Closer to Christmas
Spencer Robinson, Suva
A few days ago while taking my afternoon walk along Grantham Rd in Suva I was amazed at how nature speaks to us through its beauty.
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If you walk past John Wesley College towards Damodar City, you would notice a few Sekoula trees (sometimes-called flame or royal Poinciana tree) along the way.
While the trees are not so tall, I find them majestic in their own right as they stand like “lighthouses” and shine through their beautiful and attractive red blossoms.
This is an indication that Christmas is coming closer, which is an extraordinary way nature uses to embrace this annual event.
On the other hand, these trees teach us a very important lesson about life.
These trees have gone through many unfavourable weather conditions such as heavy rain, cold, strong winds and intense heat over the years and yet they survive.
Sometimes leaves and branches may fall off but they regrow to keep the overall tree in place. Their root system are strong and deeply anchored into the soil.
Indeed this amazing tree has shown us that no matter how big or small our life problems and suffering may be, we must persevere with a stronger and positive mental attitude not to give up easily on our purpose in this world.
Through support from our friends, families and of course divine intervention, we will succeed because there is always “light at the end of the tunnel.”
Dale Carnegie once said, “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Have a blessed Christmas and an awesome New Year- 2019.
The two cloaks
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
It is interesting how we nurture the habit of hiding under the cloaks of religion and/ or tradition when it comes to making serious decisions.
We are often so warm and cozy under our cloaks that we are blinded to real thinking.
There are many reasons why we do what we do, but one that I can definitely associate with our habit is our lack of knowledge of certain subjects that need to be addressed and because they are out of our league we drag our arrogant selves under our cloaks.
Rather than admitting to our lack of knowledge and seeking advice, our immediate stance is to disagree or agree because it either fits or doesn’t fit with our religion and or our tradition.
It is said that the most dramatic conflicts are those that take place not between men but between a man and himself !
The pressing question then for those who are in the habit of cloaking themselves, is to ask; who is their master?
Until we learn to come out from under our cloaks and not wrongfully use our beliefs to manipulate our decisions, we are being mastered by our ignorant pride.
Whining and complaining
Dharmendra Kumar, Suva
Excuses, excuses and more excuses. For election loss, now the withdrawing of petitions is simply an embarrassment.
The challenge by SODELPA and NFP was simply a desperate attempt for political power and at the same time diverting the attention of supporters for their overwhelming loss.
Enough of the sour grapes and let’s move Fiji forward.
NFP and SODELPA blamed everything and everyone other than the lies they spread throughout the elections and after the results were out.
Whining and complaining about the election results is no surprise when considering the style of leadership the opposition has. This was simply sour grapes coming from a group of people who were unhappy after the 2018 election loss.
There is no dishonour in losing an election. There is certainly dishonor in whining and complaining.
Our Rugby Cibi
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Kerekere Viti kei Rotuma, Kioa kei Rabi, as we head into the World Cup next year I would like to suggest that the FRU Chair- man and his team please reinvent our current rugby war cry, dance and challenge on the rugby field to suit.
The Samoan, Tongan and the NZ All Blacks pre-bout hype are entertaining and a pleasure to watch, but I personally feel that the FRU should include a team of indigenous iTaukei Fijian Gurus to be part of the review team, we are requesting the team to be headed by my tauvu Ratu Manoa Rasigatale to make up a totally much more exciting War Cibi then what we are currently subjected with, it is World Cup 2019 of the 2YK and the change is warranted.
Those three rugby playing nations mentioned above keep changing their war dances to suit the changing times and so have International rugby teams including Fiji, it must represent our unique culture, Ccstom and the Fijian tradition.
Let’s face it, there are only four rugby nations on earth that showcase their unique- ness on the rugby paddock through their pre-match war dance and they contribute a lot to the promotion and success of World Rugby including the promotion of tourism for their respective countries.
Tier One and Two World Rugby Playing Nations, segregation or discriminating indeed a global sport in its rankings with some injustice or is it tier one for the rich nations and two for the poorer nations with their first class rugby-players.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj
