It is important to define the notion of social cohesion before going further on education and history of Canada. The first meaning implies that social cohesion reinforces the homogeny in the society, the cooperative social interactions and same collective value systems, which encourage a sense of belongings. However, the first notion of social cohesion could be a challenge when regionalism, localisms, the immigrants and multiculturalism come in. Therefore, secondly, social cohesion could be defined that individuals in civil society should get an opportunity to express their free wills through democratic voice. However, in the end, the ideal is tolerance and participation will bring people together no matter which notion of social cohesion is taken. The tolerance should be more than begrudging acceptance and apathy because discrimination and racism could be taken place in the community. On the other hand, should all the cultural practices be tolerated or should "a limit of acceptable heterogeneity" be acknowledged, however liberal a society is?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Social cohesion and tolerance
Could education and history play a part in the creation of common myths and ideals to create greater social cohesion?
Please, don't forget Burma
The history of a nation changes gradually over time. Coming from Burma, I was painful to see the blood shedding scene for restoration of democracy in Burma. Yet the recent protest draws international attention to Burma’s democracy issue. Now the military regime is having a nationwide referendum in May to create a new constitution. The new constitution will be followed by a multi-party general election in 2010. However, I am concerned that, History is going to repeat itself because this new constitution excludes the religious leaders and political prisoners from voting. Aung Sann Su Kyi (the National League of Democracy leader) will be banned from running for the election, due to her marriage to a foreign citizen. As a result, it will not be a true democratic election. In the 1990 multi-party election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won, but the military regime refused to abdicate the power.
I believe that our education is the reflection of our daily life and what society as a whole values. However, our values can sometimes have conflicts and flaws. I think we should start off by educating people about the restoration of TRUE democracy in Burma. Suu Kyi, who is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and pro-democracy activist, has been under house arrest since May, 2003, due to her non-violence pro democracy movement. Non-violence movement needs a number of things: a significant number of participants, motivation, organization and leadership skills to steer, networking, commitment, resources and strategies. It also needs accessible media coverage and attention from the people. Literally, non-violence does not exist where it is not seen. This is how we got to know about self-immolating monks of Vietnam and the Palestinian peace activist, Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj’s contribution to the health care of the victims in war zones and genuine reforms for Palestine. One of my Burmese friends said that “it is an existential problem at heart whether or not trees that fell in the woods really fell, when no one is around to hear it. For a social movement, the answer is no one really cares whether or not trees fall, unless they can emotionally bond with the trees through well-composed photography and human interest stories.” Therefore, in this case, we need concerned audience for peaceful democratic movement. The Colonialism did not end only with Gandhi’s march, nor did apartheid with Mandela’s twenty-seven long years of stay in prison. These acts were combined with pressure from national and international forces that moved the British and South African governments respectively.
I believe that non-violence movement (NVM) is the ‘right’ way. But, the key to non-violence is to know when to change and choose confrontation. As my friend said, “NVM is not about ‘peace’, an abstract concept with surprisingly little value in actuality.” Instead, it is about restructuring the costs and benefits for the people involved in responding to a social movement, where the threat of sanctions from third-party actors increase the costs of crackdown to a level that threatens ‘the incumbent power-holder's position’.
The opposition groups to the military junta inside and outside of Burma have been rejecting the regime's announcement of a new constitution saying it is a trick to calm down the rowdy citizens who marched on the streets non-violently for changes in Burma. We need this fast approaching referendum to be based upon freedom of expression associated with fundamental human rights. Based on the news and media, the military government is not playing a fair game with the public. I truly hope that this new constitution has to allow the public participation of all Burmese citizens including different ethnic minority groups and the Burmese exiles. Peace requires participation. Therefore, the political prisoners have to be released. Also, the referendum supervised by a neutral party or a commission and it is important to address the detailed results on news and media. Finally, the government power has to be decentralized and power should be shared with the ethnic minorities. This is just the beginning to bring about true democracy in Burma.
