Mending our ways

Last week’s Oxford Union fiasco to me was a sad attempt by a segment of our Diaspora and other interest groups of taking yet another step in the wrong direction. It was an incident, in my mind, we do not deserve at this time when we are seeking a new way forward.

Open discussion

I do not believe that he had accepted a second invitation, to indulge in discussion that would be a celebration of the military victories over the LTTE or to hurt our Tamil brethren here or of the Diaspora living out there, by revisiting a past, that is both painful and sad. It is a past, that we must only learn lessons from and move on to fresh vistas and desirable heights.

I am prepared to give the benefit of my doubt, to the thought that the opportunity for the second address was taken, to share a vision for that way forward with the rest of the world. There are analysts who presented varied opinions as for its timing and context. Yet, in my mind free and open discussion of issues cannot take place, if every platform available for that is not taken advantage of.

Civic duties

I remember as a school boy, how, still fresh from our post-colonial ties, we learnt in our ‘civics’ lesson of the value of free speech and interaction for the sustenance of democratic institutions. I remember having dreams of me, getting on top of that ‘soap box’ at London’s Hyde Park to shout out loud. My teacher had told us that it is where anyone from anywhere, regardless of position, race, cast or creed, was able to speak on anything under the sun. We were taught that there was such respect for freedom of expression and that there was a deep sense of longing among the British to dispose of their civic duties.

Where else

Speakers Corner in Hyde Park: Allows people to speak on any subject without fear of legal repercussions. Pic. courtesy: Google

I was impressed with the message of welcome the Oxford Union’s President James Kingston had for the newcomers to the OU which said “From our foundation in 1823 the Oxford Union has stood devoted to the ideals of free speech, intellectual exchange and student democracy that continue to make us the world-class institution we are today. Time and again we have stood at the forefront of national debate, helping to shape the ideals and oratorical skills of generations of students and future leaders.”

Equal opportunities

Like many of you, my readers, I am yet another simpleton citizen of Mother Lanka, who longs to see us as a nation where kindness and tolerance will reign and a conflict free environment will bring us all prosperity. I yearn, like most of you, for all of us to live in harmony, sharing equal opportunities treating each other with dignity and honour, celebrating each other’s differences seeking a unity within the diversity that has been and must be in us. Along the way, we were divided, ruled, taken advantage of, wounded and hurt by others as well as our own.

I, like most of you wish that we can forgive and forget our follies in the past, learn lessons and move on to build a desirable Sri Lanka.

A Sri Lanka where we can be free of fear, have equal opportunities for all, be tolerant of each other, bringing hope and smiles back for all our citizens.

Waited for Godot

I am not naive to think that this is an easy road ahead. I also am not naive to think that because we were able to defeat the brute terrorist outfit that was the LTTE, will ensure greater understanding between the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and other races of our country and that they will be able to live happily ever after. But I know that we, like the good British playwright Samuel Becket brought out in his play ‘Waiting for Godot’, waited for Godot for far too long, hoping that our ‘leaders’ will cease to be mere politicians and opportunists will be replaced by the well-meaning and caring.

We lived in hope for far too long, dreaming of days when we can all be free of fear and corruption, treat each other with dignity and honour and get away from divisiveness to being unified, living together in this land in true human bondage.

Be engaging

Like you, I know that the hard road ahead to achieve all of this would need resolve, commitment, involvement and lots of hard work.

If we were to leave it merely in the hands of the overflowing Cabinet of Ministers, the elected and the not so elected representatives who form our legislatures and other monolithic institutions with the view that “it is their business to deliver us”, that indeed will be the way towards certain failure.

Each of us at this critical time in our history has our bit to do.

That bit, in my mind is not merely to be critical, but to be engaging, creating productive discussion, being constructively critical and while doing that, lending our hearts and dirtying our hands on the task.

This is time when we must focus and focus hard on the tasks ahead, regardless of party lines, dogmatic positions and blind loyalty.

Lend heart and shoulder

I am not at all naive to think that all is well in our midst.

There is much that is wrong and needs fixing. But I see that there is effort at wanting to fix them. In the midst of the political game-play that goes on, there is also a deep-seated desire and resolve we can count on.

Many calls have been made and many invitations made for all our people to chip in and lend each of our hearts and shoulders to the task. And that most definitely includes our Diaspora of all races.

Some may, attribute them to empty words, but I would want to hope that they are genuine and sincere.

If we are to seek a common future of peaceful co-existence with opportunity, dignity and honour, leaving our hurt behind, no matter how hard and painful it is, will be a good first step.

There is so much to be done. Let us please do it together. Patience and tolerance are both sound virtues.