by heart the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Its fifty-two words encapsulate all that our government has aspired to accomplish over the past 200 years and hopes to accomplish in the future.”.” (I slightly err in my quoting in the video). 

I believe the same has to be done for the Preamble of our Constitution. It has to become part of our curriculum. Students have to learn it. If not memorize it, then at least appreciate so that they take it to heart. Then they can live according to those ideals in every day life. And if they become national leaders, they can apply it when they devise national policy. 

At the very least, my hope is that this video series will start raising the conversation regarding the place of the Preamble in our every day life. I hope people will get curious about this important document and begin to seek it out.

 

Below is a link to the first video. 

HAPPY SEPTEMBER 17 PNG!!

By Ganjiki D Wayne

Last year Independence Week I wrote a piece challenging PNGeans to be patriots beyond September 16. PC published it as Letter of the Week. This year I can’t think of anything better than remind us of that message again. It seems come this month and day we slap on the colours, dance to the tunes, sing the anthem and share opinions on how great we think our country is. Come September 17, for most PNGeans...its back to square one.

How many of us are truly nation-conscious? Do we really think every day about how our actions (or inactions) and our words, affect our nation? When we pick up the newspapers and read of State affairs, how long do we rejoice or stay upset? Public servants, how many times have we reminded ourselves that we work for the very people we pass by on the street or sit next to in a PMV? Do we lovingly embrace ALL PNGeans instead of just people of our provinces/regions? Does your heart break when you see the unnecessary injustice all around you?

I’m sure many PNGeans have such a PNG-oriented mindset. They don’t stop thinking of solutions that they keep sharing them on every medium, regardless of whether any attention is given; patriots who argue their case or serve tirelessly till they’re sapped of their energy. PNG is forever indebted to people like that.

Gary Juffa once gave a very profound analysis of people who serve in the Public Service. There are three types he said: (1) those just PASSING through, who leave as soon as they find another job; (2) those who CANNOT leave because no one else will employ them; and (3) those truly DEDICATED to their nation that they stick around no matter how bad it gets for them. The third are true patriots, embodying John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not” challenge. I hope you are too. I hope you don’t milk this nation for your own sake but constantly give yourself for it.

When September 17 comes around and the emotion is doused, the flag has fallen out of your hat, the singing has stopped, and the paint on your face and body has faded; will you still love this great nation? Will you not spit that red spittle on her, nor litter on her streets or pollute her land? Will you not abuse public property? Will you not smoke in the PMV, respecting and loving your fellow PNGeans? Will you serve diligently with few complaints, and lots of heart? Will you carry our flag honourably if you live in a foreign land? Will you not sell her cheaply to foreign interests, obnoxiously and selfishly? As you drive along Waigani Drive, look to Independence Hill and see that mother of all PNG flags fly high. Will you whisper a prayer for PNG? Will you be a steady and constant patriot; not swayed by the emotions of the moment but forever dedicated to a cause greater than yourself?

I hope you answered affirmatively to these challenges. This nation can be made great only on the backs of truly dedicated patriots and good responsible citizens who start changing in the little things. It starts with you. It starts with me.

God Bless Papua New Guinea

Heavenise day!

gg

patriotspng@yahoo.com