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 Jon Frum Day,
Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Jon Frum, a cargo cult, is a
syncretic sect centred on Sulphur Bay on Tanna Island, Vanuatu, and found
in some neighbouring islands. A white American named Jon, or John, Frum
is also the name of the messenger of this movement; who on his
return, will provide the Frum faithful with promised goods, or
cargo.
An estimated 90 per cent of the population of
Vanuatu is affiliated with a Christian denomination, the largest
being Presbyterian,
followed by Roman Catholic and Anglican. Jon Frum forms a small
minority.
Some Frum members say that Jon Frum is a benevolent
deity who lives in the crater of Tanna's highest mountain, Yasur, with his several thousand strong army, or
else he is the 'king of America'. Jon Frum members believe that when Frum does
return as promised,
the mountains will crumble, filling the rivers, the land will become
very fertile and prosperity will arrive in the villages. Frum
himself will bring money so that the people can buy the goods of the
white people, and he will provide schools for all.
Perhaps influenced by drinks of kava, a mildly narcotic
drink popular in the western Pacific and northern Australia, visions
and prophecies of Frum (by 'messengers' as the movement calls its
priests and prophets) have directed the cult's world view. Some say
it began as early as the 1930s, probably when a man of that name actually travelled or
lived among the villagers.
The arrival of 300,000 Americans during World War II,
with their relative wealth, was instrumental in the rise of
nationalism in the islands, as well as a desire for Western material
goods. There were many African-Americans visiting the islands at the
time, and in 1942, about 1,000 Tannese men were recruited by the
Americans to work on nearby Efate. It was the first time that the Tannese had seen black men
dressed the same as whites, and with so many possessions.
 A mixture of saints
Believing the soldiers to be emissaries of Jon Frum,
the islanders began imitating their mannerisms and appearance,
carrying bamboo 'rifles' and wearing improvised US forces' uniforms.
It appears that Uncle Sam, Santa Claus
and John the
Baptist were syncretised into the mythical Frum.
The members strung tin cans and wires from towers,
in imitation of radio facilities, so Jon Frum could speak to his people. The movement
declared that Frum required that money be thrown away, pigs killed, and gardens left
uncultivated, since all material wealth will be provided upon the
glorious return of Jon Frum.
Non-cooperation
The war ended
and the Americans returned home, but the Frum faithful did not lose
their zeal and ever since, they have awaited his messianic return,
which is believed will occur on a February 15, which apparently is
the date in 1957 that Chief Tommy Nampas first hoisted an American
flag and prophesied the return of Frum. Some Frum leaders believed that missionaries and
colonial administrators had interfered with their Second Coming, so the movement sometimes
practised non-cooperation with them. From 1940, British colonial authorities arrested cult leaders,
holding them without trial in Port Vila, but new devotees arose to take their places.
The size of the
movement today is not known, and it has split into a number of smaller
groups. It has representation in the national parliament as one of
the parties.
On Tanna there is a god named Kerapenmun, associated
with Mount Tukosmeru. Some sources say that a native named Mancheri,
under the alias of Jon Frum, posed as this god and began a cult by
appearing to some people and making promises of houses, clothes,
food, transport. Otherwise, it might be that Jon Frum is "John
from" America.
The Tannese who believed in Jon Frum
took as their religious symbol the red cross seen on wartime
ambulances on the island of Efate. In villages north of Yasur
Volcano and elsewhere, one may see are little red crosses dotting
the countryside, neatly surrounded by picket fences.
Prince Philip Movement
Prince
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as well, has been worshipped in
Vanuatu by cargo-cult followers among the custom people at Yaohnanen, in the Prince Philip Movement.
Philip is regarded as the head of the cargo suppliers. The Prince Philip
cult dates back to the prince's visit to what was then New Hebrides in 1974.
Associating him with a male spirit married to a female spirit in
their own pantheon of ancestral spirits, followers believe the prince originally came from Tanna in another form and will eventually return to rule over them.
Once, they sent a nalnal (club) as a present to the prince,
via Mr Wilkins, the British District Agent on Tanna at the time. The nalnal was of a design that only a powerful man of high status could own.
The prince sent back his thanks and a signed photograph, which
members took as confirmation of his leadership of their movement,
and of his belief in their beliefs.
