Stones - Ty Sanga Short Film

Hawaiian filmmaker Ty Sanga’s short film Stones won the Best Short award at the 2010 Maui Film Festival.

The short film brings to life the myth of the ancient Hawaiian Mu people, who once lived peacefully in Hawai’i until ‘humans’ inhabited the islands forcing them in to the forests. They hid from the humans and did not make themselves known to them. They were nocturnal and only ventured out of their caves to gather food at night, as once the Sun shone and beamed onto their skin their bodies turned to stone. All the Mu people had left Hawai’i in search of quieter land, and only two remained there, a husband and his wife named Nihipali. Their lives were short lived, as her new friendship with a young human girl left her distracted and stranded in a field as the sun rose. Her husband found her stone figure in a nearby field and joined her willingly; standing by his wife as the sun rose declaring his everlasting love for her.

Migration is also present in the myth, as nearly all the Mu people left Hawai’i in search of a more prosperous land for its people. Although the Mu people are not factual creatures, this may signify the many Pacific Islanders today are migrating to nearby countries in the hopes of a more abundant life for their families. In stating this, I’m not inferring the life of the average ‘P.I’ has a lack of abundance as all Pacific nations have plenty of food/shelter/support and clean natural resources to live from, but because of their weaker economies Pacific nations aren’t as ‘strong’ as more established larger countries surrounding the Pacific. P.I’s who migrate covet a higher income and better education which drives them to move abroad to countries like the USA, Australia and New Zealand to take advantage of the benefits Western countries have to offer.

Myths and legends are commonly spoken throughout the Pacific; even the most ancient tales are still thriving today amongst Pacific communities. Oral story telling is an important pastime in many Pacific nations that help to keep alive the myths from the old religion as well as legends about more modern figures. Of course, recent technology has enabled these myths to be expressed through written and also visual text. Myths are not merely stories but the morals within the myth are used to educate those who listen to them. In my opinion the underlying moral of the myth of the Mu people and the husband and his wife is love, love between a husband and his wife and love for their homeland which was signified by their decision not to leave with the rest of their people.

Tatz - Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui

Ku'ualoha Ho'omanawanui was born in Hawai’i, Kailua, O’ahu. She is a graduate of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She grew up in Wailua Homesteads, Kaua’i. Ho’omanawanui is a published poet and an assistant professor of Hawaiin literature in the English Department at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She is a founder and current chief editor of ‘Oiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal.’

The poem is written in a mixture of both English and Hawaiian Pidgin which I found interesting as many Pacific poems are written in English with a translation of Pidgin English alongside it. This represents the majority of people in Hawai’i who speak a mixture of both languages and mix words/phrases and sentences into their daily spoken language.

Tattooing is a tradition that is still often practiced in many Pacific Nations. Although traditional tattooing is practiced among a variety of peoples throughout time and space, nowhere in the world has it been as important to the cultural heritage of a people as in the Pacific Islands of Oceania. According to legends, the practice is an ancient custom. Unfortunately, as with many non-Western societies, there are no local histories of this practice so the origins of tattooing in the Pacific can’t be known for certain.

As stated in the analysis of ‘Kros’ Western influences have impinged on Pacific traditions and have altered them by their teachings and western ideologies in the Pacific. The practice of tattooing in particular has changed in accordance to Western believes of the tattoos being ‘inappropriate’ and ‘immoral’. Niue is one country that doesn’t practice tattooing any longer as Niue identifies itself as a Christian nation, and tattooing goes against Christian beliefs as the Bible states in Leviticus 19:28, ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord.’

Although the islands of Samoa also identifies as a Christian country, tattooing is still regularly practiced today and remains a big part of the Samoan culture. A Samoan males’ traditional tattoo is called a Pe’a which usually covers the circumference of his body as high as the belly button down to his knees or thighs which consists of Pacific designs in black coloured ink and imprinted on the skin with traditional tools. A Samoan woman’s tattoos called the Malu which usually covers the legs from just below the knee to the upper thighs. A with Samoa tattooing in Hawai’i is also commonly practiced. Men are tattooed more heavily that women, with designs on their bodies and limbs. Hawaiian woman were primarily tattooed in their lower arms and hands, and sometimes as a sign of mourning, on their tongues. Modern designs are becoming more popular in the Pacific, with pictures such as flowers and written text being incorporated in to tattoos. Overall, many Pacific Islands continue to express their genealogy through tattoos. Tattooing is still a strong part of Pacific heritage that many Islands continue to practice today.

