http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/the-straw-polls-have-spoken/ Looking at the race for the next UN Secretary General Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:22:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/the-straw-polls-have-spoken/#comment-547 UNSG.org » Blog Archive » For the good of all, let’s end the nationalist rhetoric Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:38:18 +0000 http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/the-straw-polls-have-spoken/#comment-547 [...] Chapter 15 has an insightful summation of this and its implications for those candidates - all well-intentioned and conscientious individuals - and their countries once the race concludes. “One of the things that has been striking to us throughout this race is the level of national pride and identity associated with the candidates in this race. The South Korean, Indian, and Sri Lankan press, especially, has fallen in love with the candidates. And, to a substantial extent, their publics have also. The low esteem that the Thai government is in with both its public and its media explains Sathirathai’s support. “Unfortunately, this close identification with candidates has resulted in publics’ mood following the fortunes of the candidates. For Dhanapala and the Sri Lankans, this is quite serious. The country is at a very serious point, with the peace process — Dhanapala’s peace process — collapsing. The mood of Sri Lankans that we encounter has been deeply impacted by this. “Furthermore, it is important for the publics to realize that this is not an indictment of their countries. If Shashi Tharoor loses, as it seems he will, this is not an indictment of India. Indeed, the question of whether Singh’s nomination of Tharoor is a blunder will likely be revisited. For the Sri Lankans, they need to understand that Dhanapala’s failings are not their own. They nominated an old man who did not impress people. This is not a statement about Sri Lanka.” [...] [...] Chapter 15 has an insightful summation of this and its implications for those candidates – all well-intentioned and conscientious individuals – and their countries once the race concludes. “One of the things that has been striking to us throughout this race is the level of national pride and identity associated with the candidates in this race. The South Korean, Indian, and Sri Lankan press, especially, has fallen in love with the candidates. And, to a substantial extent, their publics have also. The low esteem that the Thai government is in with both its public and its media explains Sathirathai’s support. “Unfortunately, this close identification with candidates has resulted in publics’ mood following the fortunes of the candidates. For Dhanapala and the Sri Lankans, this is quite serious. The country is at a very serious point, with the peace process — Dhanapala’s peace process — collapsing. The mood of Sri Lankans that we encounter has been deeply impacted by this. “Furthermore, it is important for the publics to realize that this is not an indictment of their countries. If Shashi Tharoor loses, as it seems he will, this is not an indictment of India. Indeed, the question of whether Singh’s nomination of Tharoor is a blunder will likely be revisited. For the Sri Lankans, they need to understand that Dhanapala’s failings are not their own. They nominated an old man who did not impress people. This is not a statement about Sri Lanka.” [...]

]]> http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/the-straw-polls-have-spoken/#comment-541 Who will be the next UNSG????? « JAYANTHA DHANAPALA Sat, 16 Sep 2006 12:50:02 +0000 http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/the-straw-polls-have-spoken/#comment-541 [...]  Chapter 15 makes the following observations: [...] [...]  Chapter 15 makes the following observations: [...]

]]>