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One of the initiatives that HRPP is proposing is a $1000 payment for newborn babies. I think this is a wonderful initiative. When I had my son Australia had a similar program where all new babies were given a set amount of money once delivered. This money helped me as a single parent to purchase a car seat, a pram and clothing. Seeing the political parties in Samoa finally understanding that they are there to serve their people and not just go and travel around the world is so satisfying for me. This is a change in the right direction.
However, at HRPP’s manifesto launch, church leader Rev. Tusi Pou Tuigamala urged the HRPP party to offer its proposed $1000 baby payment only to children born to married parents. This train of thought makes the money about being married, not about assisting the child and their family at a very expensive time. How is this helpful? If you have not already watched our video Christianity is not Samoan please watch it now. I will put the thing up here.
When we bring our religious beliefs into politics, we are always going to leave someone out. When we see politics as interacting with other humans we will see things from their point of view, they will understand our points of view and we can all get what a human deserves. If you are going to tell me that Jesus Christ would want one child to suffer more than another solely because they came from a family that was not joined in matrimony, then I don’t think you understand what being Christlike is supposed to be.
If you look at Mary mother of Jesus, would she be able to get the payment for Jesus who was born in wedlock but to a man who was not his blood father? How are you going to police this? Will you do a DNA test on all the children to make sure that they are in fact the child of the man their mother married? This morality vs equality dilemma is happening all over the world, and I am so sad to see its prevalence being shared by our leaders in Samoa.
This line of thinking not only goes against traditional Samoan customs it continues to bring down women. It continues to bring shame on people, specifically women, for having a child out of wedlock. I was married when I fell pregnant. However, that marriage failed and even though I had a child in wedlock I was still treated as if I was a leper in the street because I took responsibility to care for my child. Even my own family made me feel like I was less than others because I was raising my son by myself. This is dangerous for so many people. As a single parent I was facing financial issues to begin with. The stress of raising a child by yourself can also have an impact on a person’s mental health. I did this as an undiagnosed ADHD person, so I had sensory as well as processing issues plus anxiety and depression. When you add the snarky remarks, the side eyes and the plain disrespect how would that make you feel? It made me feel like self-harm would be the best option for me on several occasions. Is someone’s idea of morality greater than the wellbeing of a human being?
Being married does not mean that you are a better person. I could probably go through some of the church leaders and see that they in fact have children out of wedlock or are not faithful to their spouse. If we look at our politicians, are we going to find church attending people who are having affairs and children to other people? I can look at my own family and see having children out of wedlock is not unusual amongst people who attend church. Why do we have to bring in morality to a space that it does not belong? Morality is not the same for each person. Equality is what we should be aiming for.
Why am I giving my two cents when I don’t live in Samoa? Because I am a Samoan citizen and because I studied political science, specifically Pacific political science as a part of one of my university degrees. I understand the nuances and the effects political stances have on people. I see the political views from an equality point of view and not a morally specific one that is biased by a religious point of view. My hope is that HRPP see how hurtful this thinking can be for the people of Samoa. My hope is that HRPP open this initiative to all families so the whole of Samoa can see the benefits, not just those with piece of paper signed by someone at a church.
I am looking forward to reading more of the manifestos and seeing the political scene in Samoa grow and improve.
