Response to Another Anonymous Commenter

 Apologize for the delay.

Anyhow here's the scoop.  As typical for those who respond and submit comments, they often do it anonymously -- as was this comment to this post. ("Eclipse, Blood Moon and "Gasetoto") dated 4/15/2014.

 Anonymous: 26 May, 2021

Eclipse of the sun "La ua Tulolo" Eclipse of the Moon "masina ua gasetoto" Fuataga is not an orator he is the Tui Atua Faanofonofo and O le Ao o Atua which is the Ao mamalu o Atua or highest most sacred honor of Atua. If you dont know this you need to research the origins of the Tui Atua title. From its creation to understand how it was established under whose authority and under what important circumstance.

I immediately replied. 

LV: 27 May, 2021

Hahaaa... Anonymous, before I attempt to respond, let me say that you seem like a smart person. Maimau legā poko e ke gofo ma oe, but then hide your face. Why? So I dare you to show your face and identity and then we can talk openly ma fetufaa'i ni mafaufauga, auā ta te fia learn from you too. So stop the "ambush" tactic and come out in the open, then I'll respond. So, again, show your face I dare you. A leai ia ua iloa ai lou va'ava'a ...o ou manatu ma mafaufauga ma lou poto ia na o se mea ua faatauva'a faatauva'a lava. 🤣🤣. 

The comment by Anonymous is accusatory in nature tinged with spite and malevolence. And so I responded in like manner in my own risible and sarcastic style.. LOL!! But the meat and gist of the exchange is yet to come. I doubt he/she (Anonymous) will be manly/womanly enough to reveal himself/herself, but I'll wait for a couple of days. If he/she does not respond, then I will post a more comprehensive response as an addendum. Stay tuned. 

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MY RESPONSE:

Ok, Anonymous, it seems that you will not have the courage to “show your face”. Nonetheless, I will respect your right to remain anonymous. Ae fai mai upu masani a toea’iina “Se e leai se sou ake!”..lol. I understand one of the reasons you may not want to reveal your identity, and that is the fear of public revelation of being someone who is fiapoko ae kumu i le faavalevalea. That’s understood, BUT remember, the worst revelation is self-revelation. You privately live with the realization that you are...uhmmm...stupid? Maybe? LOL!! And sometimes it can trigger some suicidal thoughts. Please don’t do that.

Anyhow, I will now proceed to respond directly to your comment and the accusations and claims raised therein. Your comment ma au tuua’iga, oute faatusaina i se kopai e ga o le suavai/sosi ae leai gi puka (dumplings) or meat. Ae ‘aua e ke popole o lea o le a ou kago e fai au puka (No worries, I will "make your pukas"). I hope you’re well versed and proficient in the Samoan language so you will understand the meaning of the “fai au puka” expression. In case you’re an ‘afa Samoa, here it is. It’s a boxing or fist fight metaphor that describes the dominating fighter inflicting bumps (puka/fula) and bruises on his/her weaker opponent. Ia ga.😁

So let me start inflicting 'em pukas now 😜. Alo mai se’i o’u tago e fai au puka.

ANONYMOUS:
Eclipse of the sun "La ua Tulolo" Eclipse of the Moon "masina ua gasetoto".

LV:
One of the things I make sure that I do before I post anything especially something that requires scholarship and academic information and support is I do my research - something you’ve implied that I don’t do. And so with regards to the meaning/s of words like “eclipse” (both denotative and connotative - se pe e ke malamalama i gei upu se?) I’m sure I’ve done my homework as you can see in the post in question, I have adduced most of my sources and information including the evolution of the word (eclipse) citing authorities like George Pratt and others. Eclipse in the astronomy context is when a celestial body blocks and overshadows another obscuring emanated light. The resulting penumbra is often reddish in color, hence the “toto” (blood) morpheme of “gasetoto”. The “tulolo” meaning therefore in your comment is contextual and sometimes interchanged with the word “mafuli”. Both “tulolo” and “mafuli” basically refer to the sun “falling/plummeting” or setting over the horizon and therefore connotes the universal metaphor for death as in "sunset". Please refer to the “lagi” ("heavenward" (death) symbolism) for my village of Lalomanu: “Ua po le nuu, ua mafuli le la ma le masina”. So the Samoan translation for eclipse is not "tulolo"; it is gasetoto - for both solar and lunar. If you had used "pogisa" or "pouliuligia" (darkened) le la, it would have been better because they describe more aptly the literal appearance of the sun during an eclipse, but tulolo is more in the context of the metaphorical sense denoting death. Hence tulolo has more of a terminal and defeatist context. E pei fo'i o le upu
"malolo". Ua e kau malamalama mai ea? 

