I once recall someone saying that the US military is the greatest multinational military in the world. Now when I say "multinational", I don't mean "Citizens of different countries" but "Different ethnicities". The US military includes people of European, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American ancestry. Some of these people's ancestors have been (or still are) enemies. But the diverse group of people that serve in the US military all strive for a common cause: Defending the USA and preserving a free and just world.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
NATO-EU relations
Recently, I have been reading articles about "competition" between the EU and NATO, whether it be for military strength from member countries or other political clout.
But I think it is time for a reevaluation of the relationship between the EU and NATO. The way I see it, there is much potential for cooperation. 22 members of the EU are also members of NATO. Because of this vast overlap, and shared cultural heritage with other NATO members such as Canada and the USA, the EU and NATO share similar values of neoliberal democracy.
I think that the EU and NATO have many avenues of potential cooperation. The EU and NATO could form a joint pan-European military command structure, combining forces to form a large, multinational force that would safeguard Europe and the rest of the West. On the civilian side of the spectrum, NATO could form a parliamentary assembly with directly elected representatives from all 28 member states, similar to the European Parliament. From this NATO could be transformed into an organisation that isn't just military-focused. In addition, NATO could institute a customs union among its members, and possibly a common currency. Given, this shouldn't happen all at once, but be a gradual process. The EU and NATO could exchange expertise in various area; for example, the EU could advise NATO on how to build a democratic intergovernmental organisation, and NATO could advise the EU on how to organise multinational military forces.
All in all, I see many potential avenues of cooperation between the EU and NATO. Perhaps, some day in the future, they could merge to form one large Western republic, united for the common good of all and provide a bulwark for neoliberal democracy.
But I think it is time for a reevaluation of the relationship between the EU and NATO. The way I see it, there is much potential for cooperation. 22 members of the EU are also members of NATO. Because of this vast overlap, and shared cultural heritage with other NATO members such as Canada and the USA, the EU and NATO share similar values of neoliberal democracy.
I think that the EU and NATO have many avenues of potential cooperation. The EU and NATO could form a joint pan-European military command structure, combining forces to form a large, multinational force that would safeguard Europe and the rest of the West. On the civilian side of the spectrum, NATO could form a parliamentary assembly with directly elected representatives from all 28 member states, similar to the European Parliament. From this NATO could be transformed into an organisation that isn't just military-focused. In addition, NATO could institute a customs union among its members, and possibly a common currency. Given, this shouldn't happen all at once, but be a gradual process. The EU and NATO could exchange expertise in various area; for example, the EU could advise NATO on how to build a democratic intergovernmental organisation, and NATO could advise the EU on how to organise multinational military forces.
All in all, I see many potential avenues of cooperation between the EU and NATO. Perhaps, some day in the future, they could merge to form one large Western republic, united for the common good of all and provide a bulwark for neoliberal democracy.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Sri Lankan Independence Day, independence from what?
Today, 4 February 2015, marks the 67th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence from the United Kingdom. A large parade was held in Colombo, the capital, to celebrate, and this day is one of celebration for much of the country.
But I ask, "So Sri Lanka gained independence, how has the country of my ancestry moved on since then?" At the time of independence, Sri Lanka's economy was booming. Lee Kuan Yew, long-time Prime Minister of Singapore, said that he wanted Singapore to be like Sri Lanka. Now look at Singapore vs. Sri Lanka. Singapore is booming, the various ethnicities of Singapore mostly get along, compared to how the various ethnicities of Sri Lanka get along.
The first prime minister of Sri Lanka, Don Stephen Senanayaka, disenfranchised the Estate Tamils. (Estate Tamils had been brought from India by the British as laborers in the 19th-early 20th centuries, the term "Estate Tamils" is used to distinguish them from the "Sri Lankan Tamils" who have been in Sri Lanka since around the 2nd century BC) In 1956, S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka, a Sinhala nationalist, made Sinhala the only official language of Sri Lanka, further angering the Tamil people. In addition, Bandaranayaka discriminated against Christians, regardless of ethnicity, slowly trying to eliminate them from the civil service and the military, which provoked the attempted coup of 1962 by Christian military officers. In the 1980s, under President J.R. Jayawardena, Sinhala extremists were allowed to run rampant, burning down the Library in Jaffna, a city in northern Sri Lanka that is heavily Tamil and is considered a center of Tamil culture. Again in July 1983, many Tamils were allowed to be massacred by Sinhala extremists in reaction the the killing of the Four Four Bravo patrol of the Sri Lanka Army in Jaffna. Tamils had become radicalised by these anti-Tamil events as early as the 1970s, and Tamil separatist militant groups began to form, the most formidable and barbaric of them being the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a.k.a. the Tamil Tigers.
In May 2009, after many years of fighting and failed ceasefires, the Sri Lanka Civil War came to an end. There is no exact casualty tally, but it has been estimated that at least 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Politicians in Sri Lanka get away with assault, rape, and murder.
Since 2009, Sinhala Buddhist nationalists are trying to go after the Muslim and Christian minority in Sri Lanka. Churches have been attacked, and 4 people were killed in anti-Muslim riots in Kalutara District in June 2014. Sri Lanka already had one war, they shouldn't provoke another minority into causing another war.
