Critical issues by Lionel Yodhasinghe
East West Centre of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu awarded this year's Jefferson Fellowship Spring Program to Sunday Observer Senior Journalist Lionel Yodhasinghe. Following is the second in a series of his study notes on his visit to the United States of America.
After the tragic death of US Senator Paul Wellstone who plane-crashed along with his wife Shiela and daughter Marcia during an election campaign in the North Star state of Minnesota, his two sons did not intend to erect statues throughout the state nor did they succeed him and grab his power bases.
Instead, they chose to continue the parental legacy by imparting the progressive policies and ideologies in the minds of upcoming leaders thereby propagating Wellstone vision for a better American society.
Progressive politics is the driving force of human and material development in any society and motivation of politicians with commitment is of paramount importance for a country to go ahead. In an attempt to rise from the political and economic quagmire and social crisis today, the need of active progressives is immensely felt in Sri Lanka too.
Motivation and training politicians on right track is imperative towards this attempt and the question is that who is going to take pragmatic initiative in our soil?
Training progressive leaders
Wellstone Action is one such school to train progressive leaders in the USA. Named after the former Senator late Paul Wellstone who was known as one of the most passionate and energetic campaigners in the US and who was able to parlay his outreach skills honed from years as a community organiser and college professor, the institute has already trained over 7000 in the nuts and bolts of political advocacy and grass roots organising skills, youth activities, voter education and mobilisation. Over 22 of them have been elected to political office and others to top positions in US.
"We do not teach them party politics, but mainly give hands on practical training on leadership, handling elections, campaigning for election and parliamentary procedures.
These would help them exercise democracy properly for social change. Wellstone Action Executive director Jeff Blodgett told a meeting with Jefferson Fellows 2005 in his office in St. Paul's.
We welcome anybody irrespective of their party ideology but many who seek training are Democrats especially who hail Wellstone's progressive philosophy - serving the poor, farmers and labourers while protecting human rights, he said.
Many American politicians are ready to engage in dialogue when the country and nation is facing critical situations. Many of them abide by the famous statement of former president John F Kennedy, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".
Eye to eye dialogue among rival parties on any critical issue leads Americans to take critical decision for the interest of the nation. Recent filibuster over President Bush's appointment of three judges was such topical issue which was decided with the consensus of all concerned parties.
Unfortunately, this is what our politicians are lacking for many years. The consequences were two decades war, devastation of property and destabilising of the daily life. The latest is the want of consensus among main political parties to use donor funds in helping the tsunami victims to return to normalcy.
Wellstone Action added another two programs which are equally important today - campaign against domestic violence on women and children and welfare for the disable. Freedom for new leaders to enter politics would bolster democracy in any society. But counter the threat from those who enter politics with ulteria motives is also a need.
Converting them to progressive path is a big challenge to maintain democracy today especially in democratic nation in the developing world. A Wellstone type institute could contribute immensely in such efforts. Because it is more relevant to Sri Lankan today than Americans.
Instead of wasting money on polluting city walls, engage in shooting sprees and making feud with neighbours during elections, the Wellstone recommends candidates to invest in learning, training and gain more effective results through democratic means. It changes those who take into politics with intention of personal gains, power abuse and political rancour. Attitudinal change is of paramount important in respect of such scheme.
Wellstone teaches them good lessons.
Wellstones were survived by their two sons Mark and David who invited other progressives in the society to join them in continue action poignantly. If there are heirs of such legacies in Sri Lankan, Wellstone could be a role model.
Surprisingly, nobody talks of any suspicion or conspiracy over Wellstones death. Read more on www.wellstone.org
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