A rare sight…

The man himself !!  With beanie, glasses and (some) facial hair in tow. This photo was taken on campus this morning whilst I was waiting for Eli just before heading into town to the Lae main markets. We headed in this morning to buy some fresh produce for a farewell BBQ we are heading to this arvo to  say good bye to Goasa's Dad who is heading back to his village in the Gulf Province.

On a different note – just to let you know what happened in town this morning as we were wandering around after having finished our business at the main markets.  Some of you might be aware of how much I detest loud churches and especially loud preachers – even more especially if these preachers happen to be standing in my path as I am peacefully meandering along minding my own business. Well… Lae town had a couple of particularly loud “chappies”preaching the “word” this morning and I just could not help myself. I was a little on the “fuming” side (which means I had the shits) as it was and these loud and voicerous men just kind of tipped the scales as they say.

As I walked passed whilst they were ranting I yelled a bit of my own ranting back – straight at them. I did'nt swear but I told them to stop spreading lies and bullshit to these poor people (in Tok Pisin of course). Some bystanders smiled but I suspected that some were also angry. The zealous and blind nature of PNG people towards religion and preachers is without comparison – perhaps you might find similar religious obsession elsewhere – perhaps in the middle east ??. Let me tell you PNG is currently a breeding ground for fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism…
breeds intolerance !
Intolerance…
breeds hatred !!
And hatred…
Breeds violence !!

I find it incredibly invasive to my person and disrepectful to be strolling down the street and having to listen to some preacher yelling and ranting some bullshit that he read in some piddly little book somewhere.

These are my views and this is my fuckin blog – so I'm writing what I fuckin please.

Just let me say this….   if religion or the bible were the answer to PNG's problems – then PNG would be a fuckin superpower !!

Now – back to the story about the street preacher and me rudely interrupting his ranting….  well it didn't happen once it happened twice – with different preachers and in different parts of town. The 2nd time Eli saw it coming and she actually crossed the road – she was embarrassed !   I gave the 2nd preacher a bit of cheek and that was that.

The moral of the story?
(And I have refelected on this since this morning)

When a guest in someone elses country – respect their ways and religious values – no matter how extreme or ridiculous they seem to me.  Otherwise…  this “fuckem” attitude of mine could lead to being told to get the fuck out of PNG !!

In summary….

The subversive within is still very much alive !!