Dear Editor,
What’s so funny? “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:13-16)
“But the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.” As 2024 was coming to an end, a group of courageous, intelligent, and passionate youth filed a complaint to the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples about concerns regarding military projects. This was apparently a laughing stock to the leadership of Palau. On Facebook, which is the new space for public debate, many Palauans are using the “haha” emoji, suggesting that it is funny to be Palauan and better to be proud “coconut” Americans with Palauan roots.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists a year take the Pledge to visit Palau with respect, saving it for future generations. But at a recent press conference, it was so funny, echoing sentiments on Facebook asking these Palauan youth, “Who are the indigenous people? Who will defend you when the enemy comes to our island? Are they Chinese propagandists? Are they woke?” Maybe some Palauans should take the Pledge too and remember that we work for the future of our children, not the US Military.
Like many places around the world, we seem to only be proud of our children up to a point. In 1994, we promised to build Palau for Palauans. After generations of colonialism and a violent war, something my parents never forgot, telling emotional stories of how Babeldaob, the Rock Islands, and hiding from colonial forces was the reason we survived. We raised our children to be proud of their island, their culture, and to protect this one-of-a-kind “island and bountiful sea.”
Now when they worry about our dugongs, significant in our culture and environment, Angaur and Peleliu, the birthplace of Uab and the literal foundations of the country, it is so funny. Now I understand why Jesus rebuked his disciples. Children are bright and impressionable, and they saw Jesus as the Savior of the powerless. Needless to say, I imagine he would turn down invitations to sit in the homes of the high chiefs with opulent feasts to hear the military justify their projects and sing their praises. Instead of wearing the finest garments to witness the signing of millions of dollars of “aid,” he would turn the tables and rebuke the elected officials selling their children’s future for “development.” Or perhaps we are reading different scripture?
I have lived in the US, which means I know firsthand how they mistreat their own people, much less their subjects in “territories and freely associated states.” It makes me proud of our children, who are standing as the voice of reason when the adults in the room can only think of money, claiming it’s for our benefit. Clan elders and title holders are forever divided, and more young people are signing up for the military or making a living for Americans before our own people, yet our children are the first to think of the future. I was emotional when these youth said they were concerned that future generations were at risk of not being able to enjoy the beautiful island we have today. It is clear to me who is mature, yet I feel compelled to ask, what say you? Was it the youth who spent time conducting research and using data and reason to ask critical questions? Was it the leadership who even admitted they had not read the reports? Or was it the social justice warriors using “haha” and comments to dismiss whatever they disagree with as “woke”?
Who would Jesus bless and who would He rebuke?
Concerned citizen