If I get on to the streets, I will do so because I don’t like the culture of hate that we’re being trained into. We assume every Christian is out to convert the downtrodden Buddhist. We assume every Muslim smells funny and is an extremist. We assume every gay person MUST want to get into our pants because they’re randy bastards. And we assume every Tamil is a Tiger. These must be the most stupid generalisations on earth. I’m Christian and my ID card has Tamil writing on the back to tell the people at the check points that they can’t trust me. And they obligingly don’t. Never mind that I’m allergic to zealous Christians and that I categorically do not support the LTTE... but you try explaining that to a Thickface at a checkpoint.
I think we should protest the trend of intolerance. And what is intolerance, except people embracing their fears and insecurities and making monsters of both? One step forward. Three steps back. Quite apart from spiralling crime rates and economic mismanagement - We’re allowing intolerance of other cultures, other religions – anything that’s different. And because of this - we’re allowing Hate. But ‘Hate’ isn’t a Sri Lankan value? It’s not. It’s not. It’s NOT.
Let us alone. What is it that will last?
All things are taken from us, and become
Portions and parcels of the dreadful past.
- Tennyson, Lotos Eaters
If you ask me why I think we should stand up and make our voice heard now and why it wasn’t done over twenty years ago – the answer is that twenty years ago, the problem crept upon us. Surely no one thought then, that it would become the animal it has? And when we were living through the worst of it; during Pooneryn, Elephant Pass, and the bombings in Pettah and the Central Bank – some of us didn’t know better. We didn’t know anything different. We do now though... and we’re not Apathy junkies anymore.
We need to protest on different levels – and we need to move fast. If we start only once civilian targets in Colombo are hit. It will be too late. And we will look too selfish. Too weak. And not just in the eyes of the rest of the country but to the international community too.
Let what is broken so remain.
The Gods are hard to reconcile;
’Tis hard to settle order once again.
- Tennyson, Lotos Eaters
But we lack faith. We lack the faith that we can really change things and this…. in spite of there being incredible power (latent though it may be) within the general population. In spite of the fact that successive governments were elected in by people like us… and have been allowed to maintain control by people like us. Worse, those governments fund themselves and their extravagant tastes at our expense. If they’re doing something wrong then it is we who should demand things are done differently. We must!
In true Sri Lankan style though - someone says stand up - and other people rip them to shreds without thinking twice. Mala voiced her idea – as we all have before. and aren’t ideas what blogs are supposed to be about? Not for finding out who slept with whom and how many times someone else threw up on a Saturday night… stupidly entertaining as that information may be.
If we let this ‘stand up’ hype slide and don’t make the most of it, it may well be years before we come this way again. And we cannot afford that time. I believe the impact of protests by unaffected, unbiased individuals in incalculable. Think of the impact Whites marching with Blacks to protest segregation must have had on US legislators. Think of the impact worldwide mass demonstrations might have had before this most recent war in Iraq. And think of what might have happened if the German majority i.e. non Jew/ non Homosexual... had taken to the streets in the early 1930s, refusing to accept policies that curtailed the rights of the minority groups. Might things have been any different? We’ll never know.
"to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all"- Elie Wiesel
The responsibility on the civilian Sinhalese to look after the minority groups has never been so great. Specially at a time when we're being pulled apart by political parties on every side of the divide - divisions that are created for no rhyme or reason other than to gain power or stay in control . At the end of the day - it's us civilians who are the pawns in this sick game of chess and it's time we told the politicians, the terrorists and the arms dealers to bugger off and leave us alone.
We have the power dammit – we’re just not doing anything with it.
8 comments:
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I do believe any confusion may, in fact, lie simply in your head.
Most Sinhalese aren't racist. I have known many more Sinhalese, perhaps, than you have. As for the assumptions you very readily accuse other people of having, frankly I have seen little or no sign of them.
As for you not being trusted at a checkpoint... Is that to be wondered at? You are unfortunately left to suffer the consequences of having several members of your race who enjoy blowing up innocent people into several very small pieces. Don't blame the thickface for not trusting you. Surely you must understand, that this war is creating the very distrust, fear, and hatred that the LTTE is claiming it is fighting...
why do so many people resign themselves to approaching things from just their own point of view. From thier own experiences.
