The Horton Place Progressive Front
It’s election time. Time to make promises, shake hands, pay people to throng at your speeches and wave majestically. It is a time for many things. Perhaps even a totally irrelevant and irreverant post on something that came to mind (these kind of thoughts occur very often, but very few are ever published). Before reading the rest of this post, please ensure that you’ve got a sense of humour and most importantly, an open mind – I can be very confusing sometimes, which can be a good opportunity to laugh at me. If you lack the two – I hope that you have free will. This entails being able to understand that No, I Don’t Need To Read The Rest Of This Stupid Post And Get All Hot And Bothered About It. If you find yourself lacking in all three departments – please don’t read any further. If you’re still reading this, you’re implicitly agreeing that you posess the first two qualities yadda yadda yadda yadda…
So anyway. I watched Ms Nisha Pillai on BBC speak to Lord Naseby of the British-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Group with regard to the issue of the EU travel ban on the Tamil Tigers. It was quite interesting to watch the conversation and the reactions of the two individuals concerned.
However, for details and discussion on matters re: LTTE, GOSL and the “ethnic” conflict in Sri Lanka – might as well check Mephistopheles or Nittewa. Nothing on those lines here. Sorry, Politics is a subject that I refrain from discussing (specifically) or debating in public – as someone once said, “It’s like wrestling a pig – not only do you end up getting dirty, but the pig actually enjoys it”.
Rather, much in line with the strange ways that my mind works – watching that little tete a tete cultivated a (rather weird) vision of the future. A glimpse of the world as it soon could (will?) be.
A quick trip to the Wikipedia (don’t we all love that site) will show just how many separatist movements are at work in the world today. I will not discuss the validity or the idealogy behind these movements.
Rather, I will say this – today, more than ever before in the history of mankind, we are living in greater proximity to each other. Something of a global village. If not physically, then virtually. Advances in technology such as the Internet and satellite broadcasts have brought cultures diverse and different in contact with each other. People who only 20 years ago would have led lives that hardly strayed beyond the borders of their little hamlet in the border villages in Sri Lanka may now watch various american television shows on their solar powered TVs. What does Siripala make of “Sex and the City”? (Okay, so its a dumb example – please provide a better one)
So in this modern Babylon where races, religions and cultures are continuously confronting each other, I see people getting increasingly anxious about their individual identity. This is followed by perceived or (sadly) actual social/political/economic disadvantages that tend to frustrate people and cause problems. Hmmm….
Sure – I’m unique – but so’s everyone else. Oh dear, I’m feeling a little – just a little – bit insecure now. How come those other people are getting a better deal than I am?
So lets all gang up depending on what our most common factor is. Let’s get Tribal. After all, the Tribe knows whats best for its members. Or rather, the head of the Tribe knows what is best.
So lets assume the Tribes are set up. These will be split along the usual lines of race first. Perhaps religion can be a secondary distinction. Caste, Social status, Job satisfaction, Sports involvement and voluntary services provided can be used as filters afterwards. Being of mixed racial background can be a hindrance. Best to go with the secondary distinctions then.
So what does that give us? Hypoythetically, we’d have The Sinhala Bauddha Govi Madhyama Panthika Rekiya Wirahitha Upadhidharee Pakshaya (translated: The Sinhala Buddhist Govi-caste Middle-class unemployed-graduate party) could be set up, where it would find itself in polar opposition to the Sinhala Bauddha Govi Madhyama Panthika Rekiyalabhi Upadhidharee Pakshaya (as before, but employed-graduates), on the grounds that employment was given out by central government on a purely arbitrary basis that discriminated them.
But why stop there? Let’s get geographical. We can get these various groups to agitate (first peacefully, then violently – subject to actual weaponry and training available) against whatever central government is around, asking for a separate state. This would enable the different parties to pursue their various agendas independently.
But where do we draw the line? Is the setting up of separate states the solution to problems brought about by globalisation? Where do we draw the line and say that separatism by the Horton Place Progressive Front, the Mirihana People’s Alliance or the Melbourne Idama Liberation Kangaroos are people with serious issues as opposed to other separatist movements?
The planet we live on is like an island in an ocean of stars. Until there are viable alternatives (like the proposed colonies on the moon and Mars), there’s little we can do. The world population has been growing at what seems to be a dangerously unsustainable rate. This leaves all of us with increasingly less land to live on, much less die on. Are we to keep splitting it up into tinier and tineir pieces?
Do we really need to go back on millennia of evolution, technological and social progress to relive the ways of our ancestors and their tribal feuds (“My grandfather offed your grandfather 100 years ago, so the fact that your father offed my father is no reason for you to claim ownership of this piece of land”)?
