The Cult of "Cargo"

They came from the sky.

In World War II, American servicemen were waging war in the Pacific. They needed a place to launch their attacks on Japan, and since Japan had already conquered most of the nations in the Pacific, they had to go to some of the the smallest island nations as launching points.

One of these nations was Tanna. When they landed, they brought the First World emenities - Coca Cola, radios, airplanes, as cargo.

And they recruited the islanders to help them build airstrips, landing areas, and others. This was something they hadn't experienced before.

This wasn't the first time they had seen white men on Tanna. Missionaries had come to Tanna, but they hadn't brought all these powerful jet engines, these wonderful consumerist products.

And when the Americans left, a cult started. It was the cult of John Frum. No one knows where "Frum" came from, other than soldiers saying that the stuff came FROM somewhere, or soldiers introduced themselves as John from Cinncinati, or something.

So know, every year, those villagers put up landing towers in the hopes that those planes from the sky will return with Coca-Colas and tvs. Because they think this will bring it back.

So maybe it's the corruption of consumerism, or how consumerism is in everyone. I don't know.

Just remember, just looking up and hoping won't bring down the cargo from above. Some miracles you have to make yourself.