What Should We Ask For?

King of Nothing Tama Noa - Pulu:
I’ve often been prompted to write to this website, but always thought the better of it. After all, I’m only half Tongan. My grasp of the Tongan language, even after living here for six years is incredibly poor. And as a United States citizen staying here on a work permit, I’ve no legal right to contribute meaningfully (by voting) so why should I speak up when so many other people are doing such a good (or not so good) job of it?

However, a recent letter by someone I’ve lovingly described to my wife as the King of Nothing (Tama Noa), is so completely reeking in hypocrisy, that I think we all need to stand up and offer a promotion - Please welcome our new King of Nonsense (Tama Laulaunoa).

The attitude of the sideliner, backseat driver, 20/20 hindsight offering crowd appears to me not only ignorant, but quite a bit condescending - not only to those directly assaulted (this recent letter broils seven elected representatives, the Ministers of Health, Labour and Commerce, and Forestry, and the entire Nobility) but to those of us here in the Kingdom who have worked and lived along side of those same people or their family members, and realize that the real world is not so black and white.

First off, the democracy movement in this country does not consist of three people, or seven people, or even 10. It consists of those people that voted for the “Temo Ticket” in the last election (and many previous elections as well). Most of these voters are busy working HERE IN TONGA for the GOOD OF TONGA as they see it. Many of them are working within the Government, and many of them are in the private sector. Many of them have been successful, though not to the degree that a 15 trillion pa’anga credit limit makes Americans so smug about. These people (the movement) have elected certain people to be their representatives in Parliament for the express reason that they are so good at raising points, speaking loudly, and not backing down in the face of repeated rebuff, because most agree that the past composition of the body DOES NOT ALLOW THE COMMONERS MUCH ELSE. To constantly harp directly on the democratically elected leaders of a movement while almost completely ignoring the people that continue put them there is an insult to the intelligence of the electorate of this country, and shows more than a little bit of the elitism that the Nobility itself is so often blamed with.

Secondly, is “just talking” such a small achievement? It’s easy to sit down with your McDonald’s happy meal, pull a chair up in the den, feel a little nostalgic, and write yet another long winded fairy tail letter describing your fantasies, and attempting to insult anyone you can. Some people forget that it was not so long ago in this country that talking could (and did in some cases) end people up in jail. That one…’s campaign speech at the next kalapu might also be attended by DOMESTIC POLITICAL SECURITY OPERATIVES, the intentions of whom were completely unknown. See what I mean? Some speech is a little harder than others, and ought to be given a bit more respect.

But we’re not finished yet. We can’t forget the hospital. While anyone with a brain can see that the current state of the art over there is not up to what a rich insured American is used to (and don’t forget that 15 trillion that keeps it all afloat!), the picture is not near as horrible as presented. The waiting times and levels of care that I’ve experienced here in Tonga have been on par with most public hospitals (the ones that treat mainly “poor” people) in the United States, and in some circumstances better. I have two teeth sitting in my mouth, one of which required US$1800 of my hard earned money, and one that required a 75 minute wait at Vaiola Hospital. Now the US tooth is a bit better looking (“really nice work” said the dentist in Tonga), but the Tongan tooth seems to do its job of eating and not hurting just fine. And I don’t know about you, but it takes me a lot longer than 75 minutes to make $1800.

You’re not insulting the Government when you complain about a hospital you most likely haven’t seen in decades, you’re insulting the Minister of Health, a hard working, dedicated, and gifted doctor who has given his life to his country. You’re also insulting every other person in the Ministry, all the way down to the people who pull the coconuts out of the trees outside so they don’t fall on people in the parking lot. Easy to do a few thousand miles away, but it doesn’t make it right.

And that’s the point isn’t it? People actually in Tonga, on whatever “side” (the relationships in here are much more complex than that, but we all know about the American attention span) are working and striving for what they for the most part personally believe is good for God, King, and Country. At the same time all this “I’d do this, and I’d do that” is just idle chatter that’s enlightening to no one, insulting to many, and so very reminiscent of a monkey throwing his own faeces down from a tree at those walking below - because he knows no one can reach him.

Quite frankly, those of us down here, actually working, only talking, or just trying to get by are tired of it raining down on us. It’s time for the King of Nothing to take his own advice, and put up or shut up. - Pulu

Apology to health care workers - Tama Foa (Tevita U. Langi)
It seems I have offended many of the citizens and non-citizens alike in my last series of tirades. Therefore, an apology is in order. To the health care workers of Tonga, I truly apologize for using Vaiola Hospital as an example. I was trying to point out lack of resources as the issue, through customer service was mentioned. Staff shortages and customer service are related. When any place of service is short staffed, people tend to wait longer.

To the people of the kingdom, If you were offended, I hope you will find a little kindness in your heart to forgive. I am sorry that I have offended you.

To the People…’s Representatives, there is much to be done. I am enjoying my McDonald…’s happy meal with hope that the King or Crown Prince will be willing to amend the Constitution for the benefit and preservation of the kingdom. Without this amendment, Clause 17 (The king shall govern on behalf of all his people and not so as to enrich or benefit any one man or anyone family or any one class but without partiality for the good of all people of his kingdom) will still be as worthless as it is today. I…’ve put you on the spot so the people of Foa, Ha’apai and Houma, and Vava…’u can feel the impact of what you are doing for them. Those who are on the bottom end of the economic ladder, to include my half-Tongan fellow Americans, they need your persistence. This is why you are included in my tirades.

I admit it was a long three years ago that I was back home. I am sure things have dramatically improved since then. My information is biased because of my sources, myself. However, it is my belief, if the people…’s leaders do consult with the people and speak as one voice, when the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow…—to the end and at all costs.

With this apology, will I stop being …“king of laulaunoa?…” Not by a long shot. My endless rambling will continue until FAIRNESS is applied equally within the kingdom and those who claim to speak for the people are with the people. Until then, those of us at the sideline will continue yapping until I become king of something else or my fellow half-Tongan American recognize that the life of those at the bottom end of the economic ladder is far different from the comfortable well-compensated livelihood he enjoys. How do I know? I came from the bottom of the totem pole. To The Kingdom! - Tama Foa (Tevita U. Langi)