Tagata Pasifika - Is Religion Still important to Pacific Communities

Brief#2Tagata Pasifika Video - Is Religion stillimportant to Pacific Communities
 The video touches up on the significance of religion to Pacific people in 2010, which provides something to contrast Leomala’s ideology of religion around the 1980’s. The comparison of the two texts highlights the differences in opinions towards religion, and most importantly highlights the effect religion has had and still has on Pacific people today. Anosa (featured in the video) quotes “the church plays a bigger role than just a spiritual house, it becomes the substitute village”. This is regarding pacific islanders that have migrated to other countries; some attend church to retain their culture by participating in cultural activities with the church and also associating with others of the same ethnicity. He implies the majority of church goers aren’t attending to ‘praise God’ which cannot be an absolute fact as he doesn’t know the thoughts and feelings of all those attending church, but he has a fair point as according to a poll presented in the video people who answered the question ‘Is Religion important to you?’, 8% answered little, 32% answered not important which are significant numbers although an overwhelming 60% said it was very important. Overall we can conclude that the majority of Pacific people still regard religion as being an important aspect in their lives. Interesting enough, Albert Wendt described the literature from the 80’s as being written with an ambiguous and ironic language structure, this is apparent in Leomala’s reference in the poem to the Cross, because irony is apparent when comparing both texts. Leomala expresses his feeling of hatred and his sense of loss of culture Western religious influences have caused, yet Pacific people today who have left their homeland need the Church to regain their sense of Pacific identity and culture as briefly mentioned earlier.

Kros/Cross- Albert Leomala

Brief#2

Kros/Cross – Albert Leomala

Albert Leomala is a well established poet/politician from Vanuatu, who has graduated from the University of the South Pacific which is one if his many achievements.

The poem Kros was published in Lali: A Pacific Anthology (1980) by Albert Wendt along with another poem of his named Niuhebridis or New Hebridis. Both poems are published in Pidgin English also known as Bislama along with English. Both languages are national languages of Vanuatu along with French, which gives us an insight in to the colonial powers that have entered and influenced Vanuatu.

Religion has had a major impact on nearly all nations in the Pacific with the majority of Pacific Islanders claiming to be religious, and belonging to many ‘faiths’ including Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, and Christianity. Kros gives us an example of Leomala’s thoughts and feelings on the impact religion has had on Vanuatu specifically, although it is reasonable to assume he is regarding the effects it has had on all Pacific nations. Leomala doesn't state or address any particular religion in the poem, but we can assume he is regarding Christianity seeing as it is the predominant religion in Vanuatu with approximately 83% of Ni-Vanuatu (the people of Vanuatu) identifying themselves as Christians. Leomala may also be generalising all religions that have impacted Ni-Vanuatu.

Western missionaries first introduced Christianity to Vanuatu in the 19^th century. They varied in their attitudes towards Pacific customs but most considered much of the Melanesian culture and traditions unacceptable deeming them as sinful, and taught the indigenous people that in order for them to live a holy life and follow a righteous path they had to either compromise their traditions (not necessarily all of them) or in most cases discontinue them. This ultimately influenced certain rituals, deeming the exposure of woman’s breasts as inappropriate and tattooing gradually became less and less common. Interestingly enough, tattooing is still very popular in Samoa. Most importantly their teachings influenced the minds of Ni-Vanuatu resulting in a dramatic change in what they valued.

In my opinion, because Ni-Vanuatu no longer prioritised their customs and valued the Church more, they didn’t realise the severity of the loss of their traditions because they thought they were doing what was right at that time. Because certain traditions weren’t practiced on a regular basis this resulted in the generations that followed becoming less and less knowledgeable about traditions that were once highly regarded in their community. In Leomala’s case he blames the Church for this happening and this is apparent with his use of sentences such as ‘Cross I hate you’ and ‘You are killing me, you are destroying my traditions’.

Before missionaries entered Vanuatu, traders, labour recruiters and other western influences had already arrived there. They also influenced Ni-Vanuatu’s values by introducing goods such as rifles and liquor which were foreign items to them at the time, the introduction of these created a lust of the indigenous people to attain these items which had a negative impact of the local communities.

Sons for the Return Home

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel and will seek to find more Pacific literature, specifically by Albert Wendt. This is the first novel I’ve read that was written by a Samoan, in fact this is the first novel I’ve read written by a ‘P.I’. On the cover of the novel it states ‘Samoan-born Albert Wendt was working as a teacher in Samoa when he wrote the autobiographical Sons for the Return Home,’ which leads me to believe that although the novel is fiction, he has most likely dawn on his own circumstances and experiences in life and he has integrated them into the plot. Although the majority of the story is a creation of his imagination, I like to think the characters are based on real people, although this is probably not the case.

