The old order changeth
and certainly yields place to new
"Thaaththa,"
Bindu Udagedera asked, "what do you think will happen in the
New Year?"
"Another year will pass, Bindu," Percy, Bindu's father
said, "But nothing will really change..."
"How can you say that, thaaththa," Bindu argued, "a
lot has changed in the last year.."
"Has it really?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why not?" Bindu said, "the Greens are in charge
now and there is no more war..."
"Satellite will disagree with you when you say the Greens are
in charge..." Percy countered.
"But she isn't really in charge, is she?" Bindu asked.
"Well, if you look at it that way she never was really in charge
even when the Blues had the majority.."
"But thaaththa, now that the Greens take most of the important
decisions, it is fair to say that they are in charge..."
"Yes, but they are at the mercy of Rauff and his brethren just
as much as the blues were one year ago..."
"That's true," Bindu agreed, "but thaaththa, now
Rauff has to prevent his party from being divided instead of trying
to divide the parties of other people..."
"That is indeed a change," Percy conceded, "though
I am not sure that it is a change for the better..."
"What has changed though is what the Reds are doing..."
Bindu observed.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa, one year ago, they were helping the Blues
to stay on as the ruling party..."
"But they are still helping the Blues..." Percy argued.
"Yes," Bindu said, "but now they are helping the
Blues to remain as the Opposition..."
"But Bindu those who haven't really changed are Velu and his
friends..."
"How can you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, "after
all, now they have said that they are willing to agree for less
than a separate state..."
"But they are also saying that this is what they were saying
since the fifties..."
"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "they have virtually
ended the war now..."
"That may be so," Percy said, "but they are doing
what they have always done..."
"And what is that?"
"They are getting what they want and giving very little in
return..."
"But at least the two sides are now talking to each other and
there is no war going on..." Bindu said.
"And the rest of the world is praising Velu and his friends,
saying they are making a great effort to achieve peace..."
"So, you still believe nothing has really changed in the last
year?"
"Well, Bindu, why don't you look at it from the point of the
average citizen?" Percy said.
"What do you mean by that, thaaththa?" Bindu queried.
"Somebody is in power, those in power are saying that the country
is doing very well and would be even better if not for the faults
of the previous government, the cost of living is rising by the
day but the politicians are enjoying themselves and having a good
time, so what has changed for you and me?"
"But, thaaththa," Bindu said, "at least there are
no power cuts, so we can watch the cricket matches now..."
"Although," Percy said, "some would argue that not
having to watch the matches because of power cuts would have been
better..."
Bindu didn't argue with that.a
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