my revolution
i’ve recently watched v for vendetta and read george orwell’s 1984. i spent about an hour last night talking with indi about ‘what we can do’. i think a revolution costs money, takes time and requires knowledge. i don’t yet know what i can do, what i’m willing to do. all i do know is that i am most certainly a little more than tired of sitting around and doing absolutely nothing.
my idealistic naivete is a little amusing, but determined none the less.
i read that post on moju and was immediately moved by the tone of the writing. here was someone who seemed to feel the same way i did. she had no plan, no long-term goal, no agenda, yet, but merely a desire to find our power in numbers and do whatever she can. change whatever she can.
i think they have finally decided to meet on saturday the 1st of july. perhaps i will go. just to be there, if nothing else.
i don’t know how meeting helps, but there’s this gut feeling that i have that says it will. i’m a believer in people, and i do have faith in people when they try to achieve something together. we may not be able to change much, but if it’s about getting a page in a local newspaper and publishing our opinions there, coming up with some slogans and displaying them via posters or blog-posts, writing letters to people that matter, whatever it is, i’m sure between us we can figure out a way to have our voices heard. we just need them to know that we’re there too. that we give a shit.
like mala says on ‘enough’ : Omission is an act. Silence is a statement.
it’s a little vague right now, it’s tentative and moves slowly and no one is really willing to take the initiative to lead a movement, no matter what its for. but for what it’s worth, our opinions need to be out there, reaching out to a community larger than that which has access to and interest in the sri lankan blogosphere. more people need to see this. more people need to hear us.
if we were all to sit down somewhere, we’re bound to come up with something productive. some gem of an idea. i know each of us has useful contacts, be it in media or the NGO sector. i know each of us has influence in different areas and each of us knows people up different ladders. i can’t do this alone. i’m too young, i’m too ignorant. i would like for those of you with the age and the expertise under their belts to come out and volunteer to meet up with others, others that share your views and others that don’t.
haven’t we stayed mum for long enough, now? what are we afraid of?
I think you’ve forgotten a couple of things - In V for Vendetta, the anarchist hero faces a totalitarian regime that has suppressed freedom. He acts in a spirit of personal vengeance and liberation of the masses, but the fact of the matter is that he still faces a Totalitarian Regime.
Are you?
Even with Orwell, it’s the same. These books have inspired us to have a suspicous view of governments, and that’s good. But as for acting against them, you should be looking at the reasons for the need for action, and act appropriately.
Comment by Prophet — June 28, 2006 @ 9:10 am
You didn’t spell revolution right.
Comment by Hiran — June 28, 2006 @ 9:15 am
hiran : hot sluts, eh? thanks machang. what would i do without you?
prophet : like i’ve said many a time, people spurring on these ‘revolutions’ need to think more carefully than they have in the past. usually, they end up causing more damage than already prevailed because they’re spirited and careless, perhaps even ignorant. of course i’m not trying to overthrow the government (not yet, anyway), they have not suppressed my freedom and that’s exactly it. we have it a lot better than those folks in both 1984 and v for vendetta, atleast we have more opportunity to create a different atmosphere. i’m only tired of hearing people talking about wanting to do something. i wish they just would.
Comment by electra — June 28, 2006 @ 9:22 am
good luck with the meet up ! it’s great that ppl like you in Colombo are getting together to try and do ’something’. i wish you all the very best in your efforts.
Comment by savi3 — June 28, 2006 @ 5:48 pm
“a totalitarian regime that has suppressed freedom”
who has done and does that in in sri lanka in areas under their control?
hope you will consider that too at the meeting. .
all the best !
Comment by sittingnut — June 28, 2006 @ 7:59 pm
I’m a pessimist. I’ve always been one and people have always complained about it but what can I do? Sri LAnka has always had the ability to suck the hope out of us all, painting a bleak peak of the future. Do I belive we can do anything about our countries ’situation’? Not at all. And that’s because I’ve seen it all: The song for peace, the walk for peace, the concert for peace, the stand for peace, the postcard for peace, the letter for peace, the committee of peace, have all come and gone and yet for all…… So long and thanks for all the fish.
