RWP1

8/19/2019 RWP1

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RWP1

Name: Sheik Zaid Rehman

ID NO: S98007399

8/19/2019 RWP1


According to the Random House Webster’s Dictionary, belittlement is defined as ‘to regard or

portray as less impressive or important’ (c1!, p"#$%" &pon considering the 'acific contet,

this )ould mean the degradation of oceanic cultures through actions and deeds that )ere

effective during the period of colonialisation )hich eventually instilled a mindset of feeling

less appreciation and dignity to)ards one’s o)n identity"

*he theory that +peli Hauofa outlines is one that goes bac- to the missionaries )ho sa) the

islanders of the 'acific as savages and unmannered )ho need to be corrected to .hristian

ideas and values" /elittlement is a legacy that scarred deep into the fabric of 0ceania

cultures"

*he 'acific it seemed had been named or invented by the West" t seemed +uropeans and

Americans had imposed their standards forcefully on the island people" *hus +peli Hau’ofa

believes ‘smallness is a state of mind’ (1!, p"$!%" *hat these particular human beings )ill

be ordered around and sub2ected to the )ill of those )ho control the global economy" *his

marro) perspective had been passed do)n through generations" .ultural histories of the

'acific are overloo-ed only because they are too isolated or far a)ay from the centre of

po)er of bigger metropolitan countries" *hat being confined to tiny spaces )ith ‘their

calculation based entirely on the etent of the land surfaces that they see’ (Hau’ofa, 1!,

p"1$!% gave the notion that they are regressive" *he )hite men felt that due to the smallness,

any sort of development )ould have less impact on the livelihood of the 'acific peoples"

'ost3independence, the island states )ere in a hurry to get finances in order to develop their

infrastructure, the environment )as still recovering from the depletion of natural resources

during the colonial era and the migration of local to overseas has perhaps led to dependency

on aid, remittances and resulting in negative 4D'"

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*he colonial masters failed to consider or give preference to the ancient myths and traditions

)hich had for ages, proposed to use stars and the heavens to bind and guide the island

peoples to their life 2ourneys" 0ur oral histories should also matter in the )ider scheme of

living and eistence" +ploration bunched the islands in a sea as tiny dots in a big ocean" 0ld

scholars had devised maps on eploration, demarcating boundaries according to their

-no)ledge and eperiences that today have made the islands national states"

.onse5uently, the early mapping of the 'acific )as done on a division of 6elanesia,

'olynesia and 6icronesia" Designation )as also carried based on racial preferences" *he use

of the science of race% in reference of body structure and physical appearances to name

locations and places in the 'acific (7abutaula-a, 891$, p"118%" *he +uropeans influenced by

their interactions )ith the rest of the )orld dre) negative comparisons )ith the physical

appearances and social structures of Africans )ith 6elanesians )hom they considered dark-

skinned and primitive of all the human races and that they needed to be treated the same )ay

as slaves or subordinates, replicating the 1:31 th century slave trade to America" n contrast,

'olynesians )ere seen as refined peoples )ho )ere organi;ed into po)erful monarchies and

societies" n mapping 0ceania, 6elanesia )as named according to the colour of the s-in of

the inhabitants" t denoted blackness. 'olynesia and 6icronesia )ere attributed to the land

mass and geography of the islands"

&nfortunately, the misrepresentation of the 6elanesians has become internali;ed by the

'acific slanders including their o)n selves in the language and interactions" *he 'olynesians

(<amoans and *ongans% due to their earlier conversion to .hristianity thought of themselves

as physically and culturally stronger than the 6elanesia" Having pride the <amoans

‘believing themselves to be the cream of the 'acific, they tended to loo- do)n on others,

particularly the 'apua =e) 4uineans and <olomon slanders (7abutaula-a, 891$, p" 18>%"

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it more than possible for that to happen as ne) economic realities tend to ta-e place" Hau’ofa

sees regionalism as an important ideal in )hich the islands of the 'acific, can 2oin forces and

cooperate to gain access to international mar-ets in terms of trade and development" *he

'acific slands ?orum is one such organi;ation that is trying to remedy the islands’ problems

to the international eperts" ?urthermore, the 'acific 4ames has al)ays provided the platform

to unite diversity through sporting events and build on harmony" *he people of 0ceania

should self3reflect on their o)n selves and try to nurture their o)n creativity for themselves

and for the future generations" *hey need to focus and put the 'acific at the centre of

)hatever they do" *ry to step outside their comfort ;one, leave aside their internal differences

and collaborate and listen to their inner voices" *o be conscious )here they need to be alert

and a)are of things 'acific and of its values that have long being forgotten"

References

Hauofa, +" (1!%" 0ur <ea of slands" The Contemporary Pacific, @ol"# (=o"1%"

7abutaula-a, *" (891$%" Re3'resenting 6elanesia gnoble <avages and 6elanesian Alter3

=atives" The Contemporary Pacific, 8B(1%"

Random House Webster’s dictionary.(1:% !rd ed" =e) Cor- /allantine 'ublishing"

RWP1

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