Posted by Isa Gago on February 15, 1999 at 20:40:11:
In Reply to: Re: Similar interests posted by James Vinson Wingo on December 22, 1998 at 17:19:20:
: :I think this is missing the original point, it is also illustrating another one. Who really has ever felt immportant soley based on birthright? I didnt see that at all in Luahiwa's letters, but rather a healthy knowledge of what she is and responsibilities deigned on her by her family. Where is the pathos in that? Many of us Pacific Islanders have this entrenched in us. Even though I was raised in Hawaii as this was where my parents had good jobs, I have always known what is expected of me by Samoan birth right and birth responsibility.
Luahiwa's message gets lost here on these boards. But, that is the difference between genuine cultural differences. That is the litmus test to these so-called Kahuna......you have can have life-long interest in that which is forever a mystery because it isnt a birthright. The term racism is a copout here, used by those futless at never being able to atain it. Too bad. Your white history has so much good and spiritual to it. You should be proud of that and incorporate that into your daily regime. Do so and make sure that only the supremacists arent the only ones perpetuating European Spirituality. It would seem a more genuine effort in front of our brown eyes that trying to become a "kahuna", Tahunga or Tufunga. We Polys are just sensitive to having our sacredness being sold on the Web.