The ‘vulagi’ debate
Vulagi issue
THANK you Peter Knight for your letter yesterday and the reminder that politicians emphasise the differences between us rather than our similarities. Thank you also to the Gone Marama Bale Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa for your words of wisdom regarding the “vulagi” issue.
I totally agree that it’s not derogatory. I’ll add that it’s a term of endearment.
I further agree as Ro Teimumu said — “The indigenous Fijians themselves are regularly called ‘vulagi’ when they visit another vanua or place.
So if you call yourself a Fijian, there is no need to take offence if sometimes you’re addressed as vulagi. She added — “To me all the uproar about this, denoted lack of understanding of how the Fijian social system works and knowledge and use of the indigenous language.”
May I add that our government ministers and politicians should be wary of their public pronouncements, especially if they did not prepare such speeches. Why do I say this?
Well, social media is awash with comments from all racial groups on this ‘vulagi’ issue. Some views, sadly, are very extreme.
This is where the danger lies. I submit that extreme views, especially erroneous and based on fallacies, when left to fester and fuelled by unscrupulous politicians — these can easily lead to and I submit are already causing unprecedented racial tensions and hatred among our major races.
This must stop. We must, collectively speak out against such simplistic views of government ministers, supposed leaders and the extremists in our midst.
I submit that we remain silent at our peril. Our children and our country deserve better.
Let us not let some speech writers and unthinking politicians dent and spoil the great inter racial and ethnic relations, which though tested in the past, we as a nation have not allowed and will not allow to take us down as a nation to the abyss of no return.
Instead, let’s focus and dwell on our unity in diversity!
KINIVILIAME KETECA
Nausori
Vulagi on Earth
WE must always keep in mind that we all are vulagi on this Earth as we will all go. Go where? This depends upon our destiny created by us.
However, with citizenship created by man, we have permanent citizenship in one country or the other. I believe in legal terms we have this permanent status in a state.
God created the universe including our mother Earth. We created borders and states. Thus we are permanent residents in the states of birth but this status dies away upon death which is eminent.
The difference is: Vulagi we all are but the legality of our citizenship makes us permanent.
Let us work hand in hand and make our state a heaven on Earth.
Opinions will remain opinions but the reality would speak when it should speak.
Vulagi we all are but with permanent residency in our country of birth. God bless all vulagi on Earth. DHIRENDRA PRASAD
Lautoka
Proud Fijian
REFERRING to the letter “Fijian and vulagi” in The Fiji Times on Wednesday July 17, I believe this word “vulagi” in the way it’s being used is not only mischievous but also racist.
I will not appreciate anyone referring to me as “vulagi”.
I am a Fijian and a proud Fijian, born and bred in Fiji. Period.
EMMA CURTIS
Martintar, Nadi