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Creative solutions in desperate situations By
Random Access Memory (RAM) It
is true that in the history of our country, the most revered clergy
have always played a crucial role at times of crisis. But at a time
when we need good counsel and saner direction from the clergy to
lead us to unify, this proposed action might achieve just the opposite
of further dividing even the more rational among us, leaving us
in deeper doubt and disarray. So
a call from RAM to those who designed this strategy, to please rethink
it. For we can get ourselves into a further mess with the nation
sinking deeper into chaos and crisis. On
building our hopes for the future, we must look to saner forces
and among them; our youth and our children stand tallest. For
the cobwebs they have gathered are few and their minds yet unspoilt
and open to purer ideas. If
our clergy of all religions, can lead these youth and our children
with sound examples of how we can preserve what we are or who we
are, popularly known as 'Ape Kama', that then, is hope we can have
for the future. If
they can be taught to be fair to all, mindful of others, shun corruption
and act rationally at all times, then will we have hope for the
future. Experience of the recent past tells us that, starting this week; the process of intense political divisiveness might take the form of violent confrontation between supporters of the different parties that vie for the elections. The
challenge and the hope we have for the future, of ensuring that
this nation of plenty in natural resources but poorer in rightful
thinking and sound management, is now placed squarely in the hands
of those that have opted to lead us. It
is they who should now differ from the past and resolve to make
new beginnings. The
Buddha, Christ, Prophet Mohammed and all other religious leaders
believed in the basic goodness of the human beings and their ability
to reform themselves. It
is times like this that we need to see such reform. The
leaders among us need to ensure that only those with such promise
are nominated from their respective groups. They
must shun those that are beyond redeem, as we have not much time
left for getting ourselves out of this mess we have got ourselves
into. It
was heartening to note that the students association of the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) was celebrating its 10th
anniversary. Within the programme content they had speakers who
called for young managers to be socially responsible. RAM looked hard at the programme of activities for the week to see what these young men and women had planned in the social responsibility front. Apart
from the conference, there was discussion of a paper, a workshop
on management issues concluding with a fun event of a dance ball.
There was none that directly impacted the lives of those from the rural areas who for most part are aspiring to be like their city based privileged brethren. itself
has done well in establishing regional information centres, the
latest set up recently in Trincomalee. Perhaps
a good beginning will be for each of the CIMA members to resolve
to play 'brother' or 'sister' to a student each from selected rural
schools or universities, counselling and helping them to meet their
aspirations of reaching out to a new future for themselves. Other
institutions perhaps can then follow suit to grow it into a national
movement of reckoning. One designed to extend a hand of the privileged to a lesser privileged in our society while preserving each other's dignity, treating each other as equals. Even
more importantly, an effort that can be seen to a logical end, with
accountability and defined goals for both giver and receiver. As
was observed at the outset, we need desperate solutions for desperate
situations. We also need creative solutions in desperate situations. Within our own failure, we perhaps must now look to our youth and their leadership, for a spark of brightness to rekindle our hopes for a better future. |
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