Heretical hijinks afoot in the island nation of Vanuatu. The self-proclaimed “World’s Happiest Place” has taken their beachside blasphemy to the streets to celebrate a mystical white saviour:

World War II and the arrival of US troops on Vanuatu was a defining time for the movement. They had a name for their spiritual deity. He was John Frum.

Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for delivering to them the munificence of the US military.
[...]
They were awestruck by the army’s cargo of tanks, weapons, refrigerators, food and medicine.

“One day he will come back,” he says.

“John is our god,” declares village chief Isaac Wan, who beats his fists into the ground to emphasise his words.

Preston may have to start re-thinking his options about where to move considering this development.

You could rule Vanuatu as as their albino god with an i-Pod and a Sam’s Club membership. And unless my CIA book is wrong, you can buy some lagoon-front mansion for $40k US.

About 20% of Tanna’s population of 30,000 follow the teachings of one of the world’s last remaining cargo cults.

Other islanders can barely disguise their contempt for it.

A Christian youth worker told me how he thought the cult was childish. “It’s like a baby playing games,” he insisted. “Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true,” he said.

Those crazy kids. While lacking a consistent source of potable water, it appears they are experiencing a surfeit of irony.

We may have to take a road trip and straighten everything out.

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