Developing a Common Identity
“The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose.”
- Richard R. Grant
With the first post having garnered an interesting discussion on identity, I thought it fitting that I examine exactly why that post was written and what this blog is about.
Most Sri Lankans seem to suffer from a serious need to label people – a kind of labelling logocentricism. Thus a person is veiwed in terms of Race – “He’s a Tamil, She’s a Sinhalese”. In terms of political ideology -”She’s a JVP supporter, men! He’s got the hots for Mahinda”. Even in the unlikeliest of places we find ourselves labeling people we meet. “Eyage kadda mara polish machan!” “He’s a Trinitian”.
It seems an almost ingrained mental need (logocentricism) that helps us to polarize our world. Those who fit in and those who don’t. It would also be very interesting to consider who exactly determines what ideology is “in” and thus how “the other” is formed.
Be that as it may it is high time we start questioning this attitude to people and their identity. This is a call to begin this process by first examining our own identity. I could, as I did in my earlier post categorize myself into the many labels that I applied. But what pupose would that serve in defining how i approach the people I come in to contact with. And also how much of that post affected your views of me and your interest in reading my blog.
So it is time we start to first find acceptance for ourselves and who we are. It is also a call to stop the active participation in and promulgation of pigeonhole identities in bite-sized chunks. It is time we begin to develop a common identity as Sri Lankan.
A very good friend of mine sees this lack as being one of the main reasons for the inability to mount a national peace initiative. While agreeing I would like to add that I also see this trend worryingly continuing to spread itself further in our society even as far as interests in music and newspapers.
At the same time I wish to be realistic. Theory is easy to understand yet difficult to put in to practice – refer Marxism. And by no means do I wish to sound patronizing and contrived. Yet I air my views in the hope that someone somewhere will start journeying down the long road that this challenge brings with it. I’m still on that particular road and still dealing with the issues that arise daily as a result of it. But there will be a change one day and that change may begin with you or me.
So what then is this blog trying to say?
This is a call for nationalism not along the lines touted ad nauseam by all manner of politicians but Sri Lankanism above petty political ideologies and interests. And ever so often we will find that with that ability we will begin to find our Purpose as well and with that purpose we could well begin to see Change take place in this generation.
N said,
February 20, 2007 at 5:40 am
Agreed for sure…but I also find it strangely ironic that you yourself labelled Sri Lankans as suffering the need to label people. I find most people in the countries other than Sri Lanka that I have been to do this and not just Sri Lankans…just a thought…
mafaz said,
February 20, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Is there anything like a national identitiy (other than the card)? We don’t even all support the same cricket team .. ( I have seen Muslims supporting Pakistan against Sri Lanka and Tamils supporting anyone Sri Lanka plays). We don’t have a secular consitution. We are probably most the prejudiced people on earth. so how to build an identity after 59 years of self-rule? We don’t even have a common enemy.
Start the discussion.
Negligible Minoritist said,
February 20, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for the comment N. But I wasn’t attempting to label Sri Lankans. I was attempting to point out that we suffer from this mentality that in turn affects our dealings with others in society. It was more of a diagnosis than a labeling. But i appreciate your point of view and thanks for the opportunity to clarify.
Negligible Minoritist said,
February 20, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I find Mafaz’s comment interesting in that you try to examine identity from the outside in. This is not a criticism by the way but just to point out that in the article i suggest a different approach. A personal questioning in terms of who we are first as opposed to how others see us.
In response to your assertion that Sri Lankans are the most prejudiced people on earth i beg to respectfully disagree. There have been many instances when Sri Lankan’s have shown themselves to be above prejudice. The December 2004 Tsunami was one such instance, the winning of the World Cup in 1996 another. Though they may seem far apart the fact remains that all Sri Lankans have it in them to rise above their prejudices. The question is what keeps us from doing so most of the time. The post seeks to point out that this due to our inability to identify ourselves primarily as Sri Lankan and then as whatever else we maybe. That would also address your question as to how we begin to develop an identity after 59 years of independence. But I don’t believe that is the only way; just the first step in that journey.
But thank you for the comment and i hope the discussion continues.
jupitor said,
February 21, 2007 at 2:53 am
I think identity is very over rated. By this what I mean is, it mostly comes down to banding together and herding together with large groups of people and most people (all over the world, not just in any particular country) don’t seem capable or interested in moving beyond that. I am not saying anyone should avoid associating with others, only that the criteria for choosing friends and associates should be meaningful. We should think of how honest, trustworth, hardworking, intelligent a person is and choose friends and associates accordingly. In other words, when judging a person, we should look at his character, not meaningless attributes such as physical appearance, race, ethnicity, caste etc. If that is the way one interacts with people, I am not sure how there can be any place for wondering what another persons identity is. And I am not sure how there can be any place for trying to label yourself in some way that “identifies” you as belonging to a particular tribe.
Individuality is what matters. People should shape their own character and interests and make something out of their own lives. That’s what gives authentic meaning and purpose to life. A lot of people neglect that and try to find some purpose by imagining their lives to be fused together with a bunch of other people and their ancestors. Such efforts will never succeed because they are dependent on faking experience.
Deane said,
February 25, 2007 at 2:45 pm
interesting, i kind of dealt with the issue here
Tiny Little Fractures :: A national identity issue and cake :: February :: 2007 said,
February 26, 2007 at 2:11 am
[...] what seems to be a never ending quest to find/formulate one. The posts in question included this one addressing labels and purpose and another one entreating Sri Lankans to join hands in preserving [...]
N said,
February 28, 2007 at 1:15 am
Mate just to avoid any confusion I actually enjoyed reading this post unlike the other post and did not label you u as an idiot or anything such similar! Ur post just made me think about being Sri Lankan in a different way
Negligible Minoritist said,
February 28, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Dear n,
No such misapprehensions at all. Completely cool with it.
Thanks for comments on your blog