Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : The Two Musketeers

It's a quiet Friday night, the moths as usual are buzzing around the kerosene lantern that the boys have placed on the nail protruding from the verandah beam.

 

Jone decided against turning the light on, "bad times" as he put it.

 

The waka mixed in the usual basin, which has seen better days , was below the "refill level", but today the boys had had enough. "Bad times" as Jone put it.

  

Jone: Sa, what about those two?

 

Jaswant: Which two?

 

Jone: Kuni guise man, you know what Im talking about.

 

Jaswant: Se eh, Im not a mind reader.

 

Jone : (Laughs) Arre man, Chaudhry and Qarase. (As he says this, he raises his neck to look over at his neighbours houses on both sides. Its almost a reflex action borne out of living in close proximity to others and always being aware if anyone might be listening)

 

Jaswant : What about them?

 

Joe: Laughs

 

Jaswant :What you laughing at ? yeah OK,  I know what you mean. So now they are friends or what?

 

Jone: Exactly, funny isn't it?

 

Jaswant : Thye both miss the power and privilege man

 

Jone: Chi Chi Chi ….bigh words bro

 

Joe :Laughs

 

Jaswant : If you laugh again, Im gonna smack you sa rag a Joe

 

Jone and Joe both laugh

 

Jone : I reckon both Qarase and Chaudhry are finished man. Seems like the actions of some very desperate people

 

Joe : True. Taki

 

Jaswant : You Taki, M%#@#& T%&*&

 

Jone : (Laughs) Kaidia and Kaivalagi fighting in the land of the Kaiviti (Laughs long and hard)

Paradox of our Times

Loyal Fijian thought this article was worth publishing. Its not an original LF article but has some interesting thoughts.

 

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

StolenWealth not CommonWealth

Goodbye StolenWealth…Hullo China

  

So what exactly is the Commonwealth? Even the name "Commonwealth" is  completely out of step with the time. It indicates that all the wealth of the countries subjugated and  colonised by the British, belongs to the Crown.

 

Get lost!

 

StolenWealth is more appropriate.

 

We don't need this relic of history. Wake up. The British Empire is Gooooooooooooone.

 

Ok, credit where credit is due.Thats the Loyal Fijian Charter. They did have a good run and made significant contributions to the way society is organised and lives. Fair enough.

 

But the advance of air power in WW2 meant that the naval supremacy upon which the British Empire was built was gone forever.Air superiority replaced naval superiority and Bada Bing Bada Bang, US and USSR are the new superpowers.

 

And what do this 2 new superpowers do? They embark on the "Cold War" . Communism v Capitalism.

 

Who won? Hand down, the free market. Poland fell to the Pope, Czechoslovakia fell to nationalism and then fell  the USSR and the Berlin wall. (Authors have written books running inot hundreds of pages on this topic, so excuse moi if moi is a bit brief here)

 

Until that is, Tiannmen Square came along.

 

When the student led revolution erupted in China and millions gathered in Tiannmen Square and various other places across China, it seemed that Communism was about to face a complete defeat. The PLA however (drugged or not) put the crowds to the sword. The Revolution was defeated.

 

However, ah huh….. there is always a catch in these stories, isnt it?

 

The Chinese Politburo recognised that change had to be made. So they adopted a twin pronged strategy of economic liberalisation while maintaining political control.

 

And Boom, China is today the sole superpower.

 

Yeah Yeah, USA has aircraft carriers and ICBM's etc etc. If that's your take on what constitutes superpower , go for it.

 

Here's the Loyal Fijian take.

 

When the Global Financial Crisis hit, the US Treasury secretary made a mercy dash to Beijing. He went there to  assure Chinese Government that the US$ 1 trillion that Chinese Government held in US bonds was safe. China is the single largest creditor for the US. If they pull the plug, whooshka……….

 

Chinese influence in Africa is unparalled. They are building ports, roads and mines like never before in history. The roads and ports are to transport the iron,gold,uranium that Chinese rip out from the mines. Clever aren't they?

 

When the ANC led South African Government, composed of freedom fighters and activists against apartheid, refusesd a visa to the Dalai Lama, you know you are dealing with a very powerful nation.

 

Pick up the world map. Put your finger on China,. Now take in Hong Kong and  Tibet, that's official China. Include Taiwan, which China claims, North Korea which they virtually control and Nepal where communists run the show.

 

Who is the superpower?

 

Goodbye StolenWealth…..roll out the carpet for the one and only superpower….the Mighty Chinese are here!!!

 

Empire rise, Empires fall. Only the Chinese Empire has risen again.