Impact of the Federal Idea on a World Changing Fast
The on going war (declared or undeclared) and its brutal ferocity has distorted current reality in Sri Lanka. The consequences have gone far beyond the original causes. But the conflict has its genesis in colonialism. Modern Ceylon as Sri Lanka was known then is a British creation. The Island was unified administratively but the people were divided politically through representation on communal lines. What was “united” to exploit was “divided” to govern. In the absence of adequate and equitable forms of power – sharing the Island is wracked with post – Independence conflict within pre – Independence boundaries. [Federalidea.com]
BY D.B.S. JEYARAJ
Impact of the Federal Idea on a World Changing Fast
” maybe the federal idea isn’t such a bad idea after all ”
- Bill Clinton (in 1999)
Ailing president of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruiz, wrote recently an article responding to some observations made by US President George W Bush. In the last part of that article Fidel related an anecdote from his halcyon days of revolting against Batista. This is what it was -
“Ideas cannot be killed,” Sarrria emphatically said. Sarrria was the black lieutenant, a patrol leader in Batista’s army who arrested us, after the attempt to seize the Moncada Garrison, while three of us slept in a small mountain hut, exhausted by the effort of breaking through the siege. The soldiers, fuelled by hatred and adrenalin, were aiming their weapons at me even before they had identified who I was. “Ideas cannot be killed,” the black lieutenant kept repeating, practically automatically and in a hushed voice. I dedicate those excellent words to you, Mr. Bush.” Castro wrote.
True, Ideas cannot be killed. As the cliche goes Ideas can be defeated only by greater or better ideas. Another truism is no force can stop an idea whose time has come. Cliches and truisms may be repetitive and boring but they do represent powerful wordly wisdom!
It was perhaps the merit in what is called the federal idea which prompted Bill Clinton to observe ” maybe the federal idea isn’t such a bad idea after all” . This was in 1999 when he was the most powerful man on earth.It was at the end of the conference on federalism at Mont Tremblant in Quebec that Clinton made this remark. Incidently Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris also addressed this path – breaking conclave organized by the Forum of Federations based in Ottawa.
What then is this “federal idea” ? It is in one sense a concept that embodies various related things like federalism, federal systems , federations and federalist etc. [Read the full article, Impact of the Federal Idea on a World Changing Fast]
