Dear Patriots,

Trying times are before us. Our identity is being challenged. The Pillars on which our nation was built have become unrecognisable as we, in embracing modernism, have buried our roots; forgotten that which our fathers, in Providence of Wisdom, had laid down as platforms for an ideal PNG.

Our values are all muddled up that we do not know what is important anymore. In riding the Waves of Change we have not cared to look ahead at where those Waves would eventually crash. But we have jumped on it for the ride...because the world rides it.

What uniqueness does PNG have to offer the world if we strive only to become like the rest of the world? What will make us special? Is it just our natural beauty; our resources?? What about offering to the World the unique and outstanding “PNG Way”; our Values, our Way of Life? Our Worldview: A splendid mix of our noble traditions, our adopted Christian principles and the accurate philosophies of right living and conduct. Is that impossible? Is that not a greater commodity? Is that not an extravagant contribution to the world? A legacy worth working for and protecting?

In our dash to conform to the world let us be reminded that we are a unique people. That we can choose, in our wisdom, what is best for us and our nation. That we can choose timeless principles to guide us in the process of decision-making; in maturity, deep thought and sound reasoning.

These are possible. Spend some time to reflect on our nation. Ask questions of yourself that you may not have asked before. Probe our identity and measure it against the world. If We can no longer separate what is PNG with the World....then we have lost who we are.

God Bless Papua New Guinea

Heavenise Week!

Kumbux Generosity

This weekend I had my paradigm shift regarding generosity. It came from a little 5yr old boy named Hans Kumbugawi Pohau, my nephew. His grandma, my “liklik mama” (dad’s sis), was with him in Wewak and was on her way to visit us here in POM. Little Kumbux took out from his pocket the only coins he had, 60t, handed to grandma and told her: “Em blo ol papa blo mi Walo, Ofa na Gg (This is for my fathers Walo, Ofa and Gg)” (my brothers n I). Grandma tried to push him a little to spend it on peanuts or gum but he was adamant the money should come to us. Mama arrived on Saturday, handed over the 60t and told us it was from our son Kumbux. We got 20t each. My brothers and I were so moved by the gesture from an innocent little boy who cared enough for his “liklik papas” to send us all he had in his pocket.

I think we I felt a bit what Jesus felt when he saw an old widow put two coins into the offering collection at the Temple. He said “This woman has given more than anyone. For in their abundance they have offered to God, but she in her poverty has put in ALL she had to live on”. I never knew how much He really appreciated that poor widow until my nephew sent me his only pocket money.

Real generosity is not in giving abundance but in giving what we cannot afford to give: no matter how small or big. The receiver of such giving cannot help but be overwhelmed by the gesture. I had that experience with my nephew. It’s changed my perspective now of real generosity. And I’m sharing this so you could also have a glimpse of it.

This week on be GENEROUS. Give what you cannot afford to give. God did it. The old widow did. And 5yr-old Kumbugawi did it! It’s not easy but it changes the world!

Heavenise Week!

Ganjiki

2/05/11

Wannabe Leaders Don't Wanna Be Readers

How many of us take time to read? I mean really read. Not short fb comments or chain emails or blogs that don’t necessarily take up too much of your time...not even short messages from Yours Truly. I mean Books! Books of history, of philosophy, of leadership and leaders, or novels and other great works of literature. How many of us spend time digesting words by great men and women and allow our mindsets to be shaped and moulded in great and positive ways???

Most of us will admit that it has been a while since we last dug into a good book. You may realise PNG is not short of leaders, wannabe leaders, and potential leaders. But currently we are stuck in an illusion that leading is something you pick up along the way perhaps at a seminar, or a natural by-product of education. Yes they can be stepping stones that may help in becoming leaders. But there’s a bit more we have to do to be really effective and outstanding agents of change in our country. I can think of two important things that PNGeans hate doing but need to do: READING and THINKING.

Agri-businessman Allan Bird once challenged young people to just take some time to think in order to bridge the gap between the likes of Narakobi, Tawali and other great thinkers, and ourselves. Last week Ambassador Peter Donigi, at the Election 2012 panel, challenged young people to read and continuously learn. How can we be leaders (which simply put means being ahead of the pack) if we don’t read more and think more than those who we aspire to lead? It doesn’t work that way.

My challenge here now is simple..PATRIOTS, TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK AND READ....not just the blogs and these internet mindblasts from yours truly...but real wisdom-giving books that will BROADEN your view of life and give you an insight into the REAL problems of this NATION; as well as QUICKEN your creativity in ADDRESSING those problems.

GOD BLESS THIS BEAUTIFUL PAPUA NEW GUINEA!

Heavenise Day!

Ganjiki

KEYS TO SOCIAL CHANGE....the "PROPHETS"

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

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

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!

“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!