Clothes line

• Born black and beautiful
• The real things in life
• All confused
• Our wonderful buses

Born black and beautiful

What persuaded me to write this was the letter "False values and colour code" by Shaami Dissanayake which appeared in the 04.03.2001 edition of M.M.

I'm with you Shaami and I'm happy to know that there are a few who are proud about their complexion. This truly is the attitude of our people and what surprises me most is why people worry so much about trivial things like this. I mean, what's in a skin colour anyway? Why can't our people accept the fact that we are dark in colour by nature and be proud about it?

I've got dark skin myself and whenever someone asks me to describe my appearance, the first thing I always say is "I'm dark". Why? Because that's the truth. It's the typical Sri Lankan colour and I'm proud of it.

Also, I'm a girl who always goes for dark guys. Simply because I find them so very attractive and more manly than fair skinned baby faces. To me, dark guys are everything! This reminded me of what a friend once told me, when I said that one day I would marry a tall, dark guy. She said, "Oh, but then your kids will also get dark?" Duh! So what?

All you people with dark skin, think of the advantages of having dark skin. You don't need to worry about pimples and stuff. They don't show, do they? Now, what if you had fair skin? Aren't you glad?

Stop worrying. Just think of the people who have created history. Nelson Mandela, Michael Johnson, Marian Jones and even super models like Naomi Campbell, they all have black skin. So, don't hesitate or be reluctant to say you have dark skin. Instead, feel good about it.

To me black is not only beautiful, black is stunning!

Kay Jay

The real things in life

We hear of divorces, separations, and children not caring for their parents. What is the real cause for all this social decay? We rush, we fight with time, try to make more money and in the process neglect the important aspects of life. Start sharing all your secrets with your beloved, your husband, gets closer to your children. Don't nag them incessantly. Respect their freedom and value their opinions. Share their interests and don't harshly criticize their mistakes. If one wants one can find many faults with others but try to remember there is no such thing as a perfect person. By appreciating what you have you will achieve your goals. Comparing your spouse or children with others will bring no satisfaction. Wanting a better person shouldn't be your desire being a better person should.

Getting closer to a person takes years. Get to know your partner, identify his mistakes and try your best to ignore or accept them. The relationship you build up with your children is precious, there is no one so close to your heart than your children. Try to understand their feelings, work with them in choosing their paths and achieving their goals. Be a good friend - the best way is by listening and sharing their problems. Never be impatient and selfish. In this hectic "rat race" that is our world you can have peace of mind if you become a little less materialistic and a bit more caring, loving and understanding.

Manel Chandrasena

All confused

Is it a big sin for a girl to take the initial step to love? Especially when you have recognised that you are in love with a person who's considered to be a good friend. ('Ah! yes, we do love our friends'; you might think. But this is not that kind of love.)

Is it a boy's duty to make the first move? Why doesn't a girl have the right to express her feelings to her loved one. The ultimate option she has (better to call it 'Hobson's choice') is to hide her feelings, sorrows and be imprisoned in her love. As I see it, boys have more freedom than girls in this matter. They can easily go to a girl whom they love and let her know their feelings.

Please don't say 'Oh! what rubbish'. Trust me you'll feel the pain when you are unable to figure out why you adore a person more than anyone else. And you are not given a reason for being rejected by that person who loves you too, yet tells you that you are every thing that he looks for in a girl, yet can't start an affair because you are such good friends. Quite often I've heard life time partners should be friends. If it is so why can't we choose a good friend as our life partner?

Solitary Heart

Our wonderful buses

These days the residents in Kandy, who have to rely on public transportation, are confronted with many a hardship because of the private bus strike. In town there are throngs of people, waiting for CTB buses, with loaded shopping bags. Often they're carrying small children who just cannot understand the situation, and have perspiration pouring out from every pore.

Travelling by bus these days, one can understand how salmon must feel in a tin! It's such a compact fit. Your face is flattened on to another's back, not to mention the claustrophobic feeling when you are wedged under somebody's sweaty armpit! Not that I'm complaining, after all everyone must get to his or her respective destination one way or another.

In days gone by, if an alert police officer glimpsed anyone on the footboard, it would be a blast of a whistle and a fine. But these days, of course, that can't be helped. People spill out of bus doors. The buses lean to a side so much that sometimes I think there's a danger of toppling over.

If the transportation authorities don't take some action soon, there might be hideous accidents as desperate people try their hardest to climb into the bus regardless of what happens to the people around.

Yoshanthi Wellawa.

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