OK, I just woke up early morning and this was twirling in my head and I just had to put it out there:
dude let's overthrow the government!
OK, now I know that your either laughing, closing this tab (DOOOOON'T!!!) or calling the Army HQ to tell them about a possible Coup attempt or something... :S ok I really don't wanna be dragged away in a white van so I'd keep this short and in-(or un-?)subversive as possible...
So I assume everybody's watched at least one movie about America's "War of Independence" right? It was one of those grassroots movements where people of all castes and creeds and professions (from the fancypants New York lawyer to the farmer from Virginia) got together, took their muskets along and overthrew the colonial government. After they did that, they wrote the most perfect constitution in recorded history... how perfect you ask? it has been amended only 27 times in the USA's 233 year existence. (in comparison ours, which is only 32 years old, has been amended 17 times already!)
Now let me get to the point. The people who wrote that document were the same that had fought in the war. And they were basically everyday people, who understood the problems that everyday people go through. That's why the constitution was begun with a "We the people" not "We the Barons" or "We the Noblemen" or stuff like that... And that's why the constitution itself provides Americans with freedom from government and basic rights that nobody can take away from them. It emphasizes "Individual Freedom" over "Government Intervention" and that instills that "I don't want the government messing with me!" attitude that ordinary Americans have, and makes America the "Land of the free", the world's most Libertarian country...
Now compare the situation here. We were basically a feudal society till 1505 (1815 in the Kandyan Provinces) and when the colonial powers took over they continued with that excising framework of control... basically why fix something that's been working for like 2000 years right? And when they gave us Independence in 1948, they gave it to a bunch of Elitist Noblemen. Who's the biggest savior of the peasants? Bandaranaike? oh didn't you know, he was like the richest and most powerful of them all! and the man who wrote (or should I say enacted?) our present constitution (which gives downright dictatorial powers to the Executive President I should add) was a part of that government that got us independence in 1948... man! like how cool is that??!
Now that you've got the background, here's what we're missing out on: citizens who give a damn about their rights, and who'd take it up with the government if they thought that their freedoms and way of life were at threat. And what have we got in this country? peasants who just go "Keep your head down son and the government will fix everything someday"! I hate it! I want a proactive citizenry who'd have tea parties and demonstrations, who'd ask tough questions from their Senators at their local town halls! I want a freaking government that UNDERSTANDS that it's only in power as long as the people consent to it and is hence kept in check. Is this all too much to ask for?
Yeah, you may go ahead and dial the Army now... :P
Chavie, So well articulated, I'm sure so many will be in agreement with you. If only there were more young & intelligent forerunners like you, SL would have hope to be all that it no doubt could be. Thank you for putting our feelings on this highly controversial topic into words. I could'nt agree with you more,... no debate this time :)
ReplyDelete@MTC: I knew that you'd understand this post most of all, living in that wonderful nation! :)
ReplyDeleteand I should also note that (unless people misunderstand) that this isn't me supporting either party in the debates going on in the US over healthcare and other issues... It's me looking, with amazement, at the amount of public participation, both people for and against the proposals... it's truly great that such important policies are decided and debated not in some corner in Washington but in community gatherings all over the country. Truly unique and a system that I truly envy! :)
Thanks for your comment MTC! :)
Hope your real name is not Chavie :)
ReplyDeleteIf not suggest you change your name back to earlier one ;)
yea, seriously I think it's better if I sent it to groundviews and told them to post it anonymously or something... :S hope the great king is feeling merciful these days! ;)
ReplyDeleteIs there ever going to be POWER TO THE PEOPLE??!?!?!
ReplyDelete@LS: who knows bro, who knows? :/ but this I know for sure: the government isn't going to do it hand it to you and say "here you go putha"! People are really going to have to work towards it and reclaim what is rightfully theirs under the democratic system! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment LS! :)
Hi again Chavie, yes, I really did understand, its a topic my husband and I discuss/ debate often, and we've talked about your very thoughts on the troubled system back in SL. I really think the Obama administration is so liberating...even for a country that is already as liberated as it is. The way judge Sotomayor was grilled prior to taking her new position was a great example of how well this system works, as opposed to how Sri Lanka's new chief justice was appointed not so long ago.
