I’m scared that in all the drama of beginning this fast, I am going to forget the real reason for the entire endeavor. Pure, innocent, angelic children in Sri Lanka are starving, bleeding to death from shrapnel injuries, and leaving this world so soon after they came into it.
The Sri Lankan government is commiting genocide against the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. I used to hesistate to be so bold. I used to parse my words due to my own secret doubt and for the sake of political correctness. That time has passed. Have you ever heard of a government placing food and medicine embargos on sections of its own citizenry? Have you ever heard of a government bombing its own civilians using fighter jets? Have you ever heard of a government destroying its own hospitals because they serve a specific segment of the population? Have you ever heard of a government expelling international journalists and NGOs because they dare raise doubts about the government’s intentions?
If you haven’t, I present to you the “government” of Sri Lanka. But what is the point of me writing on this blog? This grotesque reality has for far too long been confined to the minds of the suffering Tamils. If our 10,000-meal fast does not spark mainstream media coverage of the Tamil genocide, all is for nought. If our fast does not spur members of Congress to take action on behalf of the languishing civilians, all is for nought.
There is indeed hunger in my stomach. But it’s not for food. It’s for a mindset which accepts nothing less than selflessness on behalf of my suffering brothers and sisters back home. I hunger to be worthy of speaking on behalf of the children that suffer in Sri Lanka. I hunger for America to live up to its ideals and stop the genocide of Tamils.
February 8th, 2009 at 2:50 am
All the Tamils in India stand behind you in these tough times. We are all hungry for the just peace in which Tamils in Sri Lanka can live with dignity and liberty.
Wish you great success on your endeavor!
February 10th, 2009 at 9:42 am
best wishes for you and your friends soon we will get our dignity and respect
kosala
February 10th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Ahilan:
We appreciate what you are doing for our people in the war zone in Sri Lanka. They need genuine help from external sources, right now, from the intentional harm by the Sri Lankan government and its Armed Forces. It is not the time to muddle through the perfect definition of Genocide or Terrorism. We all have our day to day challenges and needs but it is time for us to stop, think, and act wisely with compassion to the genuine need of this proportion. We are contributing to your meal protest, one day at a time, but do not see any productive progress. Is there anything more we could do to draw more attention? Could we join in your fast more directly to show our sincere motivation to our common cause?
Thank you.
Nadarajah Ravindrakumar
February 14th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Vanakkam!
Hats off to the eight of you who are making this sacrifice for the sake of our kind and our race. It is truly moving to see how truly dedicated you and your friends are to our “thaagam” for “thamizh eelam.”
I am stuck right in the centre of the city (c******) where all the “brain storming” is done for this genocidal war. My hands and legs are tied and all I can do is cry tears of blood as I feel like I am being mentally crucified due to my incapacity to even express my real thoughts and emotions, let alone actions.
There was a time when my parents and many elders from the previous generation worried that the “thaagam” would not prevail in our generation considering how most of our generation is growing up under various international flags. However, we have proved ourselves to be a breed of poppies; we grow and thrive on the blood of our martyr brothers and sisters!
The time will soon arrive when we all receive the manna of freedom.
Dharmam Vaazhga! Thamizh Vezhga!
Anpudan,
eezha gothai
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Ahilan,
Here I am thinking of fasting.. to at least feel half the pain the people back home are feeling… I wish I felt this a month ahead, so that I could have joined you in this campaign…
Thanks for spreading the news about the situation back home.
-Stan