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 Hello
handsome Prince
By Afdhel Aziz
There is a palpable air of excitement amongst the
paparazzi. Just when it seemed like they were condemned to a lifetime of
photographing the Queen Mum at the races or Prince Charles getting even
more into his alternative lifestyle, along comes another shy, handsome,
blonde Royal who is making hearts beat a little faster around the world.
Move over, Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Step aside, Sarah Ferguson, the
newest addition to the cast of 'Friends'. For 'tis now that 'Hello' magazine
truly starts drooling for we are entering the era of Prince William. In
other words, Hello! sales, Hello! newer younger demographics, Hello! The
merry ring of cash registers from Brisbane to Seattle.
Turning 16 in June, bonny Prince Will is already well on his way to
becoming a global pin-up, if his recent reception in Vancouver, Canada
was anything to go by. Hordes of screaming thirteen year old girls prowled
outside his hotel room, holding up signs and dreamily fantasizing about
what they would do if they got their hands on him. Blessed with his mother's
good looks and his father's, er, throne, he is the perfect combination
of youth, beauty and money for a glamour starved world. Like Leonardo diCaprio,
someone used to ravenous receptions by now, he seems to have captured the
imagination of females who like the man-child look-fresh and innocent,
a tabular rasa that needs molding. Unlike Leonardo though, he lives in
Buckingham Palace and has an added bonus. He may not be the King of World,
a la Titanic, but he's going to be King of England in the future, and that
ain't no sinking ship.
The Royal Family must be breathing a sigh of relief. After being under
siege for so long, attacked for being elitist, out of touch and callous,
it's nice to feel the warm wave of adulation pour over the British House
of Windsor. And the press are behaving themselves too, mindful of the fact
that they have to display the utmost sensitivity and discretion towards
the Prince or risk a catastrophic public relations disaster that could
turn public opinion against the tabloids again.
It is a relatively easy thing to do when your subject really hasn't
committed any major screw-ups as yet, and public appetite for his life
is still just beginning to grow. But the young prince, without the cohort
of supporters and protectors that his mother had, lies in danger of being
even more vulnerable - until he becomes hardened to the ways of the media
wolf pack. However, he seems to have also inherited the right attitude
towards public life. The defining moment of William's Vancouver trip was
when the boys and Charles were presented with red and white Olympic jackets
and stylish hip hop hats. William jumped on stage, tried on the jacket
and hat and performed a homeboy style salute to his dad.
This brings up the interesting possiblity of a future King of England
who is down with Ice-T, Public Enemy and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Perhaps
if he feels the need for a career change he could take up rapping? If I
may be so bold as to suggest a name, Yo Highness seems like the perfect
appellation. And how about movie careers? I can see the makers of 'Free
Willy 4' having long sleepless nights trying to figure out how to work
him into the plotline.
However, if he wants lessons in how to remain inconspicuous, perhaps
he should get some guidance from his financial guardian, a man who seems
to have mastered the art of blending into the background - John Major.
Whatever the case, it looks like the world is going to see a hell of a
lot more of this young man in the future. Let's hope he keeps his head
screwed on right. No pun intended.
 Giving
meaning to the festivals
My darling daughter,
This time the Sinhala New Year and Easter will come almost together
- each festival proclaiming the idea of renewal and promise. I wish we
in our country could carry that message in our lives. Sadly enough it appears
that today the essential meaning of festivals are lost.
They seem to be only a time for enjoyment and fun. Even many of the
ceremonies associated with festivals are forgotten or they are regarded
a nuisance. I remember a time when you were here we would boil the milk
rice at the auspicious time, and the whole family shared the meal together
- old relatives rich or poor joined together to partake of a meal, old
angers were forgotten and the young and the old found a common link of
affection, care and consideration. New Year and Easter really mean a time
of forgiveness, a time to re-build old friendships and forget past annoyances
and misunderstandings.
Today that aspect is not taken much notice of. The old custom of
visiting relatives, making a special effort to forget differences seems
to have got lost in the new way of our lives. Would it not be possible
to revive the old customs this year and give real meaning to these festivals?
It would not be that difficult to spare a few hours to visit an old relative,
take some food to those who are lonely and have no one to care for them,
send a card of greeting to some one we have disagreed with or been angry
with.
I wish daughter you and your friends would make an attempt to make
these festivals more meaningful and show your love and concern for others
on these special days.
Ammi
Kenny's World
Discarded Poems
Sometimes I find it difficult to make sentences
work for me. This is not such a good thing when you are in the business
of writing. But sometimes I want to say something or convey an emotion
and writing sentences just doesn't seem to work.
For example, today I am feeling rather depressed. I was just watching
the news and it suddenly struck me that we live in a terrible world. War,
bombs and child abuse all in the same bulletin, and the newsreader doesn't
even bat an eye-lid. She just reads sentence after sentence, paragraph
after paragraph, showing no emotion. So I just thought I'd re-write that
news bulletin as poems. I wasn't planning on having them appear in this
week's column. But hey, Kenny can't write comedy all the time.
All those questions
Once upon a time things were simple,
but they were simple because we had less:
We had less questions, and we had less answers.
But as time went on we got smarter;
More questions were given answers that
had nothing to do God or fate.
Science explained everything away -
All our silly fears,
All our silly hopes.
Yes , wonderful science had the answer
to all our questions.
All, that is, except for some extremely stupid
questions that a few silly people still asked
Like ,"Why do we have war?"
Be prepared
We live in a country full of boy scouts:
We're prepared for anything.
This is probably the only country in the world
where everyone has a plan in case of a bomb blast:
Step 1: Call everyone you know and ask them if they heard it.
Step 2: Tune into the government radio station to verify what you
heard on the private stations and then don't believe a word you hear.
Step 3: Come up with your own theory about what happened.
Step 4: Think about how much worse it could have been.
Step 5: Worry that people might panic causing food and petrol shortages.
Step 6: Stock up on food and petrol.
Step 7: Oh, if you have time you could maybe spare a moment
to think about those who died.
is someone crying for them?
Is it just luck that you're not that someone? This time.
A child's prayer
This night as I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Keep me safe, hold me tight,
keep me from that thief tonight.
I hope they catch him, I hope he dies,
I never again want to see his eyes.
He stole my innocence, I want it back,
I'm only ten - I need it back.
Mother protect me, please stay near,
He won't hurt me if you are here,
Please believe me, I'm not lying,
These are not false tears I'm crying.
I can't get rid of him.
His cruel eyes will always be here
In my mind.
Watching, touching, haunting.
Why did he hurt me? I'm only ten.
Weird
I want to run away.
The world is cold, judgmental.
Fingers point, cutting deep,
Drawing blood from unseen wounds.
Conform! They scream hysterically.
Only wanting to be told that they are normal,
Wanting to belong,
Telling themselves that I am different.
Weird they call me,
Because I see their world as superficial, petty.
But do I really see the world differently,
Or are they terrified that I see what they don't want to?
I do not want to, or like to,
But I see what I see,
And sometimes I close my eyes just so they won't hate me.
More Mirror Magazine * The cool star * A
little more than 'friend'
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