Sons for the Return Home addresses numerous issues that ‘struck a chord’ with me, and I’m sure they have caught the attention of all those who read it, such as the relationship of a cross-racial couple, racism and stereotyping, abortion, religion, migration and his portrayal of the ‘boys’ Samoan family and his description of Samoa and Samoans living there.

The novel was first published in 1973 which would have created mixed reactions to the issues presented in the novel. By ‘mixed reactions’ I’m inferring the differences of the mindset of readers who read it in the 70’s and those who read it today simply because as the years pass by society changes and so do peoples ideologies. There are people who hold on to the ‘old’ way of life and their ‘old traditions’ but in my opinion ‘evolution’ is a natural way of life and impinges on everyone as it does with P.I’s that still live in the islands and those who migrate. Migrants naturally adapt to the country they live in, of course I can’t assume that all migrants have adapted to the ways of the new society they live in, but I can justify this claim by relating migration and the effects it has on migrants to comparing this to focusing on its effects on my own family. My father was born in NZ and went back to Samoa when he was young and was brought up there. My mother was born in Niue and was also raised in her mother land, yet they have both adapted to the NZ way of life.

A cross-racial couple would have most likely been frowned upon in the 70’s, yet it isn't as big of an issue today because it is more common. It leaves me wondering how a Samoan family in Samoa or migrants living in other countries would react to their children potentially marrying a ‘Palagi’ today. I can only answer this by relating this to my personal experiences. I’m engaged to a ‘Palagi’ or European and we have a daughter (who is obviously ‘half-cast’). My parents didn't detest our relationship at all. Yet they were both brought up in the ‘Islands’ and strive to live their lives in accordance to the teachings they were taught ‘at home’ (the Islands). Their reactions towards my relationship represent a ‘modern islander’ as I like to put it meaning their beliefs have changed and adapted to a ‘NZ way of life’ or a ‘modern way of life.’ I have no fear of my daughter being scrutinized throughout her life, which is another issue Wendt highlighted in the novel by the ‘boys mums’ negative predictions of her half-cast grandchild’s future. I believe racism that was addressed in the novel is not as present in today’s society which makes me comfortable and excited when I envisage the future of my family.

Sons of the Return home was a very interesting novel to read. I found the novel to be very in-depth with how different cultures relate to others, in this case, A Pakeha and an Islander. A part of the story I found interesting was on page 17-18, when the boy and girl of different cultures argue. This reminds me of me and my best friend, we are from two completely different cultures and share different beliefs in life. However, like the Sons of the Return home novel, we were able to reconcile our differences.

I'm not sorry any more

I’m not sorry any more is a very strong poem. What I believe the poem is about is the Europeans coming in and taking over the land. The first stanza talks about the Europeans being the boss and the islanders being the servant. This is symbolising when the Europeans came in and took over and the islanders were looked down on and had lost control over their land. The second stanza is the author asking who truly owns the land. They were fighting for whose land it really was. The third stanza talks about how the Europeans came in and took over but he won’t let it happen again, in a way is like a warning to the Europeans that he’s taking back what is his and isn’t going to let them take it again. The last stanza is also talking about him not letting the Europeans take his land. He is telling them that it is his and that he “belongs to the land”. I think this very emotionally powerful as the pacific islanders in this poem are taking a stand and are fighting for what they know is theirs. I think its sort of a warning to the Europeans that they aren’t going to let it happen again. The land is theirs and they are there to stay. I really enjoyed this poem and it makes me happy to think they are standing up for themselves and are no longer letting the Europeans take over. 