"Their legend tells how this spiritual ancestor ended up in England — and eventually married a queen. Which explains why the Duke of Edinburgh, who is well aware of his role as a god in the eyes of the Yaohnanen tribe, has established a curious relationship with these people, who dwell in a simple village in the centre of the Vanuatu island of Tanna in the South
Pacific ..
"Chief Jack, who prefers not to talk about the cannibal days, keeps the photo in his hut, where he protects it as best he can from the humidity, occasionally bringing it out so the tribe can pay its respects. So strong has been the 10,000-mile relationship, and so determined has Buckingham Palace been to keep it under wraps, that a private secretary urged great secrecy in one official letter."
Source:
Is Prince Philip a god?
Jon Frum Day celebrations
Today, on Jon Frum Day, prayers and flowers are offered at
the red cross and members hold a flag-raising ceremony and a
military parade.
Cargo
cult
A cargo cult is
any of the religious movements chiefly, but not
solely, in Melanesia that exhibit belief in the imminence of a new
age of blessing, to be initiated by the arrival of a special
''cargo'' of goods from supernatural sources – based on the
observation by local residents of the delivery of supplies to
colonial officials. Tribal divinities, culture heroes, or ancestors
may be expected to return with the cargo, or the goods may be
expected to come through foreigners, who are sometimes accused of
having intercepted material goods intended for the native peoples.
Encyclopedia
Britannica
"a tannese creation legend claims that
tanna was once the only land in the universe. yasur volcano, a
highly active and easily accessible volcano on tanna was designated
as the originator of the universe. according to the legend, in that
time there were many wild animals on tanna, including lions, tigers,
elephants and bison. as these were dangerous creatures, it was
decided to create other lands and distribute these perils. chief
mahdikdik took the soil of tanna and threw it in the directions of
the compass, creating europe, asia, africa, australia and america.
some of the soil was caught by the wind and scattered about creating
the pacific islands.
"the tannese then built large canoes and
loaded the animals aboard. the various types of beast were sent to
different lands. as there were too many people on tanna as well,
they were sent to different parts of the earth. at this time all
people were melanesian. most people went to africa, however some
were caught on the reef and thrown into the sea, where the saltwater
bleached them white.
"it is said that jon frum is living in
the crater of yasur. There is also a huge army of 5,000 to 20,000
men residing there as well, so the new legend blends with the old.
below, we see alternate versions of the jon frum history. that is
due, for the most part, to a history based on stories and tales
passed on from one individual to the next. in it's own rights, this
then is the next step of that tale.
"the centre of the jon frum cargo cult
today is based in the village at sulphur bay, [also called ipeukel.]
the jon frum church here houses the movement's most sacred red
cross. on friday evenings, jon frum supporters come from the nearby
villages to dance. every year on the 15th of february, jon frum day
is celebrated. This is the day when the sulphur bay people believe
that jon frum will return, bringing with him all the cargo he has
promised. prayers and flowers are offered at the red cross in the
village church. this is followed by a flag-raising ceremony and a
military parade. villagers carry rifles made of bamboo, painted to
appear as if they have red bayonets.
"about 100
men march under the command of two village elders dressed as us
army sergeants. The soldiers have the letters 'usa' painted in
red on their bodies. These soldiers consider themselves to be
members of the tannese army, a special unit of the american
armed forces."
(sic)
Source
"'He looked
like a human being, but his skin was white. He was dressed in
khaki and wore a hat.' Isaac Navy, a man in his 70s, insists
that he has seen John Frum. 'It was in 1941. He came to our
village and told us that when we're free, we'll also have trucks
and airplanes, just like in America.' Who is, or was, John Frum?
No one knows for certain, but the people of Tanna still worship
him as a Messiah."
Source
The Frum movement is being publicised, if not exploited,
for the purposes of tourism dollars, as this Port Vila Presse article of December 10, 2004 indicates:
"There have been different perceptions that John Frum is a custom group, a religion, or a cult.
"Whether you're a local who has heard but not seen the John Frum before or a visitor planning a trip to Tanna, your chance for a preview of the Movement is coming this tonight.
"Said Chief Isaac:
'You have heard the mimics, you have seen the pretenders, now it's the real thing,' he blurted out boastfully in an interview.
"There is no doubt that this man is as
'John Frum' as you can get. Isaac was formerly the chief of Ipuekel in Sulphur Bay, the major John Frum base.
