Transcending Polarization
A few weeks back, the Hindu American Foundation released a report detailing the persecution of Hindus across the Diaspora, focusing on the countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Fiji. While it was barely noticed in the U.S., the report has sparked controversy in Fiji.
Upon the report’s release, it instantly became a top headline on Fiji’s national evening news program. The Hindu American Foundation asserted that Fiji’s Hindus were systematic targets of hate speech and hate crimes and charged the government with doing little to curb the trend. Among other things, the foundation documented a disturbing number of temple desecrations in recent years.
I expected Fiji’s Hindu community to embrace the report’s findings and call for immediate reform. Instead, top community leaders denounced the report as inflammatory. Kamlesh Arya – the leader of the Hindu sect Arya Samaj and a former Labour party member of Parliament – was cited by the online publication Fijilive as saying that the report only hurt nation building and reconciliation.
To get a better understanding of Arya’s position, I spoke with him on Wednesday. When I asked why he publicly criticized the report, Arya responded as follows:
We viewed the tone of the report as overstating the problem. The tone was really
accusatory – we disagree, we’re on the ground, and we know. The foundation never consulted with us. To make such pronounced statements, which are now available to people worldwide on the Internet, they should have consulted us. Every Hindu group in Fiji found it unacceptable.
We are trying to reconcile and harmonize people, and the content of the report did the opposite. In any environment where there is racial tension which also has a religious bearing then people are required to build bridges of understanding and not point fingers.
Arya has been a leader in combating the desecration of temples. During his time in Parliament (from 2000-2005), he sponsored a motion to curb such acts, which was eventually approved by the ruling government. According to Arya, this was the only motion put forward by the opposition that was approved by the government last session.
I found Arya’s denunciation of the Hindu American Foundation admirable and wise. He very easily could have built on the report’s fiery rhetoric and lashed out against the government for its perceived intolerance. By criticizing it, however, he has now built credibility with the ruling government, which he can use to promote long-term change and unity.
The move shows Arya’s commitment to effectiveness over glory, which is something most Americans could learn from. In America’s polarized political climate, the goal of most politicians, pundits, and non-profits is to pounce on an opponent at every opportunity rather than seek ways to actually get things done. (That said, I’m keeping up my last partisan post because, well, old habits die hard).
Fiji, too, has struggled to transcend the politics of division. Arya’s recent remarks, however, reveal a growing weariness with polarization. Most people are tired of indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian leaders (and dittohead followers) butting heads over every issue and would prefer to have a unified government that fosters stability and economic growth. Thus, it was with much fanfare that current Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase invited several members of the opposition into his cabinet.
As I noted in my first post, overcoming ethnic and political polarization will take a steady commitment since differences permeate Fiji’s everyday culture. It’s noteworthy, though, that Fiji’s reconciliation process can be aided by aspects that often characterize local island culture. In “island life,” there’s an affinity for casual living. It’s a nonchalant approach to the world where you don’t take yourself and your work so seriously and where getting along with your neighbor truly matters.
Grog epitomizes Fiji’s island culture. Grog, also called kava or yaqoona, is a local drink that looks like muddy water (and unfortunately kind of tastes like it, too). It’s prepared by wrapping kava roots in a piece of cloth, adding water, and squeezing the mixture into a container. Drinking grog is one of the few national pastimes that transcend ethnic, class, regional, religious and (sometimes) gender differences. It takes place at many social gatherings and day-to-day to pass time. On my first day of research, I visited a secondary school. The principal immediately invited me into his office and asked his assistant to prepare grog. Teachers and other school workers were gathered and we talked about random topics over grog without regard for time or workload (I’m fairly certain that the teachers present had free periods).
The lack of constant stress, intensity, and drama (which is not lacking in the States) and the fondness for laid back living are a few factors that can help Fiji transition to a less polarized political atmosphere.
Upon the report’s release, it instantly became a top headline on Fiji’s national evening news program. The Hindu American Foundation asserted that Fiji’s Hindus were systematic targets of hate speech and hate crimes and charged the government with doing little to curb the trend. Among other things, the foundation documented a disturbing number of temple desecrations in recent years.
I expected Fiji’s Hindu community to embrace the report’s findings and call for immediate reform. Instead, top community leaders denounced the report as inflammatory. Kamlesh Arya – the leader of the Hindu sect Arya Samaj and a former Labour party member of Parliament – was cited by the online publication Fijilive as saying that the report only hurt nation building and reconciliation.
To get a better understanding of Arya’s position, I spoke with him on Wednesday. When I asked why he publicly criticized the report, Arya responded as follows:
We viewed the tone of the report as overstating the problem. The tone was really
accusatory – we disagree, we’re on the ground, and we know. The foundation never consulted with us. To make such pronounced statements, which are now available to people worldwide on the Internet, they should have consulted us. Every Hindu group in Fiji found it unacceptable.
We are trying to reconcile and harmonize people, and the content of the report did the opposite. In any environment where there is racial tension which also has a religious bearing then people are required to build bridges of understanding and not point fingers.
Arya has been a leader in combating the desecration of temples. During his time in Parliament (from 2000-2005), he sponsored a motion to curb such acts, which was eventually approved by the ruling government. According to Arya, this was the only motion put forward by the opposition that was approved by the government last session.
I found Arya’s denunciation of the Hindu American Foundation admirable and wise. He very easily could have built on the report’s fiery rhetoric and lashed out against the government for its perceived intolerance. By criticizing it, however, he has now built credibility with the ruling government, which he can use to promote long-term change and unity.
The move shows Arya’s commitment to effectiveness over glory, which is something most Americans could learn from. In America’s polarized political climate, the goal of most politicians, pundits, and non-profits is to pounce on an opponent at every opportunity rather than seek ways to actually get things done. (That said, I’m keeping up my last partisan post because, well, old habits die hard).
Fiji, too, has struggled to transcend the politics of division. Arya’s recent remarks, however, reveal a growing weariness with polarization. Most people are tired of indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian leaders (and dittohead followers) butting heads over every issue and would prefer to have a unified government that fosters stability and economic growth. Thus, it was with much fanfare that current Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase invited several members of the opposition into his cabinet.
As I noted in my first post, overcoming ethnic and political polarization will take a steady commitment since differences permeate Fiji’s everyday culture. It’s noteworthy, though, that Fiji’s reconciliation process can be aided by aspects that often characterize local island culture. In “island life,” there’s an affinity for casual living. It’s a nonchalant approach to the world where you don’t take yourself and your work so seriously and where getting along with your neighbor truly matters.
Grog epitomizes Fiji’s island culture. Grog, also called kava or yaqoona, is a local drink that looks like muddy water (and unfortunately kind of tastes like it, too). It’s prepared by wrapping kava roots in a piece of cloth, adding water, and squeezing the mixture into a container. Drinking grog is one of the few national pastimes that transcend ethnic, class, regional, religious and (sometimes) gender differences. It takes place at many social gatherings and day-to-day to pass time. On my first day of research, I visited a secondary school. The principal immediately invited me into his office and asked his assistant to prepare grog. Teachers and other school workers were gathered and we talked about random topics over grog without regard for time or workload (I’m fairly certain that the teachers present had free periods).
The lack of constant stress, intensity, and drama (which is not lacking in the States) and the fondness for laid back living are a few factors that can help Fiji transition to a less polarized political atmosphere.
posted by Jason at 11:02 PM
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