By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The Monday candlelight march by the women to Mulinu’u was a must.
Sacred boundaries of respect between men and women were violated against them.
The vile insinuations in the remarks by the FAST Chairman La’auli insulted the womenfolks.
To sit still and tolerate the humiliation of being treated as objects for men to do as they desire is degrading and shockingly disrespectful.
If the women are offended then it is because no woman wants to be treated the way it was implied.
So too would any man for that matter if the intention is to shame.
This was at the heart of the whole memorable Monday gathering that made it a very moving one.
The Minister of Women and Social Community, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama inspired the women with encouragements of standing strong for their rights.
His added touch of grateful appreciation for who they are as mothers and valued advisors in the family and to the traditional leadership of chiefs and orators in the villages was endearing.
The wave of moving lights all across the Tiafau Malae in the cool evening dusk was heartwarming.
This was the same ground where La’auli wanted the men from the paramount families of Sa Malietoa and Sa Tupua to have their way with the women.
Having the women rise in their defence against the suggested infamy of being abused and humiliated by the men was a much needed cleansing for all who were offended.
Responsible men sighed in thankful relief after being humbled by the demeaning comments hurled by the prominent political figure with wanton disregard for the integrity of the women.
The sense of being forgiven swept like fresh sea breeze across the ‘malae’ when the women started doing what they love to do…dance the ‘siva Samoa’.
No one does it better.
To see them enjoy the moment blew away the acrid bad air taste of abuse
A pity the women blinded by their FAST political partisanship opted to stay away and condemn the event as an HRPP exercise to win public support.
Politics reared its despicable head in this instance to taint the worthy intentions of the march to heal and restore the respect the womenfolks thoroughly deserve.
If the FAST women supporters have to blame anyone for the public outrage that led to the march it should be the party Chairman and his foolish slur on the women.
To blame the Prime Minister for making similar offensive comments in the past against Fiame, whether they were true or not, is poor judgment if it was to atone for what La’auli said.
If PM Tuilaepa did utter those words then he too should be condemned in the same way.
But would two wrongs make it right?
Should these same women forgive La’auli for debasing women because Tuilaepa got away with what he said?
Even if both are guilty, would staying away from fighting for the rights and respect of women at the Tiafau Malae, discourage abuse in the future?
Would it resolve all the other injustices against women that were overlooked and neglected until the Monday protest march?
The logic is badly and sadly flawed if that is the thinking by these absent women.
When fanatical political loyalties drown out the humanities of who you are as a woman, then maybe the men should indeed be set free to do as they will as La’auli wants.
Do you want that ladies? Do you condone the fantasies of men for women to be available for their pleasure in the glaring floodlights of the ‘malae’?
The greater good of the candlelight march overrides any political bias.
The march was about your rights as a woman to be respected and treated as a human being not a plaything for the men to toy with at the snap of a finger.
Give that a serious thought if you are one of those who stayed away from the march
Do you hold your political affiliations above your rights to be respected as a woman?