"However, due to a philosophical difference with the so-called Prophet Fred, chief Isaac moved his followers up the Ash Plains to Namakura where their attractive village has become a tourist hotspot, lured there by the John Frum practice.
"The entrance fee is Vt300 for adults, Vt100 for students and children under 5 years can enter free of charge.
"There will be lots of Kava and food. No alcohol is allowed within the premises. There will be plenty of singing and dancing – John Frum style and public will also be allowed to participate during the course of the evening.
"Come along and
see firsthand a reason behind Tanna as a tourist destination."
Jon Frum Home
Page
Waiting for cargo cult god to restock Coke machines
More Some
more Even
more
Culture
clash in the South Seas
Frum flag
Vanuatu, where Frum
is one of the political parties
John
Frum songs on DVD
Parentalia, ancient Rome (Feb 13 - 21)
Shiwasu Matsuri,
Mikado Jinja, Nango, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan (Jan 20 - Feb 20)
Sounkyo Ice Festival,
Sounkyo Onsen (spa), Hokkaido, Japan (Jan 29 - Mar 5)
Powamu, Pueblo/Hopi
purification ceremony, (Feb 12 - 28)
Anthesteria, ancient Greece (Feb 13 - 15),
festival to the god Dionysus
Festivals in ancient Greece
Feast day of St Agape
Feast day of St Andrew of
Segni
Feast day of St Angelus de
Scarpetti
Feast day of St Berach
Feast day of St Claude de
la Colombierre
Feast day of SS Faustinus
and Jovita,
martyrs at Brescia
Feast day of St Joseph of
Antioch
Feast day of St Julia of
Certaldo
Feast day of St Sigfrid
(Sigefride) of York, apostle in Sweden
(Cloth of gold, Crocus
sulphureus, is
today's plant, dedicated to this saint.)
Feast day of St Walfrid
Click for Eastern Orthodox liturgical days Shop saints
In the Odinist calendar, day
sacred to the hero Sigfrid
Nigel pennick, The
Pagan Book of Days, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont,
USA, 1992, p. 42
Flag Day, Canada
National Day, Serbia
Singles
Awareness Day
Singles Awareness Day (SAD) is
a humorous
holiday which serves as an alternative to
Valentine's Day for people who are
single; that is, who are not involved in a
romantic relationship and can therefore
not participate in Valentine's Day traditions. Some observers of SAD
do so out of spite for Valentine's Day, as a
Hallmark holiday, or for other reasons.
"In response to the huge
push by retailers for us to buy all of their candy, flowers and
greeting cards February 15 has been declared Singles Awareness
Day! This is the day that all of the single people can proudly
stand up and show that it is OKAY to be single!
"Sure, some people would prefer to have their February
celebration on February 14, but the rest of us appreciate the
break from the commercialism ...
"Suggested activities for
this day are sending yourself flowers, planning parties for
other singles to mix and meet and to participate in some sort of
single's event."
Source
 1564
Galileo Galilei
(d. January 8,
1642),
Italian
pioneer
astronomer, philosopher,
and physicist.
In
Venice in
April or May, 1609,
Galileo heard of a cylindrical instrument,
made by one Hans Lippershey of
Middleburg (Netherlands), that made distant objects
look to be closer. He made one of these devices by putting
spectacles lenses together at different ends of a tube. He soon made
one that could magnify 30 times and commenced observations of the
moon, which he discovered to have an irregular surface, like that
of the earth.
On January 7, 1610, Galileo observed the four largest
moons of Jupiter for the first time. He named
them and in turn the four are called the Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and
Callisto). The Grand Duke of Tuscany gave him a high salary and he
could leave his former professional duties. He discovered the
crescent form of Venus, the spots on the sun and the form of Saturn.
Galileo met with fierce opposition from the Church and the followers of Aristotle. He appealed to their own senses, but without success. He might have escaped the censure of the church, but he "was of an ardent disposition", so when he was assailed from the pulpit he brought out a pamphlet defending his views. In February,
1615 he was brought before the Inquisition in Rome, where he was ordered to recant and never teach his doctrines again.
He fell quite silent for a long time, then many years later published System of the World, which in April,
1633 brought him before the Inquisition again. The heliocentric doctrine (which taught that Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun) was the one which offended. Clothed in sackcloth, he fell on his knees before the cardinals, and with his hands on the Bible, recanted the heresies he had taught regarding the earth's motion. He promised to do penance for the rest of his life. Tradition, however, has it that he muttered under his breath,
"Still, it (the Earth) moves".