Comment by Nige — June 29, 2006 @ 5:13 am
Dude….
U do realise u live in a country where ppl have an image to maintain over whats to be done….I d suggest u put this idea thru to a bunch of drunk guys and u will see a result….
any sober guy would nod and then walk away…
Comment by Joke — June 29, 2006 @ 11:16 am
Good luck electra - keep us posted as to what you decide.
Comment by ashanthi — June 29, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
Some of us, expatriate Lankans, all burdened by the diasporic guilt of “not being there to do anything” and therefore much vociferous and more militant - as a result, also much divided, have been keenly watching a number of blogs, in Moju, Indika’s well-reasoned and seasoned ranting, Electra’s self-flagellations and with Mala’s original thread on Moju (see above), and now have seen an awakening of sorts within the readers and writers of this blogsphere. Bravo!. What intrigued me, personally, was the comment above by Joke that one needs to be heavily inebriated to be imaginative and to take action in Sri Lanka. He may not be too far off the mark. At least one revolution - or attempted revolution - that of the infamous impeachment of President Premadasa, was directly the result of Sirisanda Arracku. It only needs a handful of people, but a lot of commitment, some good connections, time and, most importantly, good intentions to start the revolution rolling. Question is, what intentions do we have? In other words, what do we intend to do with our voices being heard… The issue, Electra, is not getting heard; that your mother will say is easy enough, but what are we going to say. Get your intentions sorted out, get those slogans milked out of your intentions and the media will come to you… As a suggestion. Why not list out five, practical, things you can do and ask others to contribute… May be Indika, Mala, David Blackler and others can come up with some lists of their own too….
Comment by Aruna Kulatunga — June 29, 2006 @ 4:35 pm
I’m tempted to say something here. Its good to see someone trying to do something. This is not to discourage anyone but just to lay down some of my views.
The system we have today has been incapable of handling the terrorist problem along with several other burning problems. We wonder why no govt can stop the corruption. Its simple. When we select a new govt, we don’t overhaul the system. We just replace the players with another set, who are already part of the system. So first, you have to change the system.
One thing I’ve learnt in life is that if you want to change a wave, you’ve got to get to the top of it first. Many have been attempts by many at the bottom to change different waves, but usually it leads to conflict with the top/the system and the eventual stamping-out. So, how does one get to the top? First you get into the system through a party and work your way up.
There in lies the problem. When you go through the existing party system, you inevitably become one of them beacause that’s the only way to go up. Unfortunately majority who climb the wave with the intention of changing it become part of the system by the time they get there, and starts to like the view from the top. Which is why you need a group. A dedicated, resilient, never say die group, that can start at the bottom, work its way up through the system independantly of the exsisting groups, and finally get to the top.
It can be done. The JVP did it. Like it or not, they ARE the third political force in this country. (This is not to say the path they took was right, but they did it.) But it took them years and years. That’s the other catch. Time. It cannot be done overnight, and it cannot be done part time. You can’t change the system part time with your day job. IT’S got to be your day job. It’ll take time, money, blood and sweat. You’ll have to sacrifice your youth and dedicate your life to it. You’ll most probably be too old to enjoy the benifits of what you achieve, but that’s how its got to be done.
I hope that I’m proven wrong and someone would come up with a quick fix. I hope more to see the day someone forms that group, and takes that first step at the bottom of the wave.
My two cents. Feel free to adjust for inflation (expression borrowed from a tag on achcharu tag).
Comment by SpectralCentroid — June 29, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
hey electra,
could you keep me updated on this? Im tied down heavily with exams till the 15th so although I really want to come for this baristas meet up there’s no way I can.
Just an email with a pointer to a blog article giving details on what was discussed at the meeting would be brilliant!
Thanks,
A Y
Comment by A. Tit — July 1, 2006 @ 11:05 am
Perhaps in light most people see only themselves. This is why nothing is carried through till it is done and over with in Sri lanka. To think about it there are many things that can be done in SL if everyone puts their words to actions. And fuel themselves with all and nothing but their own emotions. What can i say, you go girl!! I think i will back you up on this.
Comment by The Blind Critic — July 2, 2006 @ 8:06 am