Comments on: TNA and the New Era of Tamil Politics: Are They Living Up to the Challenge? https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge Journalism for Citizens Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:26:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.1 By: Dayapala Thiranagama https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14512 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:26:25 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14512 Dear Belle
You will be able to order a copy of the documentary from the National Film Board in Canada from the link below.The title is “No More Tears Sister”

http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/

]]> By: Jaffna Tamil https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14500 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:12:32 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14500 Belle,
I was able to get a copy though a friend. If you are interested in contacting me directly by email, I would be happy to send you a copy.
However we have to be careful not to give poor Yapa’s feverish imagination an “extra special workout”!

]]> By: Belle https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14492 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:13:34 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14492 Jaffna Tamil,
Have any idea how I can get hold of a copy of “No tears for me, Sister”?

Thanks.

]]> By: Jaffna Tamil https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14484 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:44:05 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14484 Dear Mr. Thiranagama.
believe it or not, you were on of my heros along with Rajini. I am glad to hear your voice again. I do have a copy of “No tears for me, Sister” and I share it with many people as I can.

God Bless you and your family

]]> By: wijayapala https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14471 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:18:46 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14471 rperin,

“What exactly is a “Parra Demila”? ”

“Para Demala” literally means “outsider Tamil” or “foreign Tamil” or “enemy Tamil.” The term itself is anti-Tamil as it implies that Tamils are not really Sri Lankan (while quietly suggesting that only the Sinhalese are native Sri Lankans). “Para” means alien or different and “Demala” literally is the Sinhala term for Tamil. Demala used to have a neutral meaning but took on a racist tone over the last few decades. I myself use the term Demala when I speak in Sinhala but not in a racist context i.e. demala bhashava = Tamil language and demala minissu = Tamil people. I don’t know another way of saying “Tamil.”

It is **NOT** true that “para” comes from the Paraiyar Tamil caste. This is an idiotic lie spread by Tamilnet and TNA MP Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran who is quite clearly ignorant of the Sinhala language. The Sinhalese generally are clueless about Tamil culture and would not know how to use caste to insult Tamils.

What is more funny is that Tamilnet appears to be equally clueless about the Paraiyars, describing them as “prestigious ancestors of the Tamil social formation” when in reality they are treated as garbage by upper caste locals even to this day.

]]> By: yapa https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14470 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:17:53 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14470 I don’t understand what is happening in Sri Lanka and in the political aena and in these political discussions.I feel we are shouting and fighting like babblers. I think following quotations of Einstein have some relevance.

1. Confusion of goals and perfection of means seems, in my opinion, to characterize our age.

2. I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.

3. A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.

4. Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.

4. Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.

5. Force always attracts men of low morality.

6.Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.

7. Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

8. Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.

Thanks!

]]> By: Jaffna Tamil https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14462 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:33:39 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14462 I assume rperin is a non sri lankan.

Para damil has no meaning other than as an insult!

It is a combination of the word Pariaya (low caste) which is meant as an insult and Damila (Tamil). I dont think there is an equivalent insult in the English language, perhaps calling a Black man a “nigger” or a Hispanic man a “wetback”

The people who use it are etymological Einsteins! almost always ignorant racists.

]]> By: Dayapala Thiranagama https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14458 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:47:29 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14458 Dear wijayapala
I am in full agreement with you that it is the resposibilitiy of the Sinhalese political leadership to offer a solution as an alternative to a seperate state.This is what the Sinhalese political leadrship has failed do throughout our history since independece.The Tamil struggle for their democratic rights is not going away it will bounce back unless we accept their legitimate grievences and offer solutions.In my view it is so hard for Pillayan,Karuna or Douglas to become the legitimate represantatives the Tamil people.The TNA will consolidate their hold on Tamil nationalism but we need to make them more democratic and along with the SLMC they will be a politically stronger force in the future.
Dear Jaffna Tamil
Thank you for your kind words about my wife.
I agree that we need to ask the Sihalese leadership to come up with a reasonable political solution so that the Tamils will be able to live with dignity and respect.The Sinhelese political leadership is unable to fathom the Tamil feelings and their entitlement to basic democratic rights . I have clarified my views about the pro governement ex-militant groups in my response to wijayapala above.
Dear Kathir
When you advocate to erase other people because of their political views you yourself cease to be a democrat.

]]> By: rperin https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14451 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:27:52 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14451 What exactly is a “Parra Demila”? What is the literal meaning of this phrase?What are its linguistic deatures?Etymology?
Any one konws?

]]> By: Jaffna Tamil https://groundviews.org/2010/02/10/tna-and-the-new-era-of-tamil-politics-are-they-living-up-to-the-challenge/#comment-14448 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:07:12 +0000 http://www.groundviews.org/?p=2709#comment-14448 Ah, Dhiraj..
you say..–It is characterised by its ethno-centric, racist, inward looking, separatist agenda.-

Physician, heal thy self!

Or let me explain in a manner that you can understand…

My grandma used to tell me “when you point your finger at someone, three other fingers are pointing back at you”. As I cant draw a picture here, let me explain, when you point your index finger, your middle finger, ring finger, and little finger are pointing back at you.

I hope you get it!

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