Division and discourse: How to reach each other in times of political crisis

In the end, whether Mahinda becomes prime minister or Ranil stays on isn’t the problem. Neither of them can really do anything if the people fight among themselves and don’t look forward in the way they used to. However strong and proficient a leader is, democracy can’t be fixed unless we keep taking steps towards it – Pic by Ruwan Walpola

By Chayu Damsinghe

The last week has been momentous for Sri Lanka’s politics. Who would’ve thought that a double rainbow would be followed by double claims of Prime Minister? At times like these, the biggest thing we need to remember is that despite of who is right, we cannot descend into division. Time and time again, the world has fallen apart because people refused to talk to the other side. Sri Lankans can do better. 

The issue right now is not who’s prime minister, nor whether the president did something constitutional or not. The issue is how we talk about it. People can argue and say that democracy is stronger now or that it’s destroyed. The worst thing that can happen to our democracy, is not a new prime minister taking power or an old prime minister refusing to give it up. It’s when the people decide to shout at each other’s faces instead of talking to each other. 

That’s the problem with democracy, it only works when people communicate. Otherwise, 51% of a country can elect a leader that 49% hates. That’s the tyranny of the majority, and is democracy’s biggest flaw. Only if that 49% tell the 51% why they think so instead of calling each other stupid can we avoid this. 

Let’s take it this way. As smart as we are, as widespread the information we receive today, one person is unlikely to be always right. The thing is, it’s difficult to know when we’re wrong. We have enough reasons to believe everything that we believe to be true. But humility is always a good virtue, a virtue celebrated by all of Sri Lanka’s religions. 

By communicating with each other, we can finally figure out that one place we went wrong, and then correct it. We can easily do that, not only are adult humans more than capable of this, Sri Lankans should be even more so. For centuries, our cultures have been known for being some of the world’s best at communicating. It’s in our blood. 

The issues we face are true and valid. No one else can tell us that we didn’t feel our pockets being strained, that we didn’t face the dust in our faces, that we didn’t feel a tremor in our hearts. But it’s possible that someone else didn’t know that. We can shout at them, and it will feel good. But they will always oppose us and always try to push us down unless we tell them about our lives. 

When we know what is right, our job is to help others understand as well. If we can feel the pain to the bottom of our hearts, we should have no trouble in putting it into words for those around us. That’s how we convince them, and show them how we’re in pain. 

But that’s a two way process. Our pain and our troubles are what matters to us, and that’s where we focus our lives on. In trying to make sure our families get enough to eat, it’s possible that we accidentally overlooked how our neighbour lost his job. We must make those small errors right again, and be a society that can be proud of its intelligence again. Of course, even if we pretend to care about another’s issues, that will still make them more likely to listen to us in turn. However we move forward, as long as we do step forward, we can make our lives better. 

Let’s take an example. No one can deny that a Sinhala family in Colombo has lived a problematic past. When their brothers and sons died in the war, they felt their hearts scream. When they saw a statue of the Buddha being desecrated, their identity was destroyed. Even decades ago, when the British decided to give jobs to the English educated minorities instead of them, they saw their children starve. 

All of these are legitimate and terrible problems, and no one can ever say that these shouldn’t be fixed. But no one can also deny that a Tamil family in Mullaitivu faced a terrible and gruesome past as well. When their young sons were forced into a terrorist group against their will and shot, they too felt their hearts scream. When the land they lived on for centuries is now a latrine for an army camp, their identity too was destroyed. And when the British decided to focus economic growth in the West and completely ignored the rest of the country, they too saw their children starve. 

All of these are legitimate and terrible problems as well. But can both of these issues be addressed today? Yes. Can both parties be helped without harming the other? Yes. Can everyone look forward to a mutually brighter future? Yes. 

The only issue is that some people on either side find it difficult to see the other perspective. As hard as it is to care about someone else when your own life is being harmed, taking that step can help your own far easier. If we the people decided to listen to our own heart, the heart that for centuries learnt of love and kindness and peace, we can make things happen. We can tell those corrupt politicians that they cannot manipulate us anymore, that they cannot brainwash us anymore, and that they cannot take away our democracy. 

In the end, whether Mahinda becomes prime minister or Ranil stays on isn’t the problem. Neither of them can really do anything if the people fight among themselves and don’t look forward in the way they used to. However strong and proficient a leader is, democracy can’t be fixed unless we keep taking steps towards it. A friend of mine once told me that those who are open-minded must educate others and not suppress them. Perhaps those will be the words of a new era for the country.