However, Sri Lanka now has a chance for change. The war is over. Reconciliation will not be easy, and it will take many years, possibly decades. Small steps have already been taken. Tamil has been reinstated as an official language of Sri Lanka, along with English as a link language, since the 1980s. The government must introduce into the schools the teaching of equality for all ethnicities. The Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations, can also play a significant role in reconciliation, as the Christian community has a significant number of both Sinhalas and Tamils. Sri Lanka has much potential, occupying a strategic location in the Indian Ocean between the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Hold the politicians to a higher standard. Let's put Sri Lanka's potential to good for all the peoples of the country, so that all benefit, not just one ethnicity, and not just the greedy, corrupt politicians! Everyone living in Sri Lanka should be treated all equally as Sri Lankan citizens. In fact, anyone who is willing to contribute to the well-being of Sri Lanka can be considered a citizen of sorts, no matter their ancestry or skin color. The late Sri Lankabhimanya Sir Arthur C. Clarke was British by birth, but moved to Sri Lanka and contributed to the country's well-being. The title in front of his name, Sri Lankabhimanya (Sinhala for "Pride of Sri Lanka), is the highest civilian honor given by the Sri Lankan government.
God bless all the peoples of Sri Lanka and the world!
But I ask, "So Sri Lanka gained independence, how has the country of my ancestry moved on since then?" At the time of independence, Sri Lanka's economy was booming. Lee Kuan Yew, long-time Prime Minister of Singapore, said that he wanted Singapore to be like Sri Lanka. Now look at Singapore vs. Sri Lanka. Singapore is booming, the various ethnicities of Singapore mostly get along, compared to how the various ethnicities of Sri Lanka get along.
The first prime minister of Sri Lanka, Don Stephen Senanayaka, disenfranchised the Estate Tamils. (Estate Tamils had been brought from India by the British as laborers in the 19th-early 20th centuries, the term "Estate Tamils" is used to distinguish them from the "Sri Lankan Tamils" who have been in Sri Lanka since around the 2nd century BC) In 1956, S.W.R.D. Bandaranayaka, a Sinhala nationalist, made Sinhala the only official language of Sri Lanka, further angering the Tamil people. In addition, Bandaranayaka discriminated against Christians, regardless of ethnicity, slowly trying to eliminate them from the civil service and the military, which provoked the attempted coup of 1962 by Christian military officers. In the 1980s, under President J.R. Jayawardena, Sinhala extremists were allowed to run rampant, burning down the Library in Jaffna, a city in northern Sri Lanka that is heavily Tamil and is considered a center of Tamil culture. Again in July 1983, many Tamils were allowed to be massacred by Sinhala extremists in reaction the the killing of the Four Four Bravo patrol of the Sri Lanka Army in Jaffna. Tamils had become radicalised by these anti-Tamil events as early as the 1970s, and Tamil separatist militant groups began to form, the most formidable and barbaric of them being the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a.k.a. the Tamil Tigers.
In May 2009, after many years of fighting and failed ceasefires, the Sri Lanka Civil War came to an end. There is no exact casualty tally, but it has been estimated that at least 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Politicians in Sri Lanka get away with assault, rape, and murder.
Since 2009, Sinhala Buddhist nationalists are trying to go after the Muslim and Christian minority in Sri Lanka. Churches have been attacked, and 4 people were killed in anti-Muslim riots in Kalutara District in June 2014. Sri Lanka already had one war, they shouldn't provoke another minority into causing another war.
However, Sri Lanka now has a chance for change. The war is over. Reconciliation will not be easy, and it will take many years, possibly decades. Small steps have already been taken. Tamil has been reinstated as an official language of Sri Lanka, along with English as a link language, since the 1980s. The government must introduce into the schools the teaching of equality for all ethnicities. The Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations, can also play a significant role in reconciliation, as the Christian community has a significant number of both Sinhalas and Tamils. Sri Lanka has much potential, occupying a strategic location in the Indian Ocean between the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Hold the politicians to a higher standard. Let's put Sri Lanka's potential to good for all the peoples of the country, so that all benefit, not just one ethnicity, and not just the greedy, corrupt politicians! Everyone living in Sri Lanka should be treated all equally as Sri Lankan citizens. In fact, anyone who is willing to contribute to the well-being of Sri Lanka can be considered a citizen of sorts, no matter their ancestry or skin color. The late Sri Lankabhimanya Sir Arthur C. Clarke was British by birth, but moved to Sri Lanka and contributed to the country's well-being. The title in front of his name, Sri Lankabhimanya (Sinhala for "Pride of Sri Lanka), is the highest civilian honor given by the Sri Lankan government.
God bless all the peoples of Sri Lanka and the world!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
On King Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia's death
Let's call a spade a spade: King Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia was not some progressive leader, but an oppressive theocrat who promoted sexist policies and the killing of nonSunnis through his country's oppressive law and "justice" system. He kept many of his wives and daughters under house arrest for no good reason. His funding of extremist Wahhabi Islam has led to the birth of many Islamic extremist groups.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
On separatism
With the collapse of multinational states such as Yugoslavia as Czechoslovakia, along with independence movements in Scotland and Catalonia, in España, one begins to wonder
how far ethnic separatism will go.
My question is "Where does it end?" There's always going to be ethnic minorities in a country, and if each and every ethnic group is given its own country, the world would become very balkanised into hundreds of uncooperative countries, and ethnic minorities within those countries would start demanding their own countries, and so forth. What the world need is less nation-states and more multi-national states. Countries need to stop basing their identities on just one ethnicity and unite, as ethnic nationalism has led to much discord, violence, and genocide in the past.
how far ethnic separatism will go.
My question is "Where does it end?" There's always going to be ethnic minorities in a country, and if each and every ethnic group is given its own country, the world would become very balkanised into hundreds of uncooperative countries, and ethnic minorities within those countries would start demanding their own countries, and so forth. What the world need is less nation-states and more multi-national states. Countries need to stop basing their identities on just one ethnicity and unite, as ethnic nationalism has led to much discord, violence, and genocide in the past.
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