Letters to the Editor

Where there is discord..... let there be harmony
There are days when some of us, or most of us or even all of us wish we were never born. But it happened. An act of love, rape, incest, or submission made it happen - and so here we are.

The day that life saw light, it also received a name, a family and a religion - along with a culture, a race and creed it had little choice in selecting. So likewise was born the Muslim Arab, the Jewish Israelite, the Christian American, the Hindu Indian, the Sri Lankan Buddhist and so forth.

We are what we are born to - and most of us tend to adhere to the principal structure of our upbringing -Being human - straying away once in while: thinking what we believe in is correct and having convulsions at the views and teachings of others.

Freedom of mind as that of the body and words - is the most sought after slogan today which should enable us to think, read and be educated in spheres of the unknown, not only by one's self or by a discerning critic but by an individual of that race or religion whom we should begin to understand. No culture or religion is understood by armchair travel or hearsay. Interaction, compromise and understanding sprinkled with patience should lead the way.

Islam is one of the most misunderstood religions in modern society mainly due to the radical approach of terror organizations and a prejudiced media. If one reads avidly into the background of the time when the Quran was preached it would help immensely in understanding the religion, the countries of its origin and its followers. Likewise is Christianity as preached by Jesus Christ. The interpretation of the Bible differs among the various Christian faiths, causing strife and sorrow of all those whom Christ endeavoured to unite. They all pray and seek the protection and mercy of the same God though the doxology may differ.

War as in politics, in the name of a religion or for monetary gain or power, is no excuse for the annihilation of millions of innocent lives. Each leader preaches their “political religion" from the pulpit making it "right" - justifying his or her cause for the debacle.

The Buddha stated that “...all states are mind made. If one speaks with an impure mind, suffering will follow. If one speaks with a pure mind joy follows as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox." Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as relayed by Matthew's Gospel is a message of love and forgiveness and endurance, yet, the authentic teachings of these great Teachers are put to shame by those who wish to act in haste and ignore the pain and suffering they create while boosting their egos.

The most apt quote I could think of at this time of impending chaos comes from Mother Teresa who lives in the hearts of believers and non-believers.

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace
that, where there is hatred
I may bring love,
that, where there is wrong
I may bring forgiveness,
that, where there is discord

I may bring harmony,
that, where there is error
I may bring the truth,
that, where there is despair
I may bring hope,
that, where there are shadows
I may bring light

that, where there is doubt
I may bring faith,
that, where there is sadness
I may bring joy....

It would be no prophecy to say that within the next few months, religious and political leaders would be suitors of avarice and power - come our Elections - so maybe a few pensive fleeting thoughts would help them to... (I leave these lines open)

Mount Lavinia bus terminus and supermarket
Danger of Dengue and falling roofs
The Mount Lavinia Bus Terminus and Supermarket are in a state of disrepair. I highlighted this in several letters in December 2002. But no action has been taken so far by the authorities concerned.

Other letters too on this subject appeared in this column. I appeal once more to the MP and the City Fathers to save us from the dangerous Dengue fever by attending to the underground sewage pipes which are damaged in four places.

The waste matter oozes out giving an unbearable stench. People are reluctant to come to this supermarket because the plastic roofing sheets are hanging from the upper floor roof and might drop down at anytime, causing injury to shoppers. Mount Lavinia is a tourist centre and as such it needs a facelift.

They put country before self
Another Independence Day has just been commemorated with the pomp, pageantry and the usual plethora of pious platitudes from everyone, who can find a platform to spout advice and varying solutions to the problems that beset our country. The irony is, they all seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that, for the most part they themselves have been, or are responsible, for most of them!

However a heartening, and exhilarating fact is that once there were honest, honourable men and women, whose zeal, dedication and selfless work, paved the path to Independence, which, though, it didn't entail blood and tears, as in neighbouring India, was still a long, laborious and unremitting struggle. Of course, it seems futile to expect much appreciation of their efforts today, as gratitude no longer seems to be an intrinsic part of the current Sri Lankan ethos, judging by the scant reference to all the patriots of yore (even by the media, in all the euphoria of celebrating the glorious 4th of February).

It is easy to forget that once there actually were people, who never thought of their race, religion or caste and were only concerned about finding ways of presenting a united front, against an all-powerful foe i.e. a colonial government, trying their best to ride roughshod over their liberties. The first concession they were able to wrest, involved choosing one educated member to represent all the Ceylonese, in the Council. It may seem a minor one, at the present time, but, what is significant is that race was apparently not a consideration, as a Tamil was elected.

Subsequently, when all the Buddhist leaders, including D.S. Senanayake, the much acclaimed 'Father of the Nation', were imprisoned and liable to be 'shot at sight', it was a Christian, who risked his life, hiding the infamous order, in the sole of his shoe, and sailed to England to fight almost single-handed, to secure their release.

Over and above these, as well as all the other historical facts that culminated in the grant of the Independence, currently being celebrated, an over-riding fact is that all these patriots gave unstintingly of their time, energy and expertise, frequently at considerable detriment to their careers, wealth and even family considerations. Bribery and using their influence unethically, whether in covert or overt ways were probably rare exceptions.

For an all too brief period of time, after 1948 such principles were seldom breached. Politicians and public officials, both high and low were imbued with a high sense of morality and integrity. Most of them had less and much diminished assets when they retired, came to the end of their public life or died. Men of the calibre of Dudley Senanayake, come to mind. His bank balance when he died was reputed to be only at the four figure level! To Sri Lanka's credit there were many others of similar ilk, such as W. Dahanayake, U.B. Wanninayake, Maithripala Senanayake etc., who held Ministerial and even Prime Ministerial rank, but had sufficient humility to travel by train, like the majority of the people they represented.

Why has the situation changed so drastically? How many of our politicians and high officials can with any degree of truth, say they have not used their positions to the personal gain of themselves, families, friends and henchaiyas? These gains so illicitly acquired through various forms of illegal gratification, whether as outright bribes or commissions from individuals, prospective investors etc. are akin to a cancer eating into the very fabric of our society. Is an era of true Independence, which our patriots strove so hard for only a distant Utopian dream?

Employers should be held responsible
Regarding Mark Amerasinghe's letter captioned "Death fasts: illegal, un-Buddhistic" that appeared in The Sunday Times on February 1, I wish to make a few brief observations.

His reference, I believe, is only to strikers employed in various sectors performing a fast unto death. It is worth recalling that employees resort to a death fast as the last resort, having failed to find agreeable solutions to their grievances even after representations and discussions with the relevant authorities.

Mr. Amerasinghe raises two sets of questions, to law enforcers and to true Buddhists, respectively. He appears to have failed to realise that both the law and Buddhist philosophy are built up most emphatically on the significant element of "intention". The man committing a homicide in self defence and thus sans "intention" commits a culpable homicide not amounting to a mere homicide. The blind thero who trod on ants while walking to and from the hall in meditation, when reported to Lord Buddha by other monks was not pronounced guilty for the monk hadn't the "intention" to kill them. He was blind.

In the above context those fasting to death are neither attempting nor committing this act with the "intention" of extinguishing their lives. It is only a forceful demonstration, as they see it, of showing their plight to obtain quick remedial measures.

In my own opinion, the onus rests on the employer for instigating them to such fasts. As such, laws must be revised to bring to book those responsible for pushing workers into this ultimate suicidal demonstration.

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