Election Day is a Regeneration of Samoa's Commitment to itself.

Forget the adversarial politics and village rivalries. Forget the divisions and the rancour. Today is a day of national celebration of Samoa's independence after 49 years and cultural survival after 3000 years. Other Pacific nations have been taken over by more powerful and financially well-off countries. Samoa remains steadfast in its commitment to itself. Every election day is a regeneration of that commitment.

The hymn 'Lo ta Nu'u' sums up this commitment. It embodies the spirit of our nation. A nation that has given itself to God but remains true to itself, with all its imperfections and foibles. There is no other country on earth that Samoans can call their own. This is it. Whilst many of us may travel and settle in far away countries, our hearts will always remain with our ancestors who are buried in our soils under a blue sky that still breathes God's free air. The hymn beseeches our nation to rise up and give thanks to the Almighty for our small country perched upon the vast limitless expanse of the ocean. A nation that has survived for so long because of the beloved commitment of its people.
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Not many of us will have these thoughts today as we busy ourselves with the voting process. But many of us may have those thoughts the next time we sing 'Lo ta Nu'u'. The hymn stirs the emotions and will even bring tears to the eyes when we think of our family. It brings a calm peace to our souls. So, as we go to the polls today, I hope that the tenets of this hymn are at the forefront of our minds, even if the hymn isn't: God, Family, Village, Country. That when we vote, we vote for the betterment of our families, villages, and country. That is who we are as a nation. We are a collection of families who live under God. We are a people who unite for the common good for our families, with our villages, and for our country.

Today is one of those days that we unite for the common good by voting for the next national government to take its place at Tiafau malae. Whatever the result, let us remember that God's peace is with us all. On days like today, we remember that the Pax Samoana that was established in 1830 is a commitment to ourselves, our families, our villages, and our country. Whatever the result, let us remain true to that commitment.
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Manuia le faiga palota tele Samoa. Manuteleina lou sa!