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> Commoners are the tools of the village. This idiom, resembling the organic analogy of society with the common people becoming the "hands" of the state, may be used to "put the commoner in his place," or to suggest that a member of the ruling elite be more considerate of the commoner residents. |
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> The ocean crabs crowd out the village crabs. "Crabs from the sea," in other words, commoner peoples who have only recently taken up residence, may become more influential than long-term residents of higher, historical rank. Members of such lineages, omengdakl or low status, because they must achieve to gain recognition and because they are adopted and protected by high ranking clans, may actually be more privileged than older residents. |
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> Sea crabs have pushed out land crabs. Outsiders have taken over the land or titles of local people. An outsider (e.g., adopted child, friend) has become more important than a blood relative. |
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> With persistence the village of Ngersuul was maintained When the men's clubs of Koror could not proceed as far as Melekeiok, a major village to the north that stood in political balance with Koror, the clubs would often stop over at Ngersuul and sack the small village. Yet the people of Ngersuul, over and over defeated, clung to their village and persisted through history. (Sometimes the village of Angaur is used, with a similar meaning, in place of Ngersuul.) The saying may be applied to the harried individual who is about to give up a task because of repeated failure. |
