May 25, 2009
cargo cults sprung up in villages in the south pacific during world war II. local villagers didn’t know where US soldiers’ supplies were coming from.  they suspected that the supplies were summoned by magic & sent from the spiritual world. the ‘john frum movement’ is one of the only cargo cults that still exists.  john frum day takes place every february 15th on the island of tanna in the country of vanuatu.  john frum is their ghostly american messiah.  they have built fake airstrips and planes made from straw.  they carry rifles made from bamboo. “as they thump their feet in time to their own singing, they slash at the air with the make-believe chain saws. ‘we’ve come from america to cut down all the trees,’ they sing, ‘so we can build factories.’”

cargo cults sprung up in villages in the south pacific during world war II.

local villagers didn’t know where US soldiers’ supplies were coming from.  they suspected that the supplies were summoned by magic & sent from the spiritual world.

the ‘john frum movement’ is one of the only cargo cults that still exists.  john frum day takes place every february 15th on the island of tanna in the country of vanuatu.  john frum is their ghostly american messiah.  they have built fake airstrips and planes made from straw.  they carry rifles made from bamboo.

“as they thump their feet in time to their own singing, they slash at the air with the make-believe chain saws. ‘we’ve come from america to cut down all the trees,’ they sing, ‘so we can build factories.’”