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by Linda Van Schagen

In Sri Lanka, in particular, the ethnicizing of communities is very prevalent. This has been the downfall of this nation. A great deal of emphasis is always placed on the differences between the ethnic groups, based mostly on religious practices and doctrines. The time has come to discuss the common areas which can lead to national cohesion, to develop a unity of purpose.

First and foremost, a national identity: We are all Sri Lankans, that ought to be our national identity. We are proud of our nation, we want to stand united.

The fact that we are constantly divided into Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers has definitely got to stop. When we are thus divided we are open to international conspiracies aimed at destabilizing, and dividing and ruling. Even our own politicians are up to this game, often with the collusion of interfering nations.

There is, for example, a uniting force between religions. The almighty God of the Muslims, Christians, and Hindus is the same. The Hindus like some Christians believe in a Trinity. The Buddha believed there were gods, but went a step further to find the divine in humanity, so that rather than die and find eternity, perhaps after several earthly lives, we can walk and talk with the divine and attain Enlightenment.

It is not the way we seek God, it is the fact that we all believe in a Supreme God. All religions exhort people to beware of the evil forces which are in constant battle with the inherent good in all of us. The Christians refer to this as the Devil or Satan; the Muslims call it Shaitan. The Buddha was constantly in battle with his "shadow side", referred to as "Mara". In the mythical Ramayana, King Rama with the help of Hanuman waged a battle with Ravana the Demon-King to rescue Sita.

The other common ground is literally this beautiful Island we all share. We should all share the space, the forests, the waters, and oceans, without demarcations or divisions of boundaries. We ought to share a joy and pride that we occupy an island nation rich in bio-diversity, with a temperate climate a desert nation will die for. We should respect and praise God for all its riches and bounties we are blessed with. We do not have extremes in weather, and, frankly, we can survive even if we do not have electricity!

That agriculture is our one stable source of income and revenue has to be recognized above all other aspects of commercial activity. It is time we inculcated a sense of regained pride in employment in the agricultural sector, so that our present and future generations will return to the land, and stop seeking monotonous white collar jobs in the cities, toiling away at low paid clerical jobs in banks and commercial establishments, who merely use people to further profits and capitalism.

A look at the financial pages of any newspaper will reveal the colossal profits made by such institutions: Sri Lanka Telecom boasts a nett profit of Rs. 700 million, Hatton National Bank nett profit Rs. 536 million, JKH Rs. 1 billion and so on. Extraordinary profits from poor ordinary people! Institutions become richer on the poor backs of the ordinary, at a time when profits should be reduced to make life easier for the Sri Lankans. A return to agriculture will give people more meaningful lives and a deeper respect for the land. An increase in dairy farming will provide organic fertilizer for farming areas, so that the use of dangerous artificial fertilizers will be finally eliminated. Nutritious fresh milk can be available for the young and the old at fair prices, and other products can also be made like cheese, butter, curd which can slowly but surely eliminate or reduce meat-eating.

All communities participate in cultivation so here is another common ground to unite us, together with fisheries.

When we keep the country divided like this, the largest ethnic group will definitely pre-dominate by sheer numbers and ethnic prejudice, giving rise to resentment and suspicion amongst the minor communities.

This is not "nationalism" but chauvinism. To be nationalist is to give equal rights to all citizens in all fields - politics, education, health care, district governance, and so on. Let's take the Republic of Singapore as an example of "nationalism", and I write with ease because I lived in Singapore for five years between 1979 and 1984. At one time, Lee Kwan Yu was the Prime Minister, Devan Nair (a Tamil) was the President and a Dutch Burgher from Ceylon, George Bogaars, was the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister (Bogaars was my Mother's first cousin - that wing of the family of Bogaars fled from Ceylon to the Malaysian Straits when the British invaded Ceylon), the Opposition Leader was a Tamil and he gave the ruling party a really hard time, but kept them on their feet in fiery debates over various policies. Top Civil Service positions were given to any one from any community who was talented, no holds barred, irrespective of race or language they came from.

Compulsory army service for two years brought all communities together. There were continuous campaigns extolling the virtue of Singapore: One Nation. When Singapore celebrated their 25th year as a nation, I participated in the "New Nation" walk! There was such a feeling of camaraderie, I wish we can enjoy that feeling here in Sri Lanka. One Nation: One People. It did not mean that there were no prejudices or disagreements. They were there all right, but the principle of One Nation over-rode all these.

The rich diversity of cultures should really bring us together, not divide us. We have lovely, colourful pageants, peraheras; festivals; Full Moon Days. We are a secular nation - all people share in these celebrations and holy days. I have been to Buddhist temples, kovils, churches. I have a library full of books on different religions and philosophies. Stop the organized attempts at dividing the people.

In the end, nothing is as important as loving-kindness, metta-sutta, when riches, power, and glory becomes unsatisfactory (dukkha). In conclusion, I would like to quote from the Holy Bible: Ecclesiastes 9:14-18.

"There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.

"Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

"Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

"The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

"Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good."

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