The Children

This short film is about a young Samoan boy who by his parents is expected to look after his younger siblings each day and night while his parents are out working. This short film really shows the struggles that immigrant families go through as they are in a new country with a different cultures and no money. The film follows the young boy so the audience sees all the things he does in a day, ranging from taking care of the kids, feeding them, doing the washing, going to school, Changing the babies nappies and more. The only times we see the parents in the film is when they are fighting, just leaving the house or when the mum is talking to her friend about trying to manage with a job and all. The young boy in the film has the maturity of an adult which tells the audience that he has been looking after the kids for a while and has had no choice but to grow up fast. It also gives the audience the idea that he never got his own childhood. Near the end of the film the youngest baby dies. The young boy discovers the body and starts to cry as he has lost his sibling. The parents then come in and take the baby away rushing out the door leaving him to look after the other children again. We then see the family at the funeral, the other children are making a noise so the young boy gets sent outside not giving him the chance to grieve for his lost sibling. There is then a shot of the mother holding her stomach, giving the audience the idea she is pregnant with another child. I think overall this short film is giving off the idea that the parents are not able to care for their children and be there for them as they are constantly working trying to fund the family. The shot of the mother holding her stomach is gives the idea that she hasn’t learnt from the fact her child is dead as she couldn’t care for it. This makes the audience turn against her and feel more for the young boy. This short film is very strong and powerful making people really think about the fact there are many families out there who are struggling just like this. I really enjoyed watching this short film and could see the struggle and understand the families struggle.

Sons for the return home

Sons for the return home is a great novel. It really makes the reader think about what different people go through when they move to a new place, whether it is stereotypes or pressure from family living up to certain expectations of their culture. One part that I really enjoyed reading was when the younger sons is seeing the palangi girl. I think it really shows the difference in cultures between her family and his. Sons for the return really was a great book and was an interesting read.

You and Me

You and me.
Are beyond different.
Yet we talk the same.
And share that white skin.
They look at me as they once looked at you.
But I am nothing like you.

You just went in.
Like it was your place to do so.
You took in your fancy books.
And all that money.
With all your ideas.
Thinking you were Better.
Clever.
Stronger.
Well you weren’t.

They were happy.
But you wouldn’t let them say no.
You disgust me.
And now.
Because of you.
I shamefully wear this white skin.

I wrote this poem as a response to all the white people that came to the pacific island and took over. I find it very disgusting how they thought they were better. The pacific islanders were doing fine on their own with all their traditions and family. They were living off the land and the sea. I think the white people coming in was unnecessary and destroyed what they had. Although there are benefit like the education they provided I still feel ashamed as from reading many poems no one wanted them there.

Kidnapped

The poem ‘Kidnapped’ by Ruperake Petaia is a very powerful and mood swaying piece. What I believe the poem is about is the education being supplied by the white people. I think this poem is against the education as the author doesn’t feel it is a part of his culture. The author talks about being kidnapped by “western philosophers armed with glossy pictured textbooks”. What I get from this line is the idea of the white people coming in with their rich things like textbooks thinking they were smart and powerful with their BA’s and MA’s and forcing the islander children to learn what white people learnt in the way they learnt it trying to make the islanders smart. The author also mentions the parents having to pay lots of money for their kids to keep learning.  This is very new and different for pacific islanders as at this time they were used to living off the land and their society wasn’t about money.  At the end of the poem Ruperake Petaia mentions after 15 years all he got was a piece of paper. This gives out the idea that all those years of work and money spend he got nothing out of it. I think after reading this poem it really makes you think about the way white people came into the pacific islands and took over think they were better than the islanders just because they had money. They ruined the children’s island upbringings and wasted all the money those family’s had leaving them in poverty. 

Cross

The poem ‘cross’ by Albert Wendt I believe is about Christianity coming in and taking over Albert’s land ad beliefs. The first stanza of the poem is Albert blaming Christianity. This is a very strong first stanza as the reader straight away knows his feelings toward Christianity and what the poem is about. When Albert says “cross I hate you” the reader assumes he is talking about the cross itself. It is only when he says “you are destroying my traditions” that the reader realizes it is about Christianity coming in and destroying his own culture. The second stanza is also very strong. It talks about Christianity thinking it’s better than him. The line “and never bother about me and my traditions” really sticks out to me. It shows that in this time his traditions and culture were really put down and not valued by Christianity. He also talks about Christianity seeing him as “ignorant”, “primitive” and his traditions being “disgusting”. This also emphasized how much he, his people, and their culture were looked down upon. The third stanza the goes on to Albert telling the cross to “run away”. What Albert means by this is that he doesn't want Christianity. This is also shown when he mentions civilization. This gives the idea that at the time of civilization no one wanted them there. They just came in and took over. I think this is a really strong and meaningful poem and makes the reader think about how Albert’s people would have felt at the time their traditions and culture were being taken over.

Trapped

I’m trapped.
Here.
In this place.
People call it home.
It’s not mine.
I’m just trapped.

Following your rules.
Your ideas.
Your expectations.
and I fail.
It’s not me

I’m just trapped.

It’s out there.
Somewhere.
Beyond my reach.
I want it.
But I’m here.
I’m trapped.

