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The return of
the rockers The theatre
itself has changed considerably since the rockers first began to
hold their concerts there in the late seventies and early eighties.
The terraced lawn has been covered with tiles. This was a
concert for peace. Right now an urgent plea for global peace pervades
the planet earth. Here in Sri Lanka, it has taken us such a long
time and such a brutal war with so much suffering, death and destruction
to glimpse for a moment the simple but profound fact that we have
to learn how to care for each other, share our lives with each other,
love each other and live together in peace as we grow together with
the world. It was the
band Independence Square that reminded all of us of the ugly price
of war. The members of the band had grown up with the war and for
the first time were living in peace free of the fear of exploding
bombs, free of checkpoints, free of midnight searches and security
operations that could sweep oneself or one's loved ones away. Free
of the fear of torture. Free from the fear of sudden and violent
deaths. "Knocking on heaven's door" made famous by Bob
Dylan in the midst of the protests against the American war against
the people of Vietnam had the crowd singing along - singing along
for all the boys, girls and children who died fighting. At this present
moment Sri Lanka stands out as a light shining brightly within the
dark clouds of war that are slowly spreading across the face of
our planet - clouds of war fuelled by the deep desire to hold on
to the illusionary and impossible consumerist dream of a house,
a car, a colour TV, a refrigerator and air conditioned living quarters
for everyone. "Peace Rocks" happened in Sri Lanka just
when those who live by this dream have launched a deadly assault
aimed at the consolidation of their grip on globally available oil
supplies. "Peace
Rocks" was the brainchild of a few people who know that peace
holds out a different future for those who have the patience to
conceptualize it and bring it into being. It is a future where Information
Technology, Automation and Biotechnology are able to provide our
basic requirements of food, clothes, water and living space with
a minimum use of human labour. It is a world where people will be
free to be human and partake in the great task of facilitating life's
universal spread and its evolution beyond human being. The line up
of bands was impressive. The music was fine. The open-air theatre
was nearly full. Once too often
I thought I recognized young people, only to realize that those
whom I thought them to be would be much older now. It was strange
seeing so many older people on stage. It was stranger still to realize
that I was about as old as them too. For me the
most moving moment of the show was watching my son Vije on stage
with his band Hi Octane. It was a signal that the torch of peace
had been firmly grasped by another generation. The dream of a world
without war would live on. A big thank
you to all those who put their money, time and effort into "Peace
Rocks". |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