ReplyDeleteWow.. Chavie you should campaign to be the next president and we'll give you our fullest support! =D Great post!
ReplyDeleteAbout what you say, yep, can't agree more. It's an issue we're all bothered about. But will it ever change? The way things are going.. I'm sure we'd end up with a new set of 'monarchs' who will rule the kingdom for many more generations to come! -__-
I'm glad at least the war was over for good. But there's much more to do in a country than just holding never ending elections. We need to change this whole system of voting as much as this borrowed constitution. hopefully.. we'll have a better tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed. =D
Chavie, uve got presidental potential! Go for it. =D.
ReplyDeleteAppe Chavie ta Jayawewa! =D =D.
I think the problems you highlight are a part of a much bigger issue, Chavie. It's a mixture of our cultural attitude towards people in power, and socialism-driven views regarding how much power these people actually have.
ReplyDeleteA lot of our people don't actually understand the fundamentals of democracy. People in the US (I believe) have a much better understanding of it because the country in its present form hasn't existed without democracy. To rectify the situation, the general populace needs to be educated about how much power actually lies in their hands. This is a lot more difficult than overthrowing the government! If we want lasting change in Sri Lanka, there needs to be a change in the mindset of the people...it doesn't matter who's in charge.
Aside: the fact that the US constitution has been amended less than ours doesn't necessarily mean that it's 'perfect'. It was the highly convoluted US constitution that gave GWB the keys to the White House...that doesn't sound perfect to me :S
@MTC: I agree with you on that. President Bush's term was marred by getting America involved in Iraq (with questionable intelligence i.e. no WMDs were found) against the majority of Americans wishes, using torture in Gitmo and the wiretapping scandal among others. And what happened to the Repubs during the last election is exactly what a government gets when it oversteps the mandate that the people have given them.
ReplyDeleteYour example set out there is so apt. In America everyone has to go through the Presidential vetting process, then the media grilling, then the tough Senate confirmation hearings and so on. If that isn't the best system there is right now, I don't know what is... :) Here in comparison if the President decides that his cook is going to be the next chief justice he just appoints him and that's it! the King has spoken! End of story! the system is so broken that it can't even be called a system anymore... :/
@Harumi: I fear the coming of a new ruling elite or "monarchs" too... but to be fair we've consistently had a monarchy since the days of Ravana I guess... never a "Government of the people, by the people, for the people"!
and I totally agree with you that holding elections that can be held in one day over a span of like an year and a half is just plain wastage of public money and just serves to erode the public's interest in the democratic process... and I also hear that they're going to bring back the 'seat' system where each electorate get's an MP who is held accountable to the people of the electorate. This will be better than the present system I agree, but how far it'll take public interaction in the governing process is still unclear. see, even in the old days the 'Mamber Mahaththaya' or Member of Parliament was treated as a virtual baron or local ruler by the people of the electorate, especially in rural areas...
@Harumi and GG: hehe the whole point of this post is like "we don't need a good President we need good citizens!" you know? I think there are a lot of qualified people fit to hold public office, but that doesn't make the individual citizen's duty to take part in the nation's decision making process any less important. I want to be a dutiful citizen, coz that top honcho just has too much of a chance of getting shot! ;) hahaha
@Pseudo: Agree with you 100%! I pointed out the feudal factor because I believe that people still have that 'yatahath pahath' attitude (I think you call it subservience) that they had from the feudal era still towards their elected representatives. Also agree people need education but I also remember being taught for O/Ls out responsibilities as citizens and told that the elected officials are only our representatives and not our overlords or something. But those are just words, and the culture doesn't allow for those words to be turned into reality. I should emphasize that I don't advocate revolution here (as in a non-democratic overthrow) but I don't know when society is going to change and take back the rights that are theirs!