I wrote this poem reflecting how I feel about my life today. I’ve always wanted big things, I have big dreams of getting out of New Zealand and doing something with my life. The more time goes on the more I feel my dreams are drifting away and it makes me feel even more trapped. The second stanza reflects my family, and how they expect me to do certain things with my life, they have expectations of me I don’t want to live up to. I think that for some people living in the pacific islands they wanted to do big things with their life which for them meant moving to places like New Zealand for an education.

Once were Warriors

After studying the film ‘Once were Warriors’ I found many different themes that continue throughout the film. One main theme was identity. This was shown through many different characters as well as the title itself. The title once were warriors is implying the fact they used to be warriors but they aren't anymore. This shows loss of identity and culture. Another theme in the film I found interesting that was shown a lot is the theme of family violence. This theme is shown throughout the film, mainly through the character Jake.  Jake abusing his wife Beth relates to the theme of identity as Beth has no identity and lets Jake do this to her. Another factor to think about is the experiences  the writer Alan Duff has been through in his life influencing him to write once were warriors. Alan Duff himself was sent to Waikeria borstal, a detention center home for troubled teens. This is just like the character ‘Boogie’ who in the film ends up in a home just like Alan’s. This us just one example of the many experiences Alan put into once were warriors. Once were Warriors is a great film as it really makes the audience think about the fact there are people in this world who are dealing with all the things the characters of the film are. I believe this film put a lot of awareness out into society about family violence which is a good thing. I think it also helped the awareness of loss of culture, making the audience want to learn more about their culture and where they come from.

After researching the film Once Were Warriors, based on the novel by Alan Duff, I feel that this film is crucial in order to stop the number of domestic violence going on within families of Auckland, particularly Maoris and Pacific Islanders living in South Auckland. Once were Warriors was set in a state housing area in Otara, one of Auckland's worst hit suburbs in terms of violence and poverty. My personal opinion is that this film could ultimately be a wake-up call to families who have experienced domestic violence , and that this film is graphic enough to deliver the message.

Response to an original poem

Last year, spoken word poet Grace Taylor came to my school to deliver her poetry and let us create our own masterpieces. My poem, or a "rap", was about my best friend from high school, a South Korean student. Despite not being from the Pacific Islands, the poem delivered a message that all cultures could be friends and that me and Peter (best friend) even thought we both have completely diverse backgrounds and live differently, we came together and found true friendship within.

This is the first verse to my poem:
My brother, I have another ,
But Peter Kim, there is no other

The verses are talking about my brother, also another way to describe a friend. "I have another" implies my actual brother, and finally, the last verse says I will never find anyone like Peter.

The poem was very successful among the peers, amazing how it only took about 3 minutes to create it. I was mentioned on Grace's South Auckland Poets Collective blog that July. This is how she described it:

In the final exercise of the workshop we were going around the group for ‘open floor’ as each student shared their poems. It arrived to the final person to share, which happened to be a wonderfully intelligent young man who also seemed to fall into the unpopular crowd.  Slightly awkward young man but so helpful and always engaged well in our workshops.  He announces to the class, ‘I don’t have a poem…….I have a rap”.  His fellow students are either shocked or amused in their response.  We quieten the class down and tell the young man to drop his rap for us.  It begins as a slow start and uncertain.  But then a flow in his words starts to emerge and he is actually rapping, he begins putting insanely good words, phrases and ideas together so well.  The class start cheering him on, when I joined in, I got told “sshhh” by some of the 1st fifteen boys so they could hear him.  Finally he finishes, and the entire class erupts in excitement.  People are slapping the floor, high-fiving each other, hollaring and tapping the young man on the back in admiration.  It was a priceless moment, a young man that is the least likely most awkward student in the class and probably school, literally finding his voice right in front of his eyes and being celebrated by his peers.  Now THAT is spoken word poetry.

My friendship got stronger after that, and it reminded me that everyone can be friends no matter who you are. 

Belles of the South Seas (1944)

After watching Belles of the South Seas, I felt as if Pacific Islanders today have lost their culture. In this short film, set in 1944, I saw a detailed insight into life on 6 different islands, all showing true meaning to the Pacific theme (e.g how Samoans get their food by climbing up trees getting cocounuts and weaving flax into baskets to catch fish) In this generation, with many immigrating to New Zealand, plus a major technology boom, Polynesians wouldn't catch fish anymore by weaving flax, but instead use a fishing rod and boat. I feel the islanders today have lost their traditional values by immigrating to this country. However, as they show Maoris boiling bags of water into geysers, today they still manage to make hangi's, boiling food underground as many of the geysers hyave become extinct. I feel the Maoris continue to hold culture as a first priority, by continuing to make hangis to cook food, the traditional way. In conclusion, since many Maoris haven't migrated from New Zealand, culture is considered very important, whereas many Pacific Islanders have migrated from their home country to New Zealand, they have started a new life here and I feel they have forgotten about where their roots come from, the only exception being Polyfest, a NZ event where Polynesian cultures combine to present where they originally derive from.

