Posted on 02/15/2007 10:05:54 AM PST by blam
Vanuatu cargo cult marks 50 years
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Tanna
One of the world's last surviving cargo cults is celebrating its official 50th anniversary on Tanna island in Vanuatu.
The John Frum Movement worships a mysterious spirit that urged them to reject the teachings of the Church and maintain their traditional customs.
The cult was reinforced during WWII, when US forces landed with huge amounts of cargo - weapons, food and medicine.
Villagers believe the spirit of John Frum sent the US military to their South Pacific home to help them.
Devotees say that an apparition of John Frum first appeared before tribal elders in the 1930s.
He urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and instead said they should put their faith in their own customs.
Stars and Stripes
World War II and the arrival of American troops on Vanuatu was a turning point for the John Frum Movement.
Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for sending the generous US military and its cargo to them.
Speaking in local pidgin, the movement's head, Chief Isaac Wan, said that John Frum was a god who would one day return. He's "our God, our Jesus," he said.
Islanders are convinced that John Frum was an American. Every year they parade in home-made US army uniforms beneath the Stars and Stripes.
They hope one day to entice another delivery of cargo.
This 50th anniversary marks the formal establishment of the John Frum Movement.
It also recognises the day when villagers raised the American flag for the first time in this isolated corner of the South Pacific.
In John They Trust (Detailed article and pictures)
Imagine if they'd gotten FEMA trailers!
Do they wear "Cargo" pants?.........
We are not far from being a cargo cult ourselves.
I figured they were worshippers of Clutch Cargo.
Clutch Cargo?
You missed it by five seconds.
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???.....
If I were independently wealthy, I think, as a part time hobby, I would screw with these people....
Analogues in Western culture
The cargo cult has been used as an analogy to describe certain phenomena in the developed world, particularly in the area of business. After any substantial commercial success—whether it is a new model of car, a vacuum cleaner, a toy or a motion picture—there typically arise imitators who produce superficial copies of the original, but with none of the original's substance.
The term is also used in the world of computer programming as "cargo cult programming", which describes the ritual inclusion of code which may serve no purpose in the program, but is believed to be a workaround for some software bug [1].
The term cargo cult software engineering has been coined in the field of software engineering to describe a characteristic of unsuccessful software development organisations that slavishly imitate the working methods of more successful development organisations [2].
Any new management fad is a possible subject for cargo cult like adoption by poor managers.
As entertaining as this story is, and the rich history of this benign cult, I cannot believe that Almighty God is pleased with the perpetuation of these native beliefs.
Yes, I know it is mildly amusing and it's nice to think that somewhere in this insane world there are still some people who are thankful for what the United States has done for them, but even our Founding Fathers would be the first to tell them that no American should be worshipped as a god.
If we really wanted to help these people, we would offer to make little Tanna Island our 51st State. They damn sure deserve it more than those jokers in Puerto Rico.
Absolutely right. Liberalism predates the John Frum Movement by centuries.
Think how these aspects of John Frum cult echo socialism or liberalism:
"He urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and instead said they should put their faith in their own customs."
"Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for sending the generous US military and its cargo to them."
Just substitute "generous government" for the military. Liberals how now idea how wealth is really generated.
"They hope one day to entice another delivery of cargo."
If they would register as Demonrats and vote several times in each U.S. election, I'm sure a delivery could be arranged.
Good grief. I meant:
Liberals have no idea how wealth is really generated.
Fascinating.
Has anyone watched “Meet the Natives”? They are waiting for “Tom Navy” to return to Tanna.
The Montana episode was jaw dropping, especially when they showed up bare ass naked at the end to perform their dance.
Those guys have wisdom, too.
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