lol at the GWB part! :D yeah I don't say it's 'perfect' perfect but half the country voted for him and basically they tossed a coin and elected him. The supreme court deciding the winner bit was retarded though... they should've just done what a majority of other countries do and held a runoff election between the 2 leading contenders... :) (btw, I was talking about the ideals of the constitution, not the process of election that it maps out... I think the whole "Electoral College" think is just a mess, but hey, every system's got it's kinks, yeah?) :D
Thanks for your comments guys! :)
Yup, I'd say subservience is incompatible with democracy. With regards to O/L Social Studies, yes it did teach us all that and more. But don't you think that something so fundamental shouldn't be limited to a classroom of 16 year olds? The teachers teach us about our civic rights and responsibilities, but in reality, do our schools encourage us to exercise those rights and bear those responsibilities? I know that's opening the door to a whole different argument, but my point is that subservience is so deep-rooted in our society, that one or two chapters in a Yr 11 textbook are too little too late.
ReplyDeleteEvery system does have its kinks, and I think it's important to note that we can't take a "one size fits all" approach to policy making. I think the SL constitution as it stands probably needs only a few tweaks...it's how we implement it that requires drastic change.
@Pseudo: a lot has been said about schools and stuff in recent time so I won't go over to that topic, but I do agree that 16 is really too late. and too little. I was fortunate to have a social studies teacher at school who really understood these things and she'd always remind us how we the people elect and there aren't any 'kings' anymore... but you're right, and I'm thinking that these kinds of things are as important enough to be given a talk to by the parents to their kids on (like the "birds and the bees" talk, of course in Sri Lanka we do neither! lol)
ReplyDeleteThe SL constitution badly needs tweaks... like actual checks and balances that work and maybe making the Presidency less powerful again... but you're right again, implementation is key. and I think that there needs to be a grassroots movement led by ordinary fedup citizens you know? these educated types atleast! it's an "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing" kinda scenario... :/
Well the Opposition exists to 'check' the Govt...but I don't think we've ever had an Opposition that carried out its duty.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for 'educated types'...I'd say we have a lot of 'literate types' but not as many 'educated types'...there's a huge difference :-)
@Pseudo: hahaha opposition, don't get me started on them! :D
ReplyDeletebut honestly, look at what happens in the US... on some issues the Repubs and the Dems seem to be totally in league... I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes stuff like that leads to erosion of personal freedoms and people suffer as a consequence... I mean look at what happens here, parliament is all for "cutting costs" but when it comes to cutting their own benefits none of them budge! :D
and those little educated chaps should start going around educating other people, before it's too late and we lose our republic forever (or keep living under this excuse of a republic we have now, I can't figure which is worse!) :)
Great post..
ReplyDeleteyeah you're right about the fact that people here are not as participative as they should be in government affairs.
In India, they have been building up a strong foundation where people can voice their opinion. People go on protest marches and can approach the legal system to bring about change. However, I don't see that happening in SL for awhile.
And even if the facilities are available to us through the constitution would we have the courage to take on the government?
Or is the white van threat too much of a fear to counter.
@Aamina: the developments in India are quite promising, in addition to having a strong movement for democratic governance I also like the fact that the quota system has worked in raising the number of female representatives in government. In Sri Lanka as well the judiciary seems to be the most effective and fairest of the 3 branches of government, and most people file fundamental rights petitions and win! but when it comes to implementing even simple court decisions the government seems to have an unwritten rule by which they can overturn even a supreme court decision. The way the decision on the hedging deal was (not) implemented is an example... so basically what's happening is that the 'king' is using his popularity and the immense powers that the constitution vest on the executive president to overturn these verdicts.
ReplyDeleteSo basically, the whole system is broken, there are no real checks and balances, Parliament is powerless (and is controlled by a large government majority, which due to the war victory they'd keep even after the next elections) and the law and order situation is breaking down with the white vans and extrajudicial police killings... so even if I went to court over a land dispute, if the person I'm taking action against has links to the government/military/police, I'd probably end up dead, or even if I get a ruling in my favor the government will somehow prevent that ruling from being implemented. So basically we're on the road to something like a Saddam-era Iraq. or worse. :|
Thank you for your comment Aamina! :)
Umm.... dude, I'm sorry but you don't make much sense.
