Features
Americans without ethnic prefixes
by Vijaya Chandrasoma
After the mass shooting a few weeks ago in Atlanta, Georgia, which left six Asian American women dead, Maizie Hirono, Democratic senator from Hawaii proposed legislation to contain the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans, fueled by rhetoric that blamed the Chinese for the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In an address last week, President Biden condemned “vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans who have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated”.
Attacked and scapegoated with third grade insults against China from the bully pulpit of the former hate mongering president. A president who had no clue how to alleviate the pandemic, resorting to his characteristic refusal to accept responsibility for his incompetence by blaming China, the country of origin of the virus. His infamous taunts of the “China Virus”, “China Plague”, “Kung Flu” inflamed the anger and hatred of his white base to attack Asian Americans, who they imagined, in their racist delusions, were responsible for the spread of the virus.
The legislation aimed to mitigate violence against Asian Americans passed 94 – 6 in the Senate. The six senators from deep red states who voted against the legislation were Josh Hawley (Missouri), who incited the insurrectionists against the Capitol on January 6, Tom Cotton (Arkansas), Ted Cruz (Texas), Roger Marshall (Kansas), Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Tommy Tuberville (Alabama). The modern counterparts of Hitler’s cronies, Goebbels, Himmler, Goring and Mengele, they are staunch sycophants of the deposed and disgraced American president. They are all vociferous propagandists of the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from their Fuhrer.
Asian Americans, like all Americans of color, have been subjected to racist slurs and violence by white racists for centuries. Hate crimes against Asian Americans have accelerated in the past year; over 3,800 cases of racist violence have been reported against Americans of Asian origin during this period.
So the American theme, its modern doctrine, is now clear. In a way, the doctrine is very similar to the white supremacist symbol of 1488 – 14 for the 14 words of the motto of white supremacy: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”, followed by a repetition of the number 88 for the eighth letter of the alphabet, the letter HH, representing the Nazi salute, Heil Hitler. According to these white racists, America is for white Americans, Hitler’s Aryans. Immigrants from non-white nations are tolerated on grudging sufferance.
When a disaster occurs in a foreign country which has an adverse effect on America, the American descendants of that country who have been legal American citizens for decades, sometimes centuries, become responsible for that disaster, and are worthy targets for violence. The latest example is Asian Americans. There are many other such targets, even today.
The classic example of the doctrine are the Africans who were kidnapped from their homes, brought in chains to America, and forced to slave in American plantations. The forced, unpaid, tortured labor of these slaves built the economic powerhouse that America is today. They are Americans of several generations, they have absolutely no connection with Africa. They are racially profiled and brutally murdered on a depressingly regular basis. And after four centuries, they are still not Americans, they are African Americans.
The Chinese emigrated to America in waves. Immigrants in the 19th century worked mainly on the transcontinental railroad network. They suffered racial discrimination at every level, contemptuously called “The Yellow Peril”. White Americans, while enjoying the benefits of their cheap labor, denied them citizenship, they were not allowed to own land or marry Caucasians. Most of these immigrants have little or no connection with their country of origin. But they are still known as “Chinese Americans” or “Asian Americans”.
Significant Japanese immigration to America began in the mid-19th century, caused by economic necessities. Poor living conditions and high unemployment forced them to look to America for a better life for themselves and their families. They also shared with the Chinese the discrimination, racism and slurs, and were considered an extension of the “Yellow Peril”.
When Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941, and America declared war against Japan, an estimated 120,000 Americans of Japanese origin, who had no connection with Japan, certainly none with the attacks, were forcibly incarcerated in internment camps based solely on their ethnic origin, although America had been their home for decades. They are still known as “Japanese Americans” or “Asian Americans”.
Ironically, when America entered the same war against Hitler’s Germany and Italy’s Mussolini in 1941, a few Germans and Italians were “deemed enemy aliens,” and placed under curfew. A couple hundred were even locked in “internment camps”. There were 1.2 million and five million of German first and second generation immigrants, respectively, and over 600,000 first generation Italian immigrants. The vast majority of Germans and Italian immigrants were treated as “Americans”. The reason is obvious, the Asians are the Yellow Peril, Hispanics the Brown Invasion. There is nothing called a White Peril. Not to white Americans, anyway.