If we keep splitting up the land we have based on the various labels we give ourselves – what will be left of us as humanity?
Have we as humanity grown up? Or do we still dwell in our little individual wells, admiring the sky above and ignoring the world around us?
Thanks ma’am. It’s actually “D”, but most people get confused with the name...
Siripala is wondering how come I can’t get with the village girls that easy…
Good post. Doubt we’ll get out of the proverbial well anytime soon.
Scourge
29 Sep 05 at 12:05 pm
to problems brought about by globalisation?
I’m curious, how did you arrive at this conclusion?
ivap
29 Sep 05 at 3:13 pm
Scourge: Thanks man.
ivap:
Well, the same way I do to so many other conclusions – I jumped.
But seriously, I see the issue of separatism arising from the growing insecurity among people all over the world. With the clash of cultures, many people are having to re-asess their existing beliefs and value systems. Exposure to alternate viewpoints means that the traditional way of living, the traditional boundaries set up between people are being eroded.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for a logical, sane person to further the myths that “My race is superior to yours because…” or that “I’m from a superior race, we got here first….” or “We kicked your ancestors’ collective butt so we lay claim to this land” etc etc.
As a result, people are having to contend with the stark reality of being in the competition for scarce resources without the added help of labels to make their lives easier.
For example – why do so many of these separatist movements agitate for a separate state? It’s because they feel that they’re being oppressed. By this, I feel they’re making a statement that the increasingly accelerating pace of life is incompatible with their existing way of life – so they seek to solve the issue not by adapting, but by trying to hide away. To do so, the most insecure of these people seek security in numbers – hence the “minorities” versus the “majorities” and the accusations of “oppression”.
I strongly disagree that a separate state will ever be the solution. Perhaps I’ve not been very articulate in the manner that I presented my idea…
I feel that solutions to these problems require intelligent and concerted efforts to create a greater understanding that despite the personal choice of religion (and whatever belief propogated by that religion) or claimed bloodline, we are all human. So it is upto us to accept that the times are changing and be prepared to evolve accordingly.
Dulan
29 Sep 05 at 10:46 pm
Dulan, your hypothesis of globalization as being the cause (I would call it one of many pervasive factors) of separatism is an interesting one. On a microcosmic level, I think one can draw a parallel to the ghettoization of 3rd/4th world refugee communities in developed nations. This necessity to cluster together to form a collective identity and forge a separate conciousness in reaction to pressure (be it cultural, economical or political) from the Other is problematic as this isolation ferments misunderstanding, exchanges tradition for culture, and generally creates more problems for the group from within. And when all this self- imposed pressure explodes, you have something like the recent London attacks.
Mephistopheles1981
30 Sep 05 at 7:51 am
From Humanists of Utah I came across this quote I’d like to share, which I think has something to do with what I’ve already written:
Dulan
30 Sep 05 at 1:53 pm
Dulan: To me, what you are describing is modernity, nothing more nothing less. Globalisation is only the latest phase of modernity ( some would call it post-modern ). Modernity recognises the primacy of the individual (amongst other things) and this is the biggest threat to existing pre-modern power structures.
Thus, separatism can be seen as reactions to the “flattening’ effect of the modern world. It is a sign that a society is undergoing a revolution as it transforms from the pre-modern to the modern. The memes of modernity are spreading though a society. It is joining civilization ( none of this plural civilizations BS, it’s the singular )
On the other hand, as you have noted, globalisation brings various cultures to our lives and challenges the local socio-cultural norms. In this situation, is the reaction isolationism or Tribal separatism as suggested?
In the case of sri-lanka I don’t think we can easily separate the two. That’s why I’m more inclined to see it as the effect of modernity than globalization.
ivap
30 Sep 05 at 11:02 pm
above ‘spreading though a society’ = ‘spreading through a society’
ivap
30 Sep 05 at 11:04 pm
mephisto: I think I agree with this line of reasoning though I see it as a clash with modernity (as I have mentioned above). However, the difference is, its not the existing power structures within the minorities that are lashing out but those who further isolate themselves from within. Even at the microcosmic level they are rejecting their own and in doing so act in cult-like behaviour.
ivap
30 Sep 05 at 11:32 pm
I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Why would you assume that the tribe divides itself on race? I thought in the old days it was good ol’ physical strength? Also, with TV doesn’t siripala need to be able to afford one first? Maybe if Kamala goes to “Saudi” then they can? Unless he’s single in which case he’ll need to get bumloved by a few foreigners first? Alos, what if the Melbourne Idama Kangaroos banded together and took over the country? Would having to fight them for freedom like the Indians and the British forge a sense of national identity and pave the way to a better government based on the best man for the job?
