The Lexus and the Palmyra tree
January 10th, 2008
by Arvalan
‘No two countries that both had McDonald’s had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald’s’-Thomas Friedman’s Golden Arches theory
[Thomas Friedman-pic:NYTimes.com]
The Lexus and the Olive Tree is a book by Thomas Friedman that portrays that the world is currently undergoing two struggles: the drive for prosperity and development, symbolized by the Lexus, and the desire to retain identity and traditions, symbolized by the olive tree. Friedman says he came to this realization while eating a sushi box lunch on a Japanese bullet train after visiting a Toyota factory and reading an article about conflict in the Middle East.
For the sake of analysing the Tamil nationalistic crisis in Sri Lanka let me replace the olive tree with the Palmyra tree, which symbiosis Tamil heritage and culture.
Young Palmyrah Tree Pic: Uppuvelli beach]
Let me make a wild guess that thalaivar Prabakaraan has read The Lexus and the Olive Tree book as I could discern the influence of the book in his recent marveerar narl speech.
He kicks off his speech by stating that “Many countries in our region have grown in leaps and bounds in social, economical and scientific fields”. He then laments the Sinhalese nation for “moving in exactly the opposite direction, on a path of destruction”. He accuses the Sinhalese nation for “trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself. Thalaivar regrets and condoles with the Lexus oriented world for the beautiful island of Sri Lanka “continues to soak in blood”.
Hard to believe they were the words from the leader of a liberation movement which has been waging an armed struggle for over 25 years to secure the right to self determination for the Tamil and liberate the Tamil home land from the occupying Sinhalese armed forces. I believe thalaivar is a realist or (guessing) that he has been heavily influenced by Friedman’s book. Long shot, but within the range!
The origin of the conflict in Sri Lanka is discrimination (language, education and employment) and colonisation (of Sinhalese in Tamil areas). One would argue these original causes of the problem have been blown away with the globalisation of the world, as opportunities for education and employment is no longer restricted to a particular geographical location. Further in a competition driven world is chasing genuine talent and it does not give a hoot whether you are a Tamil or a Sinhalese. Migration of the population (formerly colonisation) is no longer driven by governments. They are determined by the population chasing prosperity. This movement of masses has gone beyond the national boundaries and has become an international phenomenon.
It has been observed the current core issue relating to the Tamil ethnic crisis is power sharing. The (freedom) struggle against discrimination has been transformed in to a battle to secure the rights for power sharing (self determination). The Tamil and Sinhalese nations are not facing off each other to secure control of any scarce economic resources in the Tamil homeland (North East of the Island). Tamils are waging an armed struggle to a secure power sharing arrangement (either an independent sovereign state or federalism) whilst the Sinhalese are reluctant to reach a power sharing arrangement. Complicated? What complication?
[McDonalds on Galle Road, Colombo 03-Photo: imagebang]
My Dear citizens of the Sinhalese nation,
May I try to understand your reluctance, refusal, rejection, fear or fright for reaching a power sharing arrangement with your neighboring peace & cricket loving, citizens of the Tamil nation?
* Is that because the Tamil nation will stretch their boundaries from Mannar to Wellawatta?
Globalization has eliminated ethnic or language centric barriers, starting from the fall of the Berlin wall. Why worry about boundaries and demarcations in an open and digitally connected world? It’s an era of integration not demarcation along geographical habitations.
* Is that because Tamil nation will prosper economically and you have to line up for jobs at the border?
So what? If you are prepared to take wings to Toronto and Melbourne in search of prosperity why not drive up to Palaly and Kilaly to earn wealth. Hope the exchange rate doesn’t kill you
* Is that because the Tamil national cricket team will become the best team in the world?
ICC (as instructed by BCCI) won’t sanction a new Tamil nation test cricket team. Why not reach an agreement as part of the power sharing deal that the Tamil nation groom and develop a successor for Murali?
Therefore, please reach a power sharing arrangement with your beloved (?) neighboring Tamil nation. As we the Tamil and Sinhalese nations reach this milestone to wipe out the scars from our “blood soaked island” we need to ask our benevolent international community to underwrite this agreement by assisting (direct and subsidize behind the scenes) the McDonalds corporation to open up outlets in each of the 25 districts in Sri Lanka.
Why McDonalds? Because according to Thomas Friedman’s Golden Arches theory (the famous symbol of McDonald’s outlets) “No two countries that both had McDonald’s had fought a war against each other since each got its McDonald’”
There are exceptions to the theory. For example, the 1989 U.S. intervention in Panama and the NATO bombing of Serbia in early nineties. “In both cases the war ended quickly, because the population did not want to lose their place in a global system “symbolized by McDonald’s” argues Friedman.
In 2006 McDonald’s hosting nations Israel and Lebanon were involved in a short war which could also be considered evidence against the Golden Arches theory (It is not clear whether the conflict was between Israel and Lebanon or just Hezbollah specifically, and if Hezbollah owned any McDonald’s franchises
PS: The delegations from the Tamil and Sinhalese nations should hold their deliberations in McDonald’s outlets at Bangkok, Geneva, Oslo and of course Jaffna.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas L Friedman, 1990
Entry Filed under: transCurrents NewsFeatures
11 Comments Add your own
1. Raj | January 10th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Dear Tamil author
May I try to understand your reluctance, refusal, rejection, fear or fright in taking part in the political process by denouncing violence, terrorism and political assasinationtions.