"In 1992, 359 years after the Galileo trial, Pope John Paul II issued an apology,
lifting the edict of Inquisition against Galileo: 'Galileo
sensed in his scientific research the presence of the Creator
who, stirring in the depths of his spirit, stimulated him,
anticipating and assisting his intuitions.'"
Source:
Wikipedia
1710 Louis XV (d. May
10, 1774), French king, lover of Madame de Pompadour
1748 Jeremy
Bentham (d. June 6, 1832), English philosopher who pioneered utilitarianism and
extolled the philosophical tenet of "the greatest good to the
greatest number".
His
embalmed body is still on display
Blame Bentham for office design?
 Bentham is also
known for a particular invention that affects our lives very much
today, the 'panopticon'. He proposed it as a model prison, whereby the prisoners' activities could be seen virtually at all times by the prison warders. By the same token, the inmates could not see the guards, and never know when surveillance was upon him. The psychological uncertainty was in itself part of the control and discipline of prisoners.
Westerners and many in non-Western countries live today in a panopticon world, through hidden cameras mounted almost everywhere we go, the increasing government surveillance of every phone call, website, email and telephone text message, and by the arrangement of offices, furniture and partitions in the workplace as well as in shops and public buildings. Next time you're in a bank, a government office lobby, waiting in line anywhere indoors or outdoors in any city – remember the Almanac's birthday boy for the day, Jeremy Bentham.
Next time you're at work, have a look where the boss sits and where you sit. Notice how high the partitions are, where the water cooler and tea room are placed, and where the cameras are positioned. When you go to a movie, and are waiting in line for a ticket, check the camera inside the foyer, and outside on the wall, somewhere high up. It might be that little hole, barely visible.
Tomorrow there will be even more
panopticons, and the next day, some more. The panopticon owners will send alerts to justify them, but perhaps their messages about duct tape and body searches, and closing down websites, will not sink in, because you will be thinking of something else. You might be thinking of Jeremy.
The French philosopher, Michel Foucault, identified the panopticon as a significant metaphor in modern society, and described its implications in
Discipline
and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (1975):
Hence the major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. So to arrange things that the surveillance is permanent in its effects, even if it is discontinuous in its action; that the perfection of power should tend to render its actual exercise unnecessary; that this architectural apparatus should be a machine for creating and sustaining a power relation independent of the person who exercises it; in short, that the inmates should be caught up in a power situation of which they are themselves the bearers. To achieve this, it is at once too much and too little that the prisoner should be constantly observed by an inspector: too little, for what matters is that he knows himself to be observed; too much, because he has no need in fact of being so. In view of this, Bentham laid down the principle that power should be visible and unverifiable. Visible: the inmate will constantly have before his eyes the tall outline of the central tower from which he is spied upon. Unverifiable: the inmate must never know whether he is being looked at at any one moment; but he must be sure that he may always be so. In order to make the presence or absence of the inspector unverifiable, so that the prisoners, in their cells, cannot even see a shadow, Bentham envisaged not only venetian blinds on the windows of the central observation hall, but, on the inside, partitions that intersected the hall at right angles and, in order to pass from one quarter to the other, not doors but zig-zag openings; for the slightest noise, a gleam of light, a brightness in a half-opened door would betray the presence of the guardian. The Panopticon is a machine for dissociating the see/being seen dyad: in the peripheric ring, one is totally seen, without ever seeing; in the central tower, one sees everything without ever being seen.
Excerpt from 'Panopticism' in
Michel
Foucault,
Discipline and Punish: The
Birth of the Prison
"Here's a
shopping-list of ten technologies for the police state of the
next decade, and estimates of when they'll be available."
The Panopticon Singularity
We know
you're watching. Mind your own business.
Surveillance
Camera Players
And you thought you'd seen everything on the WWW!
Drive this guy insane
with his panopticon (webcam) in his office.
1782 William Miller
(d. 1849), American Baptist
preacher
and a cofounder of Seventh-day Adventism,
leader of the Millerites.
"Miller began to preach in 1831.
Based on Daniel 8 - 9, Miller counted 2300 years from the time Ezra was
told |
reetings from Australia.
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Lupercalia Festival, ancient Rome