ReplyDeleteFirst you talk about the faults of the constitution. Right I agree that there are problems that should be addressed. OK let's say it true for the moment.
Then you go on to say let's overthrow the government. Then what?
We'll have another government under the same constitution.
Have you mixed up what constitution and government are? What we need is a change of system, and a change of attitudes of people. That is how we can make a difference.
A different point. America is not free as much as you think. They seem to have it, but lot of Americans are economically not free. They are governed, or controlled by money which in turn ar companies.
True, but there is a huge difference between a genuine monarch in the past and a head of a state now. Times have changed and I fear that system might not work for us anymore. *no more kings please, unless someone could teleport the great rulers from the past itself!* =D
ReplyDeleteYep.. they did say something like that.. though until it's implemented we can't be sure ne. =D And yep.. 'Asani Wesi' Tele drama had a fine example of a good old day's MPs. hehe..
oh ya.. that's so true. being a political celebrity can be very scary.. and worse if it's the head of a nation.. and worst of all if it's the King of Pop. The world has turned into something scary. -__-
@Sach: exactly, I want a change of attitudes, a change of system, and an educated populace, as I've discussed with Pseudo above. But think practically, do you ever think that this government, with it's immense popularity (wholly due to the war effort), jumbo corrupted cabinet, majority in parliament and hell bent on controlling all aspects of life in Sri Lanka, would agree to changes like this which would call on it to be more responsible, accountable and transparent? Do you think they want any opposition to their rule? There might be good people in the government, but they're addicted to power right now and won't give it up... and I know what you mean when you say "We'll have another government under the same constitution.", even if we find some of the most noble people and elect them to make the change, once they get elected they'd get corrupted by the great powers the constitution gives them and become as bad as the people who preceded them... so tricky sticky wacky situ to take care of there! ;) and I should restate here that I don't advocate violence or anything! (just to be safe!) :)
ReplyDeleteI should also mention that this was a rant, not some Anarchist blueprint to get rid of the 'Glorious Kingdom of Sri Lanka' or something... ;)
Yeah, American companies control not only Americans, but Sri Lankans and other 3rd world countries too... sadly with the open economic system, this is not preventable. I don't think Mahinda or Obama or even Lenin if he lived today would be able to get rid of
these enormous and powerful multinationals, insurance companies, banks, the IMF and what not?! but you've got a point there... :)
@Harumi: yep, I drew from what I saw on 'Asani Wesi' when I talked about MPs of the old days, in addition to several other sources. I think any seat-based MPs to come out of the new system will still be imperious in some ways but people will be able to get more things done for the area I guess... (sorry for having such a cynical world-view... something seems to have taken over my optimistic-self recently! lol)
yeah yeah, fame is baaaaad... I'd rather die a poor unknown man than earn billions and die a celebrity... too much pain and no gain (except ego-wise I guess!) :)
Thank you for your comments guys! :)
Still I don't get what exactly you're trying to say.
ReplyDeleteIf it's the same constituition, and even if the govnt is overthrown, we'll have a new govt under the same const. So, you agree to that. Then, what do you suggest?
Sach: that line "dude let's overthrow the government!" was mostly thrown in for comedic effect... :/ It seems to have failed in it's purpose... hehe :D
ReplyDeleteand I'm suggesting nothing... this is all a rant about living in a country full of people who take whatever the government gives them without uttering a word (no matter how much they complain about the government at the dinner table!)
I know that getting rid of the present government won't achieve much beyond getting rid of the most authoritarian rulers we've had in a while, but I dunno... of course this whole feudal system that's been around for 2000 odd years isn't going to be changed by one election, it's going to take years and years of education and empowerment to do it... *sigh* I wish it were as simple as a single landmark event though... :)