"In June last year, we celebrated fifty (50) years of independence. However, it is important to be clear that Samoa was independent long before. Our forbears fought for the return of our independence because it was taken from us by force. The milestone of fifty years that we celebrated last year was celebrated because of what was lost and then regained in 1962....Today we celebrate independence because we have regained our inheritance or tofi. And the uniqueness of that inheritance is made knowable to the mind and soul of every Samoan through the words chosen to express its essence. UNESCO projects that by the end of this century up to three thousand (3000) languages will be lost. If we lose the uniqueness of our Samoan language we will lose the driving force behind why our Independence leaders fought so hard for our Independence. That is, we should be strangers, culturally and spiritually, in our own land. If we lose our language, we lose the meaning of why we are here today...."
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:09:14 +0000
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