Vanuatu

Self-Determination

Anecdote: A 13-year-old wanted me to find her a job. So, in response, I told her that it’s more important for her to study at this point so that she could make decisions for herself in the longer run. So, basically, I withheld information and assistance and made a decision for her, since that was in her “best interest”, in the longer run.

Cultural re-affirmation, traditional economy, preventing or discouraging people from coming to urban areas, wanting people to see the beauty and superiority of their own belief system and lifestyle. Even if all this is a well-meaning and politically-correct agenda in the social justice circles, it still remains just that: an agenda.

It’s almost like they don’t know what’s good for them so we, as outsiders, need to come in and “save” them from our evil brothers and sisters. But, really, some of us are evil but still we are superior because we can not only exploit you but also be your saviour.

Either way, the concept or ideology of self-determination is an agenda pushed by another, somebody other than the “self”. So is it self-determination at all?

posted by faa-T @ 10:40 PM