ANONYMOUS:
Fuataga is not an orator he is the Tui Atua Faanofonofo and O le Ao o Atua which is the Ao mamalu o Atua or highest most sacred honor of Atua.

LV:
Huh? Fuataga is not an orator? Ua sa'o ai Pekelo: "You Stupid!" 😆

Fuataga IS AN ORATOR, although I don't see in the post where I made such a claim that he was, per se, which logically had prompted you to make a counterclaim that he was not an orator. It seems that you were trying to show that you thought you knew something albeit blatantly wrong. Moreover your claim had nothing to do with the content or context of the post. Hence, nothing reveals your stupidity and ignorance, at least of the Samoan culture, more than this stupid claim of yours. 

When I was growing up in the Aleipata district and Lalomanu village, I learned about the two paramount chiefs Fuataga (of Lalomanu) and Tafua (of Saleaaumua) of the district, as, … wait...for ...it: TULAFALE ALI’I, literally “Orator Chiefs”. In other words, they -- and many other such chiefs of other traditional districts -- are unique in holding both the “orator” and “chief” status and distinctions. So when you address Fuataga or Tafua you would say: "Afioga a le Tuiatua Faanofonofo and Tofā a le Matua". Afioga is used to address a chief (ali'i) and Tofa for an orator (tulafale).

Now although these tulafale ali’i have their own assigned orators (tulafale) who often speak on their behalf, they actually can, and will, orate and speak on their own terms and behalf. Fast forward to modern times and settings, such autonomy is true as it is in Parliament. 

All this is firsthand knowledge for me, mind you. And now it has been documented and recorded elsewhere and online (see images/screenshots below). Fortunately for you, this information will, once and for all, correct and help your faavasivasi, faavalevalea ma lou faafiapoko. Ohtay? Now read the information in these images (emphasis/highlights mine).

About the screenshots:
NB: I am not one to rest on someone else’s laurels, namedrop, or boast and brag about family names (I do honor my ancestors and forebears though), but just an fyi, it’s ironic that the Tafua (Faausuusu) in the first picture happens to be my wife’s great great grandfather. My own bloodline, on the other hand, runs through the Fuataga line/aiga.

ANONYMOUS:
If you dont know this you need to research the origins of the Tui Atua title. From its creation to understand how it was established under whose authority and under what important circumstance.

LV:
First of all, this part of your comment is a non-sequitur at best and a red herring at worst. They are fallacies. And it follows therefore that your overall argument is flawed and fallacious and an embarrassment for you. So here’s something that you’ll be surprised to find out about your ignorance and arrogance being made more glaring and obvious: The source of your “research” lacks the pertinent information, at least on Fuataga and Tafua being de facto orators. The moral is to test and evaluate your sources carefully. If questionable, then it’s possible they can add to your ignorance. And by the way there's an Samoan adage that says: "E talalasi Samoa."(Samoa is multi-versioned in its traditional lore). And so for trying to show off your seeming wit and flair for your version of the origins of Tui Atua, please stop. There are more than one version (talalasi) out there on the subject, as well as how the Tuiatua title was later ceded to Lufilufi with its official residences.

Prior to the reign of Queen Salamasina, the Tui Atua was held at different times by the ranking alii of Atua, including Lufasiaitu and Mua'iteleloa of Fagaloa, Leutele of Falefa (known as Tui Atua Leuteleleiite), and the tulafale-alii polities of Fuataga and Tafua in Aleipata...

Kramer, Augustin (2000). The Samoa Islands: An Outline of a Monograph

(Notice the "tulafale-ali'i" status/distinction again for Fuataga and Tafua) 

Anonymous, you come across as one of those people who thinks he/she knows a lot, especially once they find a little bit of information, and one that seems epiphanic and overwhelming. Remember, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I really don't blame you for not revealing your identity. E uma ifo ua faasala oe e le kou gu'u i lou faavalevalea...ka'uvalea ai le gu'u ma aiga...Hahahaaaa. Anyway, malo lava le kaumafai.

I would love to hear from you and hopefully you will reveal your identity -- though chances are slimmer now. If you’re someone who knows me, now you've gotten to know me better. LOL!!!... and still friends, aye???😆😆

Soifua for now...????

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