Azrael has failed to see the point of view of the 'thickface' at the checkpoint. The person who left that second comment has failed to understand that it is not only the tigers who are killing innocent civilians. We have lived through (and it seems we are living through) a war. In wars innocent people will die on both sides because of the crimes, excesses and shortcoming of the other side.
It's time all of us realise we have all made mistakes and that we all have reason to see the other as a demon. The rebels didnt just appear and prosper for no reason. I can only assume this, but it is probably right, that if you were to speak to someone from rebel held areas who has had a child or mother killed by an air raid or mine, you would find they look at the government in Colombo as blood thirsty devils who only want to subjugate them and give their lands to sinhalese families. In fact some of my friends who lived through July '83, still find it difficult to look at political parties and communities, that stood idly by and said nothing for days while they fled their homes and the mobs, as their representatives and leaders. Similarly they don't identify themselves with the Tiger cause.
Both sides having suffered, both are justified in seeing the other as thickfaced bigots if we continue to look at things selectively.
It is difficult to do, but I think people should get informed and approach the problem with an open mind. Take in information from both sides and decide for yourself if there is a middle ground where the truth would lie, or if the truth is in the propoganda of one side. Does the SL army really throw feces at Tamil villagers to humiliate them? This is something some people believe because they have decided the source that preaches this message is where the truth lies.
Look at matters not purely on emotion but on the facts as they are. Don't take things personally. Look at the bigger picture. I hope one day if someone truly close to me is lost beacuse of this conflict I will remain strong enough to hold on to this view. To understand why people do such things, to continue to attack the reasons and not the person.
voice_in_colombo and anonymous: Did it make you angry that you were lumped together with the racist Sinhalese? Interesting. That's the way Tamils feel when they're all branded terrorists. Same-same.
If it really makes you mad. Stand up. Stand out. Make your voice heard. We need the people in the middle to make a noise and show the world we're unhappy with the way things are.
Your comments are unclear but if you’re saying the civilian Tamils should lead the charge against the LTTE – then you certainly have a point. That said, I imagine it’s a little difficult when you are a) a marginalised minority and b) you have trigger-happy ‘freedom fighters’ breathing down your neck when they’re actually supposed to be on your side.
Also the biggest threat to our national security now is that well-placed/ well-connected, non-Tamils are collaborating with the LTTE and providing them with information and equipment. I hope you, in your infinite wisdom, have a plan to deal with them too.
i don't know about the 'sri lankan style' is to 'rip others to shreds without think twice.' ( some prejudices you and your friends seem to have)
what i know is most sri lankans fail to question received opinion. and if ppl are so unsubstantial enough to get ripped apart by questions and are unable to stand up afterwards they should not stand up in the first place.
unless there is substance behind and inside them and their ideas they have no business standing up and they will fail. no amount of polite assent will make it any different.
ppl who cannot say what they want clearly should not ask others to do 'it' ('somethin', whatever) for them.
at least some of those at the original thread were clever or/and tactful enough to understand that . you weren't. pity
Sittingnut: It's unclear whether you've directed your comment at me or not but I'll assume that's what you intended when you left the comment on my blog.
I will also assume that by 'people' you refer to Tamils... All anyone is really asking for is compassion and tolerance. What on earth is so difficult to comprehend about that?
Oh,and doesn't using the '/ " sign, indicate you're quoting something verbatim?
azriel:
yes quotations marks i used indicate a quotation .
see your own post for the quotes i used in my comment
and you linked to one of my comments in moju in your reference to 'ripping apart'.
as i made clear i was referring to your quote and to ppl who wanted to do 'something' you referred to in your post not to tamils. so your quite unwarranted assumption is wrong.
asking for compassion and tolerance is good but not to terrorists ( and by that i don't mean tamils but ltte , in case you wrongly assume again)
That concludes the lesson for the day, which is that you don't have to explain yourself weeks later, if you are in the habit of leaving more lucid comments in the first place.
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