Response to "Distant Memory"

This poem was very well written as it made me think "do I really know my own history? ". People can't simply say " I understand where I have come from and where my roots derive, they need to find out themselves to know completely. " the poem asks direct questions to the reader, creating a sense of  being spoken to, a conversation between the author and reader, such as " have you been back to the villages of your parents?" . The use of font and haiku style indicates that this question is important.

Identity

I am no self proclaimed Polynesian
Though my blood is rich with the soil of this land
And my ears are filled with the beckoning call of Papatuanuku and Ranginui
but I am indifferent.

My feet are only feathers on the vast plains of my place of birth
my place of life
I am part of no tribe
but I am
Indifferent to where I come from

I am a self proclaimed "plastic Maori"
You will not find my ancestors carved into my body
like our islander neighbours do with such honour
You wont find me on a marae,
unless there's a funeral.
even then my eyes are draped in indifference

Our culture is but a shadow of what it was
just like our cities.
Still I am indifferent

"I'm Not Sorry Any More" a poem written by Kali Vatoko and Albert Leolama is about someone speaking in narration angrily about someone. It explains about what someone (in this poem the other person is anonymous) had done to him which in the context is very traumatic. According to the poem, he was kidnapped from his home and he misses his parents dearly, he is bottled up with anger over the incident just because he was black and the "kidnapper" was white.

The poem deals with the subject of racism, that the black people were taken away and separated from the other people. The use of language "i belong to the land" and "I want to catch you" could also relate to racial segregation issues worldwide, for example, the South African National Party's racial segregation Apartheid from 1948 to 1994, where the black citizens of South Africa were abridged, and the white people remained supreme and the rule of Afrikaans minority was maintained. In this poem, the black person is being segregated by the white supremacy, saying he will fight back, against the rulers, linking to an event such as Apartheid.

Bare Skin

Unlike Ho'omanawanui,
You won't find a tattoo
all up my arm
down my thigh or
across my back
My skin is bare

You won't find
my personal history
dead ancestors names or
my DNA
tattooed on my skin
My skin is bare

You won't find
who I am
where I come from
where I stay or
where I'm going
printed on my skin
My skin is bare

Look for them
on Facebook
on Twitter
on Google
in a book or
ask my Grandma
you won't find them on me
My skin
will always be bare

Identity - in response to grace taylor

Since i am not of Polynesian culture or Samoan descent , I  have difficulty relating to these poems. However,as I begin to read these poems about early life a here is my take on some of the poems i have read.

Born in a diverse neighbourhood
White person amongst many black people
The teenage children into drugs and alcohol
The adults reminscing their culture and who they are

When they ask
What ethnicity are you?
I say
NZ European

I am
Half yugoslav
Three quarters Scottish
A tenth Maori
A fifteenth Norwegian and Spanish
And a sixty-fourth Chinese.

The intriguing poem Our Pacific is Not too Small, written by Anonymous  reminds the citizens of the Pacific continent that the area in which they live in is more than what it seems. The idea behind it could be that residents of Oceania often immigrate to other countries and forget to understand their roots and who they are, they don't stop to realize that the South Pacific is their home and where their ancestors remain. The poem also presents an idea of Pacific Islanders being too shy to present themselves to the world, as said in the line "do not be small in mind, spirit and heart", From my experience, I see most teenage Pasifikians getting into bad habits such as alcohol and drugs when they reside in New Zealand, not interested in their culture at all,  whereas most adults are sensible and smart and understand a lot about their culture.

Ricky - Response to Vaine Rasmussen's A book and a pen

After reading Vaine Rasmussen's intriguing and motivating poem A Book and a Pen, I then understood that despite all the studying he went under, he never took the time to realize his culture and who he was, two elements he has to discover himself rather than study. These components should be first priority for people then study because if people don't know themselves and their ethnicity they can often feel like a waste of space or not understand their personalities or inequalities. I think knowing your own culture is paramount in order to living a happy life and understanding your place in the world.