Nothing
is permanent; everything changes
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss about Satellite's speech at the United Nations?"
"Why, was she late as usual?" Bindu's father Percy asked.
"No, thaaththa, I don't think that is the issue…"
"Then,
did she accuse Ranil of something?" Percy wanted to know.
"No, thaaththa, the Greens are saying the speech released here
is not exactly what she told the United Nations…"
"Why is that?" Percy asked, "Satellite doesn't usually
care about what others say about her speeches…"
"But
thaaththa, there appear to be some very interesting differences
between the speeches released here and at the United Nations…"
Bindu argued.
"And what differences are those?"
"She has apparently praised the Norwegians in New York but
that was not mentioned here…"
"But
that is surely not a major issue, Bindu…" Percy observed.
"But we were told she called the Tigers terrorists, though
it is not clear whether she really did that in New York…"
Bindu persisted.
"That is more interesting," Percy said, " but surely
we have to expect this from our politicians, Bindu…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Why,
Bindu, politicians changing their tune to suit the local audience
is nothing new…" Percy said, "Even the Reds are
doing that now…"
"Why, when did the Reds change their tune?"
"Well," Percy said, "haven't they changed all their
tunes now? They said they will limit the number in the Cabinet;
they said they will remove our 'plug' to the World Bank, they said
they will bring down the cost of living and they also said they
will fight against an Interim Authority for the Tigers…"
"And now they are telling us why none of these can be done…"
"Which, if they did before the election, would have resulted
in no one voting for them…" Percy said.
"Then
thaaththa," Bindu suggested, "even the Buddhist monks
are changing their tune…"
"In a sense, yes," Percy agreed, "because now they
are saying they will prevent the downfall of the government, no
matter what…"
"Which again if they said before the election, would have resulted
in no one voting for them…" Bindu said.
"Well,"
Percy said, "even the Greens are guilty of changing their tune
every now and then…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, they claimed to be able to topple the government by November
and then very quickly said they never said anything like that…"
"But
why do politicians always change their tune, thaaththa?" Bindu
wanted to know.
"They do that so they can explain why they have not kept their
promises…" Percy suggested.
"But
thaaththa, there is someone who has never changed his tune…"
Bindu said.
"Who is that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, Prabhakaran has never wavered from his demands…"
Bindu argued.
"But
he is not a politician, Bindu…" Percy said, "he
doesn't stand for re-election…"
"But he appears to be better at what he does than most politicians
themselves…" Bindu said.
"And what is that?" Percy asked.
"Fooling all the people all the time…"
Percy didn't dispute that. |
