Sirisena Can Take The Cue From Obama
Dr. C P Thiagarajah
Sirisena can Take the cue from Obama to build Two Nations in Sri Lanka
Mr Barak Obama is an epitome of modern democracy. In would have been a sheer impossibility for a person of a mixed race from African American to become the president of USA about a decade ago. But he did it in 20 January 2009. He won a second time on 20 January 2013 also showing that Americans really are a true democratic nation above race religion and all petty classification and groupings that appear in tick boxes in a census survey form.
Obama in his sixth address, on the State of the Union on January 20th 2015 emphasised that a state should work for the liberty and economic freedom of its citizens. He was eloquent when he said “a better politics unites us”.
Picture of Children Victims of War- Picture courtesy Amantha Perera IPS
The gist of his ‘better politics’ relevant to Sri Lankans at the moment when a nepotistic dictatorial regime ofMahinda Rajapaksa (MR), had been voted out by the entire Sri-Lankan citizens, are the following.
Obama’s oratory was at best when he said “As Americans, we cherish our civil liberties, and we need to uphold that commitment if we want maximum cooperation from other countries.
That’s a better politics. That’s how we start rebuilding trust. That’s how we move this country forward. That’s what the American people want. And that’s what they deserve”.
He went on “We need to do more than just do no harm. Tonight, together, let’s do more to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American”.
“A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears. A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues and values, and principles and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives”. There was great applause from the dignified audience.Read More
