[ad_1]
Thomas Winn.
In our increasingly connected world, it’s easy to find ourselves in the warm embrace of those who share our views, beliefs and convictions. While reassuring, this comfort can also become a kind of prison – a self-imposed echo chamber where dissenting opinions are drowned out, shunned or even openly mocked, and the richness of diverse perspectives is lost, writes Thomas Tarulongo Winn.
As we grapple with the complexities of Ipukarea, especially when it comes to the management of resources, whether those resources lie on the ocean floor or flow from the mountains to the sea, we must embrace protest, encourage disagreement, and wholeheartedly resist the temptation to retreat into an empty, echoing cave of agreement and self-deception.
The late Tongan scholar Epeli Hauofa once said: “The Pacific is awash in empty rhetoric about freedom, democracy and human rights, but very little in the practical application of these principles.” Hauofa’s words remain relevant today as we see how fear of difference stifles real progress and understanding, which too often exists in pulpits, pulpits and behind the backs of leaders.
When we shy away from conflict or shy away from protest, we don’t create peace—we create stagnation, a still backwater. Real progress isn’t the absence of conflict or disagreement; it’s the ability to listen rather than talk, think rather than push, reflect rather than pursue—that’s what healthy leadership and leaders do. They don’t build walls in vain to protect and defend their vision; they build doors and pathways so others can walk through and see who we are and what we can be, a vision that benefits all of us, not just a few.
In the Cook Islands, like many other Moana nations, the value of harmony is deeply ingrained into our culture, spirituality, religious values and structures. We are taught from a young age to avoid conflict, maintain the status quo, prioritize collective well-being over individual voices, and the needs of the village over those of the villagers. But you can’t have one without the other.
Yet, while these Maori and Judeo-Christian values have their merits, they can also lead to a reluctance to question authority, challenge norms, or speak up when things are not right. These should not be understood as the only ways to deal with power or conflict. Attend a land meeting or attend a Matakinanga decision on investiture and you will see our identities laid bare, expressed loudly, vocally, and understood as a custom. Even recent history, which we celebrated a few days ago, shows that real change is often achieved through protest and disagreement, as we did with colonial forces in 1965.
As Cook Islands Māori, we must be vigilant to this dangerous tendency. We must resist seeking out and shaming voices that challenge us, force us to reconsider our assumptions, and invite us into difficult but necessary conversations. This is not about sowing discord or disunity; rather, it is about nurturing the side of our culture that celebrates disagreement, critical thinking, and open dialogue. We have celebrated this as a democracy since 1965, but it is more than just a word or an ideal; it is something our leaders – political, faith, community, and family – must continually be challenged to demonstrate and make space for.
So let us create a space where all voices can be heard, where dissent is welcomed without fear, and where the rich collective wisdom can flourish. As the proverb goes, where there is wisdom in many ways, there will be prosperity for all.
That prosperity remains elusive for our country, and many are frustrated by poor decisions made in a vacuum or without proper consultation and criticism. But if you think water is our only or main concern as a country and a people, then that is your prerogative, although you may also find that someone else has been mowing the lawn in your backyard.
[ad_2]
Source link
