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GONG SHOW 2015 “You Talk Too Much…”

People have asked if I am not scared that I will be beaten up for the things I talk about in the Gong Shows. My reply: “No, because for us, Samoans — that’s what we’re all about — talk… talk… talk…”

 

“You talk too much, You worry me to death, You talk too much, You even worry my pet —You just talk,Talk too much.

 

“You talk about people, That you don't know, You talk about people, Wherever you go — You just talk, Talk too much.

 

“You talk about people, That you've never seen, You talk about people, You can make me scream — You just talk, you talk too much.”

 

(Another great song — "You Talk Too Much" — a 1960 single by Joe Jones, written by Fats Domino's brother-in-law, Reginald Hall.)

 

But — that’s the great American way we’ve made our own — the Right to talk about it, Freedom of Speech.

 

It’s what makes our community tick— what its woes are, what its “happies” are all about — and about connecting the dots… when the powers that be won’t talk about it… and to punctuate it with laughter — even when it hurts… the ability to laugh at ourselves… is part of our cultural makeup — I think, and is what saves us from taking ourselves too seriously… GONG!

 

Which is why the killing of 12 people who worked for “Charlie Hebdo”, a satirical weekly, in France is so tragic. Obviously some of those killed were deemed to “talk too much” —and made fun or were too irreverent of extremists, in this case Islamic extremists.

 

The shooters are said to have shouted, “Prophet has been avenged” as they shot the 12 people dead, which included the editor, three cartoonists and the deputy chief editor, as well as a police officer, who is seen on footage begging for his life before being shot in the head at point blank range. Editor Stephane Charbonnier had famously shrugged off threats to the weekly, saying: “I'd rather die standing than live kneeling”. And, on Wednesday night, in France, thousands of people went to Republique Square near the scene to honor the victims, holding signs reading “Je suis Charlie”—“I am Charlie”.

 

For us in American Samoa, such extreme actions seem foreign to our shores… but are they?

 

Certainly, our own recent shooting events bring to mind the violence, but not because they are about ‘talk’ or ‘freedom of speech’ — but because there is a call to arm the police, calling it protection, and to put harsher penalties into law — also calling it protection of our law enforcement officers.

 

I think both those solutions are shortsighted and an oversimplification of a problem that stems from economic woes in our community enabled by people who hide behind our culture — the fa’aSamoa —because of ‘fiakaga’ — or why don’t we simply call it greed.

 

I think Senator Galea’i (in today’s story) is correct as far as rumors are ripe about the most recent shootings, pointing to the drug trade in the area, as the source of the violence. But I disagree with him when he says the drug trade is a way these people make money, making it sound like it’s only about the money.

 

I think the local drug trade is supporting people — it’s their livelihood — a way that food is put on the table, faalavelaves and forgiveness are funded…  I’m not saying it’s right… I’m just saying, as long as our economics are based on the trickle down effect (with the matai and faifeau at the top) we have little chance of resolving the shooting problems with guns or harsher penalties or laws — not when you are putting your hand into someone else’s pocket to make a living… preventing them from putting food on their table, building a house for their family, or donating to the faifeau on Sunday… or what about that latest fa’alavelave that called for a $500 kusaga… or a $1,000. After all — in our community — it’s all about ‘looking good’. And, remember — God forgives all… Amene ...

 

So probably… I do talk too much… GONG!