The Power of Conscience In Numbers

The human mind is such a powerful thing. Through the ages it has propelled us from the basics to the “developed” world that we now live in.

Thankfully we are also inherently born with a conscience. In all the things we participate in to live as members of the human race, we are also born with an inner voice, if you will, that niggles at us when we “feel” we are either on the right or wrong track.

Consider the conscience of Martin Luther King as he dreamed his big dream for the freedom of the negroes in the United States of America. That dream is now a global reality through Barack Obama. That dream was fought long and hard for. But the dream came to be only because it was fought peacefully.

Ghandi, also compelled by his conscience dreamed the same peaceful dream for India.

We as a nation are currently paralysed, anxious, fed up, fearful, frustrated, uncertain about the apparent rumblings underfoot. We carry sentiments that vindication, revenge, must be had. It is true. It is human. With a character of Bainimarama’s ilk, we have every right to demand better because we suffer at the hands of a so-called leader we did not choose.

Perhaps the Indigenous Fijian version of an Emanicipation Proclamation is a start. But our conscience dictates that it must be peaceful.

The adage that violence begets violence has been proven time and again, century after century, generation after generation. It can never be a legacy for Fiji.

Driven by our conscience and the same dream, we can oppose and defeat this military regime. But let our opposition be peaceful and smart.

With the same dream, we will throw out the “journalism of hope”, “new legal order” visions that are not ours.

With the same dream, we can turn our backs on the apparent appointment of an illegal Vice President.

With the same dream, we can flip the bird at illegal (however tempting) directives to commercial banks.

With the same dream, we will reclaim the right to information.

With the same dream, we must continue to do justice to the Constitution and reject outright the notion that it has been illegally taken away.

With the same dream, we will not be used as pawns by the possible machinations of some but make the dream of a Free Fiji, our own aspiration.

With the same dream, we must resist the urge to lash out but be guided by our conscience, common decency and respect for each other as members of the universal human family.

With the same dream, we as a people of this great nation must:

“COMMIT ourselves anew to living in harmony and unity, promoting social justice and the economic and social advancement of all communities, respecting their rights and interests and strengthening our institutions of government”

But let the dream be peaceful and aligned to our constitution.