Muller- Bash the Burgher Day
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In reply to:
Am I a Burgher?
Kyle Joustra 4/23/08
Maybe its timing or the fact that we can't look at ourselves and like to point fingers at others.
A new article with factual information (could it be coincidence from an article i wrote many years ago http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/ceylondatabase/Media/Dutch%20Burghers.pdfhttp://www.users.bigpond.net.au/ceylondatabase/Media/Dutch%20Burghers.pdf ) and entwined in it is what can only be described as poison aimed to create disunity. see http://www.lakbimanews.lk/lounge/lou5.htmhttp://www.lakbimanews.lk/lounge/lou5.htm.
Firstly those born of the English Rule Period (1796-1948) and that are still living can refer to themselves as 'Dutch Burghers', those born since of the parents can claim linage to 'Dutch Burgher". The achievements whether of nobility or not are achievements none the less and the Heritage noble or not should also be coverted, understood and recorded. Is it that a minority has to yell a bit louder, maybe, is it that people think minority is fair game to point out humanities failings, maybe that too. As they say people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, the fact of the matter is that in anyone's ancestors we will all find something we don't like. Like all people we aim to survive, did the 'Dutch Burgher' community try and find favour with the British, of course, but then don't we all try and find favour and give the best we can for our children based on circumstances dealt. Did their allegiance to the English help, yes for many they got out of the turmoil of Sri Lanka and settled in many of Britians Colonies. The Dutch have not forgotten either that Ceylon is part of it's history and provided funding and joint ventures to Sri Lanka today, as it has done for Malaysia and Indonesia.
The fact remains due to history there is a Dutch Burgher Community and the last remanants still living, whom while trying to dye with diginity like all of us tend to hold onto their heydays and are still of their upbringing. They also remember a great and wonderful country called Ceylon. If you attack this you only succeed in closing ranks and people protecting more than opening eyes and moving forward.
What are you trying to prove, we all know!
As i indicated in my previous post while it is an education for those descendants of 'Dutch Burghers' it is equally important that those not of a ‘Dutch Burgher’ heritage understand and don’t repeat the very discrimination that the older generations can be accused of and are a product of the “order of things’ then.
If we want change then we have to be willing to change ourselves first. I would suspect the greater conflict and resolution is between the Tamils and Singhalese, are we going to point fingers too or do we work towards a change for the benefit of all communities. History is about fact when we put emotion into it then thats where it becomes something entirely different and slanted to suit our own veiwpoint.