By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
The shock of the week just ended is easily the invasion and occupation, albeit briefly, of the American seat of power in the capital Washington by President Trump supporters.
The fall out is still raining down on the most powerful nation in the world. The US envious mirror of democracy to the watching friends and foes alike from around the world is shattered.
The Americans have outgoing President Donald Trump to thank for the mess it is in.
Where President Trump goes from here is worth keeping an eye on.
Is this the end of any political ambition he has for a return as President the next time the Americans go to the election polls?
While the Americans try to live down the embarrassment of a ‘domestic terrorists’ take over of its capital, the world watches and take stock of their own political front.
We too have been watching from Samoa the events that transpired in the heart of the American nation.
Frankly it is difficult to see a similar takeover at Mulinu’u.
Samoa is a Christian country founded on God.
The Samoan culture is deeply rooted in the oratorical authority of the staff and the swish to keep the peace.
If we have anything to add to that it is to ‘please let it be so.’ Please do not let the events in Washington last week be repeated at Mulinu’u.
In God We Trust is the official motto of the United States. Ours is that ‘Samoa Is Founded On God’. The American faith in God is no different from ours,
The Washington takeover was never in the minds of the Americans but the nightmare became a reality last week.
If that is possible in a country that shares the same faith in God as Samoa, what does that say about the security of our political seat of power at Mulinu’u?
The Chairman of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Kasiano Leaupepe, included in his call for Samoa to continue to pray and fast, the help of divine protection on our general elections.
The religious elder is wary of the Washington turn of events happening within our own political environment as a fall out from the April general elections.
Will the influence of the ‘faifeau’ or servants of God and the chiefs and orators of the culture prevent any such turn of events?
Again we can only hope and pray. God and culture is the corner stone of our political stability and they have to always be able to assert their authority.
Samoa cannot afford to lose that authority.
Many hold President Trump responsible, including members of his own Republican political party, for inciting his followers into the violent events of last week.
The election campaign rhetoric we are starting to hear from all political sides, to woo the support of the voters, is already starting to flow freely in the build up to our general elections.
The division in political loyalties is usually high around this time and also sensitive and reactionary.
We have been holding general elections for close to 60 years now since our independence. So we are no strangers to moments of fragile emotions induced by political loyalties and beliefs.
The Americans have been going to election polls much longer than we have and it is easy enough to believe they are hardened or should be by their long experience.
Maybe they were until President Trump and his political allies fired up their support base with conspiracy theories of fraudulent voting in the Presidential elections.
That has to be true to a large extent with mounting pressure to remove Trump from office, even with just over a week left before President–elect Joe Biden takes over.
PM Tuilaepa has said the villages are not easily fooled by the sweet political talk of election campaigning. Lets hope that is true.
Nobody wants to be taken for a fool and be blinded by loyalty the same as the Trump supporters who stormed the Washington capital.
The aftermath of legal charges expected to be filed on the Trump supporters for the violence is not a happy ending for their blind political loyalties.
Are we capable of that in our upcoming general elections regardless of what political party?
The best way to answer that is to do what the Rev. Kasiano Leaupepe is calling for.
Pray and Fast.