Hope for a New Year

So many events toward the end of 2004 have filled us with grief, disappointment and despair. Most recently, of course, the truly unimaginable horror of the tsunami has become in fact imaginable, because it is real. Among the variations of sadness I have felt as this tragedy has unfolded is the particular sadness of national borders. The logistics of recovery and relief to 12 stricken nations, at least two of which are engulfed in internal strife, is unfathomably complicated by the necessity of dealing with at least 12 governments, civil systems, economies, languages, religions, etc. A multitude of organizations and individuals stand ready to help, but are hampered by the complexity of this confusing array of nationalities. The ultimate relief efforts will be unequal thanks to the pre-existing economic and developmental disparities among the nations affected: Thailand is likely to recover quickly; Sri Lanka, not so much.

So where do I find hope in this? Here, in the New Year's statement put out by the President of Sri Lanka. I am pretty ignorant of Sri Lankan politics, other than knowing that they have been engaged in civil war for decades, and that ethnic and religious divisions run deep. I can't put the President's statement in any context in which I could gauge whether it is self-serving or merely political, or what have you. That ignorance, ironically, allows me to choose to read it straight, and to feel her hope as my own. I wish you all a new year inspired by peace and hope.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a New Year message said the year 2004 ends by proving to us all that "we are at the mercy of the mighty forces of Nature."

The President said the tragedy also teaches a lesson: “The loud message is that man should not be confined to boundaries of race, religion, class and caste. Nature metes out even treatment to all. At this moment we are humbled by this natural calamity. The determination of every Sri Lankan to raise their heads through tears and sorrow is laudable. Let the dawn of 2005 give us strength and courage to face the challenges posed by this natural disaster.

“Let us sink all man-made barriers of ethnicity, religion, class and caste and unite to rebuild a single nation and show the outside world that we are capable of rising united to face any calamity and emerge victorious,” Ms. Kumaratunga said.

“Our country, with a heritage of over 2500 years, has faced many a challenge in the past. I believe that we are capable of facing this challenge as well.

As we have pledged at Adhisthana Puja, the last day of 2004, let us the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims unite as one, to share our joys and sorrows in the future.

“This is a fine opportunity for us to look at the ethnic struggle from a new perspective and realise the need for a new approach for a permanent solution. Let us give serious thought to creating a new environment suitable for all communities and religious groups to live in a united Sri Lanka, as one nation, with equal rights, while preserving our individual identities. If wisdom prevails and all political parties grasp this reality, we Sri Lankans could live in a united Sri Lanka. Let us learn from this disastrous experience and unite to build a new nation,” she said.