Clothes Line

Comment, criticism praise or food for thought -here's an invitation to hang the laundry of your thought on the 'Clothes Line". Send in your entries of not more than 350 words to

Clothes Line 
C/o The Sunday Times
No.8, Hunupitiya Cross Road
Colomobo 2

Email: clothesline_lk@yahoo.com

• A friend like no other
• Love's mysteries
• Those horribly judgmental neighbours of mine
• False values and colour code
• Who needs laws?
• Thank God for women

A friend like no other

Friendship is the most precious gift God gave us. It is a love that doesn't cost a thing. It is an uncomparable relationship that brings a deep devotion with it. It's sad when others don't like you, don't admire you as they did and when close friends turn their backs on you.

I've realised that even if everyone leaves me, he will be my only true friend, in sad times and in happy times.

I've told him things that I couldn't tell my family. He knows my dreams and wishes.

I feel his love and gentle touch running through my veins, straight to my heart. I believe, to love and to be loved are the most wonderful experiences of a person's life. I experienced both, thanks to Jesus.

I know he was a good friend of mine, before I met my parents. And I also know he still has that same affection for me.

Jade Rivi Jayasuriya 

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Love's mysteries

If you find yourself in love with someone who does not love you, be gentle with yourself. There is nothing wrong with you. Love just didn't choose to rest in the other person's heart.

If you find someone else in love with you and you don't love him/her, feel honoured that love came and called at your door, but gently refuse the gift you cannot return. Do not take advantage, do not cause pain.

How you deal with love is how you deal with you, and all our hearts feel the same pains and joys, even if our lives and ways are different.

If you fall in love with another, and he/she falls in love with you and then love chooses to leave, do not try to reclaim it or to assess blame, let it go. There is a reason and there is a meaning. You will know in time.

Remember that you don't choose love. Love chooses you. All you can really do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Love always has been and always will be a mystery. Be glad that it came to live for a moment in your life.

S. Silva

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Those horribly judgmental neighbours of mine

Our family has always been well known amongst our neighbourhood for generations. I am a twenty-year-old Burgher girl, and I have finally found true love. My boyfriend (24) comes to visit me every evening, as he works during the day like most men of his age do. He makes it a point however, not to come and see me when my parents are not around. Now my problem is this, my neighbours seem to be passing judgement on this little act of love. They feel that I am 'fast' and they often comment amongst themselves about my so-called 'bad behaviour'. Since I am Burgher they strongly feel that I am "naturally" fast. I am proud of my race and feel inferior to no one. My parents are now concerned about the bad name I have got, and are worried about my future - supposing I were to break-up with my boyfriend. Therefore, restrictions have been made on me meeting my boyfriend.

"Neighbours talk, you'll get a bad name, you're a girl after-all" is all I hear. I'm doing nothing wrong. I don't misbehave! I am human too and am entitled to a life of my own. Why should I change my life to suit my judgmental neighbours? I could decide for myself what's right and wrong. What right do they have to jump to conclusions and think me fast and what has my race got to do with it anyway!

Dianne

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False values and colour code

This letter maybe rather amusing but I believe that it's sensible. The creation of these words from my heart are dedicated to all the fair ladies and 'dudes' who consider themselves 'high' just because their skin has a wee bit of a 'lighter shade', than the usual brown Sri Lankan skin.

The other day I accidentally cast my eyes on the 'proposals' column of a weekend paper, and almost all the 'proposals' in search for men or women, contained the word 'fair' in it - very queer indeed, huh?

One of those read. 'A well educated Engineer seeks a fair maiden' while another read 'The parents of a well educated CIMA finalist seek a fair, tall, sober gentleman for their beautiful fair daughter'.

I was surprised, but yet... I felt sorry for the pathetic people of my motherland. Why is it that Asians make such a big fuss about the colour of their skin?

As a guy myself, I've always found 'tall' and 'dark' women more attractive than a few 'fair' girls with absolutely no features at all. Yet, people here consider 'dark' girls or 'boys' less attractive - I don't understand why.

Listen people, Sri Lankans aren't black! We are brown, and believe me, the colour of our skin is stunning! Get real, we aren't Europeans to have that glowing pink and white skin, right?

While I was abroad I've witnessed many white women craving for black American men for their exclusive dark skin. I've known many whites who married Sri Lankans for their skin colour too. It seems like the Sri Lankans themselves condemn their own people by making them feel low just because their skin is brown.

All that matters in life is how you live. Life isn't about the colour of your skin. The most attractive features of a human are the heart and soul.

So stop worrying about the colour of your skin, all you brown beauties and hunks. Remember, everyone has his/her unique beauty, but not everyone sees it. Believe in yourself! You certainly are more stunning than the average pale white skinned people with no features at all.

Shaami Dissanayake. 

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Who needs laws?

When living in a society it is necessary to abide by the legal code. However today it is very disheartening to observe the extent of the malpractices - wherever one goes.

When driving, it's amazing to see the number of vehicles stationed just around a "No Parking" sign. Though double parallel lines mark the road you're sure to see a vehicle being overtaken. Entering a silence zone-the din's deafening.

If these exploits are not hazardous, they might undoubtedly be very humorous. Crossing a "No Entry" lane, you see people looking right and left to make sure that no vehicle might suddenly appear to jeopardise one's life. The government spends millions on pavements and underground sub-ways, but pedestrians walk helter-skelter all over the road, so the three-wheelers and motorbikes are blessed with the privilege of parking on pavements. The footslogger is not always sentenced guilty, for the pavements are swarming with vendors and buyers.

But the most laughable joke is the conduct of the body whose task it is to secure order. They themselves transgress all the rules in the book and open fire on an ignorant citizen for a breach of a few trifling laws. In such a nation, if you glimpse a law-abiding citizen, he might be called a loony-tune!

Yoshanthi Wellawa

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Thank God for women

Who said slavery exists no more,
Have you seen what house wives go through,
Morn till twilight, sunrise to sundown,
Without meal breaks, napping or tea-time.
Ladles in their hands, They wake-up at dawn,
Trudge the rest of the day,
Enduring everlasting chores.
None of them can afford to strike,
Or go on a work to rule,
Nor have they any human-rights,
Gratuity or perks.
But, the cents they save along,
Doing all the chores;
And, the love and the caring,
They lavish on us all;
Devotion and the sharing,
They generate at home;
Worth a trillion than a rupee,
They brought to their homes.
It's not too late to contemplate,
The plight of housewives.
The world shouldn't hesitate to applaud
Their magnanimous self sacrifice,
Those selfless women preserve
The morality of our lives,
Conserving the spirit,
And essence of mankind.

Inoka Makalanda 

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