Is it because……..
1. Your leaders are wanted terrorists with much blood on their hands and are wanted by Interpol and the Sri Lankan and Indian authorities.
2. You killed of anyone capable of negotiating a reasonable and sustainable solution through a thirty year blood thirsty purge of the moderate Tamils … Amirthlingham, Neeelan, Lognnathan etc etc and all you have left are barbers and post masters who are great at laying claymores but dont have a clue about the poltical process
3. Is it because you know terrorsim and democracy are incompatiable, you have terror regime that is getting fat and rich at the expense of the poor citizens who live under their corupt regime
4. The frothing at the mouth bag men from US, AUST, UK wont allow it
5. To take the poltical path would require walking away from suicide bombing and child consription which would severely limit the fighting capability of the ‘Tamil nation’
6. A political solution will lead to a sustainable future for the people in Sri Lanka but not the tiger leadership !!!!
I think you have been eating too much MacDonalds because you are lclearly living in a delusional coma.
2. doctor | January 11th, 2008 at 3:11 am
Arvalan needs to get his medication checked. Do you honestly think that India will allow the convicted killers of its Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to lead a nation at its Southern border? Once Prabakaran, Pottu Amman, KP etc are dead or in jail, then your dream might become reality. Last time Indian Army saved LTTE, now it will save the Sri Lankans – both Sinhalese and non-LTTE Tamils.
3. realist | January 11th, 2008 at 5:20 am
This is funny! I hope it is a joke and not meant to be serious. Having Friedman as your hero, you should also go for Kissinger too and support the Israel lobby. If every body drives a lexus would it be your servant boys who would be building it?
I understand your pain though–why cant we all make money and not worry about identities? but it is not so simple as that since the war is also about who gets most of the money?
4. Athos | January 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
/*
Globalization has eliminated ethnic or language centric barriers, starting from the fall of the Berlin wall. Why worry about boundaries and demarcations in an open and digitally connected world? It’s an era of integration not demarcation along geographical habitations.
*/
Then there is no need for ‘Tamil homeland’ or ‘Tamil Nation’ – is there?
5. Athos | January 11th, 2008 at 9:01 am
The fear about Thamil dominence is partly imaginary and partly true.but for the easy going Sinhalese it is going to be tough all the way.Morover India will always want to keep Srilanka under pressure.
Still there is hope.But we should not forget it is the Jaffna Thamils who are going to dominate.So a negotiated settle ment which will fullfill the aspirations of all the communities is necessary.If not it will lead to factional ware fuelled by outer elements and will lead to further destruction. K.A.
6. Dingiri | January 11th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Dear Mr. Arvalan,
You seem to have missed the point completely when you state…
” The Tamil and Sinhalese nations are not facing off each other to secure control of any scarce economic resources in the Tamil homeland (North East of the Island).”
The conflict is all about a scarce economic resource, and that is LAND.
You are right in pointing out that the Sinhalese are wrong in wanting to control all of it.
However you dont appear to see any problem with Tamils demanding 4 times as much land as a Sinhalese will get per capita after partition.
Many Sinhalese might be willing to concede that much of the North is the exclusive Tamil homeland after all they have been there for 800 years. But in the East the story is very different. A province that was part of the Kandian Kingdom with a distinct Sinhala identiy prior to and even during Dutch times and also a mixed population of Tamils, Moslems and Sinhalese. Dont you think it is pretty unlikely that the Sinhalese will just give it all up and crowd into the lower two thirds of the country without a fight?
Dont you see that that the whole problem is due to each party wanting much more than what is fairly theirs? Ask for something fair and proportionate and you might find some support among the Sinhalese.
7. porthos usa | January 11th, 2008 at 10:41 am
good article
8. ratna | January 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Well written, but who is going to listen?
Political crises started with language policy in 1956.
Terrorism started with the killing of SWRD by a monk (today’s term: terrorist?).
It is obvious that srilankan (sinhalese) leaders prefered the destruction path, and today we all are suffering.
9. selva | January 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
DOCTOR !! (2.) As you said if the Indian army come back again I am going to put sugar in your mouth.That is what I am dreaming of . No matter what they are going to do here.It doesn’t matter even if they anex this Island with India. Geographically speaking this country should be a part of India.People in Sri Lanka used to think we will become poor if we are anexed but in reality the new India after anexed will prosper like America.
10. r.veera | January 11th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
hi,
I had a good laugh, because sinhala mass never ever going to use their tiny brain. They still live in stone age period, as you can see all comments put by sinhala brains using tamil name. Until they start using their commonsense there is no solution. If they beleive LTTE is the problem, i am afraid separtion is the only solution, and i beleive arvalans prediction will come true.
11. Athos | January 12th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I fully agree with Mr.Dingiris comments.As mentioned in my earlier comments the fear about Tamil domminence is partly true and parly immaginery.There are moderates and diehards in both communities.It is fully absurd about thinking of the past.Sinhalese taking pride and always talking about their 2500 years history.This is the year 2008.
Much challenges ahead.Climate changes food shortages etc etc.Are we going to unite and face the challenge or get distructed and loose everything by fighting withe each otheother? Sudalaimaadan.
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