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Date Posted: 16:22:51 01/12/00 Wed
Author: Anonymous
Subject: Papua You Give Me-the way it will stay unless we make those lazy bums landless
In reply to: 's message, "Re: Papua You Give Me" on 08:16:19 01/12/00 Wed

Are you saying that there is a good way NOT to be "lazy" - which you use in a negative vein?

Have you ever heard of any examples at all, about any people who are subsistence affluent (a great term used elswhere in this thread to describe the phenomenon) -- indeed, rich -- who have been known to work harder so that they became richer yet?

It just doesn't exist in this earthly planet. Anywhere!

If you're not rich, you strive to be rich.

If you're already rich (in satisfying your basic human needs, even if money is not the vehicle), you're unlikely to strive to reach any higher. And there you have it - the curse and the blessing of Paradise - PAPUA NEW GUINEA!

So how can you hope something will exist that has never before existed because of the environment and the culture we're talking about?

I suspect that the only way you are going to be able to see that much promoted "hardworking" and "not lazy" Papua New Guinean society evolve, is if the government first finds a way to marginalise the society. There are different ways to do this. Some of the ways have already been touched upon. Take away people's land either directly or indirectly (through 99 year leases). Or let people use up their resources so that they can no longer continue a subsistence lifestyle, even if they wanted

In the end, would you consider that a solution to PNG? Would it make the people better off?

Let me know how I'm failing here in my reasoning or where the weaknesses in my logic are. I am wanbel with a lot that has already been said here. It is the essence of melanesian society that people have the freedom NOT to work hard if that's there wish. That freedom should be honoured, not put down. That freedom should guide how we plan and interact with outside forces.

The tragedy is that this is the last thing our politicians would want our children to be taught. "Don't teach them to be lazy," they'd say. They would neglect to notice that we're not teaching anyone to be anything or any way. Just teaching them to understand the nature of their circumstances, and not always take on the outside perspective, which is to be condescending towards the melanesian way.

We could, instead, try to uplift our attitude towards the melanesian way, and honour its strengths.

Which means that we would let people continue to be "relaxed" if that's what they wanted, and honour the Papua New Guinean lifestyle of relaxation!

Take care.

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  • Re: Papua You Give Me -- Anonymous, 16:48:52 01/12/00 Wed
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