Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi Quotes
We need to move forward and beyond the point where we endlessly pursue the demons bequeathed us by our history.
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Vice-President of Fiji, Opening address to the Tourism Forum at the Sheraton Resort, July 7, 2005
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The presidents had announced that they would resume diplomatic relations and allow trade, tourism, and other exchange after 40 years of U. S. policy boycotting Cuba to produce more democratic reform and regime change. Fidel Castro, however, became the longest serving ruler or leader of any country in the world, and despite (some argue because of) the boycott was also one of the most popular leaders. The boycott was based on faulty intelligence and after 40 years of no results, President Obama's administration reversed the historical policy that had not been working though there were some American Castro haters who objected to the change arguing that with more time and the death of Fidel Castro who was ill at the time, the boycott would be effective and then we could negotiate for something in exchange for lifting the boycott.
There are two ethnic groups in Fiji. The indigenous Fijians and immigrants from India and their descendants. The Indians originally came to trade and represent a globalized, mercantile culture whereas the indigenous tribes did not have the tradition of business. Over time, the minority Indians were economically more successful than the majority, which tended to resent the Indians. As the Indians were the political minority with no strong tradition of protection of minority rights, they became victims of discriminatory behavior in a nation where the traditional political structure of tribal chiefs and tribes dominated politics. Religion also separated the Hindu Indians from the Christian tribals. In the early 21st century, an Indian was elected prime minister, but this led to a revolt and coup by some traditional tribals. Finally the coup was put down but the society had been split apart and there was continuous argument over rights and whether the coups plotters should be punished.
For centuries whites had dominated and abused the Blacks of South Africa. When the Black majority finally gained power, there were many calls for retribution and justice. However, under Mandela’s influence, South Africa made one of the most successful transitions of power to the majority who had been oppressed. The concentration on the future made South Africa the most successful country in Africa and a model for the world. See {633690} for another of his implementing statements of this principle.
The past history of Europe had developed so much hate and enmity among the different nations that they were all loaded down with the past and to move forward he argued that the past must be forgotten. However it was not, and Germany most of all harbored resentments which erupted a decade later with Hitler, the Nazis and WWII.
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Lord Madraiwiwi Tangatatonga was a prominent Fijian lawyer, legal scholar, jurist, and politician. He served as Vice-President, and also acting President, of Fiji, and Chief Justice of Nauru.