Kanesh
2 Oct 05 at 3:13 am
ivap:
hmmm…. I used the term tribal separatism here loosely, to express my point of view. I see people banding up together due to the various pressures exerted by modernism (as you have pointed out) into historically defined tribal groups – i.e. groups based on race, religion or even geographical location.
Frankly, I think you’ve said it a lot better than I have.
Dulan
3 Oct 05 at 10:13 pm
Kanesh:
Actually, I think you’ve taken me a little too seriously. But to answer your questions:
These aren’t the good old days. With the wide variety of cultures available to lay claim to, I’d say it’s a lot easier to band up as descendents of so-and-so and so forth. Strength is also of lesser importance now than before.
I really don’t know. Even though India does have a significantly more impressive sense of national identity, there have been a number of tribal separatists in action there as of late. This being, as I’ve already said, due to the modern way of life not being compatible with their established ways and values.
As for government – perhaps what you’re talking about might occur. But as far as I see it, I’m unsure if the people of Sri Lanka today will fight for freedom under one banner – perhaps as a coalition to further their individual needs.
My point was simply that separatism is not a solution to the problems of today. My examples of the HPPF and MILK were to clarify my point that separatism can be taken to extremes.
Hence my original query – where do we draw the line?
Dulan
3 Oct 05 at 11:23 pm
yo dulan – very interesting stuff.
I have to confess, I know that “separatism” is a dirty word in our country but I am a firm believer in it – sorry.
As I have said before – some races were not designed to mix with each other. We just don’t get along. Well – some of us might but & of course I have a Sinhalese friends – but they tend to be “modern” thinkers who live in a “global” village. We never discuss politics, yet we show sympathy & respect for each other when crimes are commited against either side.
I want a seperate state because i feel that we need a break trom each other. Not for any reasons of mad national fanatical pride or ambitions – but just so that we can stop, think what we are doing & start again.
The army occupation in the North – is just out of control. You tell me that the people of Jaffna don’t want a seperate state & I say crap. They are simmering with rage. An example of this was the almost unbelievable brutality shown in the “barbershop incident’.
Only nationalistic fools who have no vision cannot see the benefits of a seperate state for Tamils. The ethnic composition of the Eastern province was deliberately changed. Well if this means that the only seperate state we can have is in the North – so be it.
Either way – it will give us enough breathing space to get on with just living our lives. You simple things, fishing, growing paddy, having kids, getting an education, living, dying – of natural causes that is
if you knew that this would make hundreds of 1000s of people happy & it was in your power to grant this to them – surely as a reasonable human being, you would lay down you nationalistic pride & say – the time has come????
Tell me dulan that I’m right – nothing to do with politics, (or pigs) – tell me that a reasonable man also desires freedomw for everyone???
btw – am not an anon nutter, just trying to work out how to get my name on this blog to link to my blog – think I have worked it out…
ashanthi
30 Oct 05 at 2:50 am
Ah.
I’ve gotta agree with you on one point, Ashanthi – a reasonable man also desires freedom for everyone.
I find your thoughts on separatism very interesting. Before I go on – I refer back to the quote I used “The significant problems that we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them.”
You say that you have “modern” thinkers who live in a “global” village as friends. These people seem to be able to get along, irrespective of their ethnic and/or religious background. So by inference, the separate state you believe in is for…..? I’d use the term masses, but that sounds pretty derogatory.
The Sinhala and Tamil people, along with pretty much everyone else in the world (irrespective of the label they choose to live with) have to deal with the fact that we all live on a planet with limited resources. So there’s really not much chance that we can go back to a life where people lived relatively isolated from one another, without perhaps some serious ethnic cleansing.
Which brings me back to what I’ve written before. The current situation in the country is due to the fact that so many people haven’t woken up to the fact that globalization is in fact a real phenomenon that they cannot escape. The need IMHO, is to get more people to realise that the world is both bigger and smaller than they think. Bigger in the sense that there are far more things than they know about, smaller in the sense that there’s less to go around than they’d like to believe. At present, most of them don’t – or at least don’t show it. Hence the relative (perceived) lack of “modern” thinkers in Sri Lanka.
So the creation of a separate state on the basis of race – a factor which no one has any control over – sounds very fascist to me. I’m all for human rights, but more so for an evolutionary step in human thinking.
Then again, I’m still working on my own attitudes and thought processes….
Dulan
31 Oct 05 at 1:00 am