“An elderly man from Lefagaoali'i in Savai'i was admi:ed to the hospital after he was allegedly beaten, tied to a stick and carried away from his place of residence by untitled men of the village who were executing an order from the matai of the village council”. Samoa Observer headline two days ago.

“Villagers have told SGN the incident arose after the elderly man and deacon reverend of the Catholic Church got into a heated argument over land. The victim is said to travel back and forth from Samoa to visit his children overseas. He had returned to find what he believed was his land, being used by the faifeau for a pig pen. It is alleged that the victim swore at the faifeau during the heated exchange which followed. A meeting of the Village Council was called to discuss the matter and the elderly man was declared banished. When he didn't leave, the age old banishment was called for. Samoa Global News article yesterday.

As I read more into this tragedy, the whole thing saddens me. What is happening? Men doing this to other men. Adult men! Teenagers are fighting at the university and adult men are trying to bake others in the umu? What causes another man to put a spit through another man’s legs, tie him up and threaten to roast his flesh on hot stones while more men carry it out?

Regardless of what the age-old tradition is, are we not christians as we love to preach? Or do we just leave our christian brains on the rocks until Sunday? Allegedly, the faifeau erected a fence illegally on the elderly man’s land. If this is true, then the 73 year old had every right to be emotional. Heck, even able bodied and strong minded men lose their marbles over moving a fence or another man touching their wife.

Yet, here we are in modern Samoa, faimai fo’I o Samoa kerisiano. Yet, we are acting like the savages we’ve been made out to be in the history books of the papalagi. All of us will have emotions stirred whether you are for or against the man’s actions or words. Yes, he shouldn’t have sworn at a man of the cloth but sometimes swearing is the by-product of anger. Believe me, even I have resorted to such words when emotions are high.

Why not let the law handle such matters, go to court like educated, civilized human beings instead of being judge, jury and executioner? Regardless of the issues and who was right, this should not happen in Samoa anymore. It exposes the animalistic side of who we are as a people and leaders. We are telling the world that we are no better than mere animals without sound judgement and decision making. Village pride? Church pride? To hell with those when people are harmed and poked with sharp objects.

Why? Let’s blame emotions right? Emotions come from the heart. It is where everything comes from. Even if you were told as an ‘untitled’ man to carry out justice, we can still choose to speak up and help solve problems. If all six of those matai had spoken up and reconsidered, they would not be in this mess. O le alofa e fa’amagalo ai mea uma. Love. Every decision has an action and every action has a consequence. Let’s hope this is a lesson for all other villages who want to carry out their own human baking in future. Enjoy the rest of the week Samoa.