There are choices everywhere: and there are benefits and side-effects of every choice. Democracy is a really weird thing: "a self-correcting – slow feedback – process". Sometimes democracy can "buy the people", it can also "impoverish the people". But, the nature of democracy is intriguing in its own way. Sometimes, as a citizen of Burma, I don’t really care what system I will have, as long as it is a fair system accepted by both the government and the citizens, a system that will reinforce the social cohesion among people (regardless of race, beliefs, colors and gender) and better civilization for the people of Burma.
I do not agree with the new unfair constitution that the military regime is structuring. However, it is very intimidating to vote “NO” to the constitution because I need to provide my Burmese passport and prove that I am 18 years old or above. My passport might not be renewed, if I vote “NO”.
What could Canadians do?
As our non-violent pro-democracy leader said, use your freedom to promote ours. Don’t forget Burma. Speak out against the unfair constitution. Thank you.
For more information: Canadian Friends of Burma Website http://www.cfob.org/
I believe that our education is the reflection of our daily life and what society as a whole values. However, our values can sometimes have conflicts and flaws. I think we should start off by educating people about the restoration of TRUE democracy in Burma. Suu Kyi, who is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and pro-democracy activist, has been under house arrest since May, 2003, due to her non-violence pro democracy movement. Non-violence movement needs a number of things: a significant number of participants, motivation, organization and leadership skills to steer, networking, commitment, resources and strategies. It also needs accessible media coverage and attention from the people. Literally, non-violence does not exist where it is not seen. This is how we got to know about self-immolating monks of Vietnam and the Palestinian peace activist, Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj’s contribution to the health care of the victims in war zones and genuine reforms for Palestine. One of my Burmese friends said that “it is an existential problem at heart whether or not trees that fell in the woods really fell, when no one is around to hear it. For a social movement, the answer is no one really cares whether or not trees fall, unless they can emotionally bond with the trees through well-composed photography and human interest stories.” Therefore, in this case, we need concerned audience for peaceful democratic movement. The Colonialism did not end only with Gandhi’s march, nor did apartheid with Mandela’s twenty-seven long years of stay in prison. These acts were combined with pressure from national and international forces that moved the British and South African governments respectively.
I believe that non-violence movement (NVM) is the ‘right’ way. But, the key to non-violence is to know when to change and choose confrontation. As my friend said, “NVM is not about ‘peace’, an abstract concept with surprisingly little value in actuality.” Instead, it is about restructuring the costs and benefits for the people involved in responding to a social movement, where the threat of sanctions from third-party actors increase the costs of crackdown to a level that threatens ‘the incumbent power-holder's position’.
The opposition groups to the military junta inside and outside of Burma have been rejecting the regime's announcement of a new constitution saying it is a trick to calm down the rowdy citizens who marched on the streets non-violently for changes in Burma. We need this fast approaching referendum to be based upon freedom of expression associated with fundamental human rights. Based on the news and media, the military government is not playing a fair game with the public. I truly hope that this new constitution has to allow the public participation of all Burmese citizens including different ethnic minority groups and the Burmese exiles. Peace requires participation. Therefore, the political prisoners have to be released. Also, the referendum supervised by a neutral party or a commission and it is important to address the detailed results on news and media. Finally, the government power has to be decentralized and power should be shared with the ethnic minorities. This is just the beginning to bring about true democracy in Burma.
There are choices everywhere: and there are benefits and side-effects of every choice. Democracy is a really weird thing: "a self-correcting – slow feedback – process". Sometimes democracy can "buy the people", it can also "impoverish the people". But, the nature of democracy is intriguing in its own way. Sometimes, as a citizen of Burma, I don’t really care what system I will have, as long as it is a fair system accepted by both the government and the citizens, a system that will reinforce the social cohesion among people (regardless of race, beliefs, colors and gender) and better civilization for the people of Burma.
I do not agree with the new unfair constitution that the military regime is structuring. However, it is very intimidating to vote “NO” to the constitution because I need to provide my Burmese passport and prove that I am 18 years old or above. My passport might not be renewed, if I vote “NO”.
What could Canadians do?
As our non-violent pro-democracy leader said, use your freedom to promote ours. Don’t forget Burma. Speak out against the unfair constitution. Thank you.
For more information: Canadian Friends of Burma Website http://www.cfob.org/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