Cuban Refugees who fled the Castro regime, and settled in America in the 1950s are “Cuban Americans”. Mexicans and immigrants from other Central and South American countries, some who had lived in the United States when it was Mexico, which became Texas or New Mexico when the US government “annexed” their homelands, are simply Hispanics, or Hispanic Americans.
And the original inhabitants of the land stolen from by the white man are also prefixed as Native Americans!
Then we come to 9/11, when 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists committed the most terrible domestic attack against the United States in its history. The terrorists were from four countries, 15 from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one each from Lebanon and Egypt.
A 2017 study estimated that there were 3.45 million Americans of Arabic origin living in America, many second and third generation Americans. The vast majority oppose Islamic terrorism and expressed their horror of the 9/11 attacks. They have little connection to their countries of origin. They are adherents of Islam, the third most popular religion in the US, after Christianity and Judaism. Predictably, Muslims have been targeted for violence ever since 9/11. Many ignorant, racist Americans (and recent events have proved that they number in the tens of millions) have assaulted and murdered not only Muslims, but anyone who looked Arabic to their racist eyes. They are still known as Arab Americans.
Immigrants take the pledge of allegiance to the United States of America when they are granted citizenship. They also renounce their allegiance to their country of origin. For first generation immigrants, this may be an impossible emotional exercise.
I can best explain this conundrum with my personal experience. I emigrated to the United States in 1990 at age 49, to escape the general violence of an ethnic war, and the personal violence against political rivals of the administration at the time. I chose the United States because my older son was already there on a scholarship to a leading university, which he was awarded while he was in Colombo, on the basis of his scholastic performance. I received my Green Card in 1998 and my citizenship in 2003 as did my family. I will be forever grateful to the USA for giving me the second chance which I desperately sought; which enabled my children to grasp with both hands the wonderful educational opportunities available during the Clinton years to kids who were willing to work hard.
But despite the fact that I swore my allegiance to my adopted country, I have always been a Sri Lankan by emotion, an American by document. When peace finally returned to Sri Lanka in 2009, I had little hesitation in retiring in my home country. My children, who were in their teens when they emigrated, still have an affection for the old country. They speak Sinhalese, have many friends here and visit often. But, after 30 years, America is their home. My grandchildren are Americans, pure and simple. I believe this to be the natural evolution of assimilation for immigrants everywhere.
When Mexico played soccer against the Americans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 2013, there was a capacity crowd of 90,000 spectators, 89,000 Mexican Americans cheering the Mexican team on, waving 89,000 Mexican flags! Old Glory was hardly to be seen.
It has to be stressed that Americans of every color and creed have fought for America, against Nazism of the Germany of the 1940s, and more recently, to stave off a Nazi/Russian attack on its democracy. Americans of every color and creed have given their lives enforcing the laws of America and defending its constitution. There are grave sites of many nationalities in the Arlington Memorial Cemetery. They were all true Americans, sacrificing their lives for their country. Death is one route to drop the ethnic prefix of a true American.
The only other route is the privilege of having a white skin. Orange is also acceptable. There are no English Americans, no German or French Americans. They are all white, all Americans, all Caucasians. The rest of us will always be Arab Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Pacific islanders or when in doubt, “Other”. Never ethnic adjective-free Americans, not unless we die for America. Italian Americans may be the exception to this rule, but in any job or official application or document, there is no box for Italian Americans, they tick the magic box that says “Caucasian.”
Countries which have attracted most mass immigration from other countries for a variety of reasons, poverty, violence or seeking a better life for their families are, besides the USA, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. When these immigrants become citizens of their country of choice, they are Canadians, Brits, Aussies or Kiwis. The white racists in these countries have their own slurs for their immigrants. But they have no official classification as African Canadians, Pakistani British, Asian Australians or Sri Lankan New Zealanders. The United States of America is the only country which officially identifies, advertises and endorses its concept of white racism. Perhaps unknowingly, even instinctively.
This concept may finally disappear when the most haunting fears of white racists – the loss of white dominance, privilege and supremacy over colored immigrants – become a reality, predicted for 2040. When the browns, the blacks and immigrants of all other hues will form the national majority and restore racial balance.
Racial and social justice for all, which will make the USA, at long last, a true Nation of Immigrants. All Americans, no ethnic prefix.
Hopefully, when my granddaughter and/or grandson are vying for the presidency of the United States in a few decades, they will simply be known as Americans, and not as Japanese/European/Tamil/Sinhalese Americans. Although, truth be told, that does have a nice, global ring to it.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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