Comments on: For a Sri Lankan Nationalism http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/ groundviews is an award winning Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:35:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: groundviews » (non) Patriotic (non) Nationalism http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1625 groundviews » (non) Patriotic (non) Nationalism Thu, 17 May 2007 12:51:03 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1625 [...] In a past article on GroundViews, India was cited as an example of a ‘united’ people. I don’t know enough about India to comment too much - but I think in India, the critical mass (ie. population) of each of the cultural groups that make up the place ensures some kind of balance. And I bet there’s many small minorities that end up with an extremely raw deal. [...] [...] In a past article on GroundViews, India was cited as an example of a ‘united’ people. I don’t know enough about India to comment too much - but I think in India, the critical mass (ie. population) of each of the cultural groups that make up the place ensures some kind of balance. And I bet there’s many small minorities that end up with an extremely raw deal. [...]

]]> By: pass the roti on the left hand side » "Build a New Sri Lanka: ‘Cuz We’ve Sure Screwed Up This One, Haven’t We?" http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1624 pass the roti on the left hand side » "Build a New Sri Lanka: ‘Cuz We’ve Sure Screwed Up This One, Haven’t We?" Thu, 03 May 2007 14:51:34 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1624 [...] What’s that? Who’s a Sri Lankan? Why, we all are! Posted by vivek on 03 May 2007 | Categories: desh, Sri Lanka, injustice, insanity | Trackback URI [...] [...] What’s that? Who’s a Sri Lankan? Why, we all are! Posted by vivek on 03 May 2007 | Categories: desh, Sri Lanka, injustice, insanity | Trackback URI [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1623 Andrew Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:20:50 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1623 i think one of the main problems was there were no buddhist tamils. then, i think sinhala buddhist thing wont be developed. good discussion. i think one of the main problems was there were no buddhist tamils. then, i think sinhala buddhist thing wont be developed.

good discussion.

]]> By: Deane http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1622 Deane Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:08:17 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1622 About tolerance..compassion well technically so does all religions, but when you define a state with a religious preference, it eventually distances itself from the religion it self and becomes an abstract identity. classic example is of course SL. Sinhalese-Buddhism is neither a ethnicity or a religion but more of a mind-set of 'hey we own this place attitude' This is promoted aggressively by some, and it seems silently accepted by others. Not to say it's impossible for a religiously defined country to look above it, Norway's supposed to be a Christian country, but they say its quite secular. i guess it's just difficult. its a largely theoretical thing ne way. About tolerance..compassion
well technically so does all religions, but when you define a state with a religious preference, it eventually distances itself from the religion it self and becomes an abstract identity. classic example is of course SL. Sinhalese-Buddhism is neither a ethnicity or a religion but more of a mind-set of ‘hey we own this place attitude’ This is promoted aggressively by some, and it seems silently accepted by others.

Not to say it’s impossible for a religiously defined country to look above it, Norway’s supposed to be a Christian country, but they say its quite secular. i guess it’s just difficult.

its a largely theoretical thing ne way.

]]> By: indi http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1621 indi Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:47:43 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1621 I think a Sri Lankan Nationalism is easier to achieve with a significant Buddhist component. There is a lot in those teachings to justify and create tolerance and compassion. Sometimes its better to go with the stream rather than fight it, as long as it gets you somewhere. I think a Sri Lankan Nationalism is easier to achieve with a significant Buddhist component. There is a lot in those teachings to justify and create tolerance and compassion. Sometimes its better to go with the stream rather than fight it, as long as it gets you somewhere.

]]> By: Deane http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1620 Deane Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:22:50 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1620 Also, Sanajana if your there - have to complain about the text size!. too small. Also, Sanajana if your there - have to complain about the text size!. too small.

]]> By: Deane http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1619 Deane Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:20:06 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1619 Andrew says: "But you can say that the since india had many identities it was easier for them to build a Indian identity as opposed to just two?" could be, but Indian woes were mainly religious and there was a duality of islam and Hinduism, it would have been only natural for India to become a 'Hindu' country especially in the view of the logic of the partition. The fact that they resisted becoming that 'hindu' country is a huge achievement. Agreed with blacker, a symbol will be important but again there is no obvious choice, perhaps if SL could create a truly pluralist constitution that people can infatuate over then perhaps that would give sufficient bondage. Andrew says:
“But you can say that the since india had many identities it was easier for them to build a Indian identity as opposed to just two?”

could be, but Indian woes were mainly religious and there was a duality of islam and Hinduism, it would have been only natural for India to become a ‘Hindu’ country especially in the view of the logic of the partition. The fact that they resisted becoming that ‘hindu’ country is a huge achievement.

Agreed with blacker, a symbol will be important but again there is no obvious choice, perhaps if SL could create a truly pluralist constitution that people can infatuate over then perhaps that would give sufficient bondage.

]]> By: David Blacker http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1618 David Blacker Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:20:19 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1618 For Sri Lankans to unite, there must be an icon (person or object) to rally around. For the US it's most obviously their flag, for the Brits, perhaps the crown. For India it was the banner of Indian freedom. SL needs to identify such an icon. Being more accommodative to minorities is very good and will progress national unity, but it still won't provide that icon. The tsunami would have always been a shortlived cause, so saying it was an opportunity lost to national unity seems a bit of an exaggeration. For Sri Lankans to unite, there must be an icon (person or object) to rally around. For the US it’s most obviously their flag, for the Brits, perhaps the crown. For India it was the banner of Indian freedom. SL needs to identify such an icon. Being more accommodative to minorities is very good and will progress national unity, but it still won’t provide that icon. The tsunami would have always been a shortlived cause, so saying it was an opportunity lost to national unity seems a bit of an exaggeration.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1617 Andrew Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:27:42 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1617 But you can say that the since india had many identities it was easier for them to build a Indian identity as opposed to just two?. its a good point about griviance, actually in the case of Tsunami that's what brought Sri Lanka together. everybody forgot everything else and came to help out people of all races. it was a common disaster. sadly we could not keep that up. i think it can also be called a historic opportunity lost. But you can say that the since india had many identities it was easier for them to build a Indian identity as opposed to just two?.

its a good point about griviance, actually in the case of Tsunami that’s what brought Sri Lanka together. everybody forgot everything else and came to help out people of all races. it was a common disaster. sadly we could not keep that up. i think it can also be called a historic opportunity lost.

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Sri Lanka: An identity for the nation http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1616 Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Sri Lanka: An identity for the nation Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:41:26 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/2006/12/26/for-a-sri-lankan-nationalism/#comment-1616 [...] groundviews takes a closer look at the politics of identity and peace in Sri Lanka. “What may be a pre-condition to induce a true Sri Lankan nationalism is perhaps a ‘national grievance’; almost all nationalist movements was based on such a common grievance; the Indians found it in British colonialism, the Tamils in Sinhalese majoritarianism, and the Nepalese in undemocratic monarchism.” Neha Viswanathan [...] [...] groundviews takes a closer look at the politics of identity and peace in Sri Lanka. “What may be a pre-condition to induce a true Sri Lankan nationalism is perhaps a ‘national grievance’; almost all nationalist movements was based on such a common grievance; the Indians found it in British colonialism, the Tamils in Sinhalese majoritarianism, and the Nepalese in undemocratic monarchism.” Neha Viswanathan [...]

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