11th April 1999

I disagree with Kumbakarna

I have been reading Kumbakarna's series of articles which appeared. I want to comment on the one titled ,'Ungodly acts by God's People."

I am a Christian by conviction. Almost all my relatives are Buddhists but none of them discriminates against my family. Although I am a Sinhalese I believe I belong to a minority community. Yes, the Catholic church carried the placard reading 'Let us protect the rights of minorities' during its protest against elections to be held on Good Friday. But just because this slogan is used by those sympathetic to the 'Tamil cause' does that mean the Catholic Church-that sees itself as a minority cannot use it?

Kumbakarna has also taken pains to show with statistics the separation and migration of Christians world-wide. Yes, there is a move to spread Christianity in Asia. But this is called witnessing. There is no conspiracy to create a 'Christian albeit a Tamil nation state.' When I attend church, the person on my left is a Tamil and the one on my right is a Burgher. But we are Christians in and outside the church building. Another point, the Church has not brainwashed us to believing that after the Tamils Christians would be targetted.

Tissa De Abrew
Dodangoda

Stop complaining

He screams for those shoes, he pleads and he begs,
until he's shown a man with no legs,
He asks for a watch, without which he won't stay calm,
Until he's shown a man with no arms.

She longs for that make-over, disappointingly she turns,
Until she sees a girl scarred with burns,
She cries for that cream, without it she just won't be seen,
Until she sees a woman who has not even water to stay clean.

He wants a better car, he grumbles and makes a fuss,
Until he's shown a lad who can't afford to take the bus,
He needs a bigger house, no matter if it's something he can't afford,
Until he comes across one of many who sleep by the side of the road.

The list goes on and on, and though far from complete it be,
All of these but make one thing quite plain to see,
That for each thing that you yearn for, for every discontentment that you show,
Out there somewhere there lie millions who lack so very much more.

So each time you yearn for something you don't have,
Think of those millions for whom even the basic needs are not met,
And take satisfaction in knowing that when you jumped with them all,
You were one of the lucky ones, who made it across safely and escaped the fall.

Radha Vasudeva

Everything changes, even Battle of the Blues

During the past weeks The Sunday Times has featured comments and criticism with regard to the 120th Battle of the Blues. The organisation of the match and specifically the presence of Military Policemen has come under severe censure. The criticism revolved around the basis that the presence of the Military Police stole the benign charm of the event. As much as the writers say that the presence of the MP was not needed, we need to realise that there exists another side or aspect to the Royal- Thomian, which necessitated it.

The writers seemed fully cognizant of the spirit of the Royal -Thomian. In fact one of them compared it to something as important to Colombo as the Galle Face. Being such an important event the Match attracts many. The Mustangs Tent saw Cabinet Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition and many VIPs whose presence demanded high security. Therefore the need for Military Policemen did exist. It can be claimed that there was a time when equally or more important people attended the Royal- Thomian with much less security. But the situation has changed drastically; the culture of violence has spread so much so that the death penalty has been re-introduced.

The writers also focused on the camaraderie, the girls, the tricks, the pranks- all part of the Royal Thomian. As far as I was able to observe I did not see a lack of these in the 120th encounter. The Military Police or for that matter the Match Committee was not able to ban any kind of camaraderie anywhere on the grounds.

The only thing I believe that was controlled was the field invasion. To us spectators, denying this fun and attempting to bowl ninety- five overs a day may seem a bad joke. But flip the coin and you will see the other side, the side of the cricketers themselves.

I remember an instance when one team was cruising to victory and we the spectators invaded the field, the Captain of the winning team pleaded with me to go off the field, as time was precious. In 1992 the Thomians had half a chance of winning the Match. The skipper of the Thomian side was on his way to making history - but unfortunately for him a 90-minute field invasion robbed him his place in the records. Then again in 1997 when a result was in the offing a poor spectator removed the bails twice to delay play and to delay his school's defeat. All these happened because of the freedom given for field invasions. If you can see how the cricketers slave morning, noon and night to prepare for the RoyTho you definitely will think twice before invading the field.

So let's not be selfish and steal their glory for our petty pleasures.

Like everything, the Big Match will also evolve and change with time. Some of the things that happen today at the Royal- Thomian might horrify the older generation. But then we the present crowd wouldn't want it any different. The greatest danger that we are causing to the Royal- Thomian is to keep it stagnant and not allow it to change with time and to blend with the environment. If tight, tough security is needed then let it be so. Let's not talk of the days gone by when they were not needed. There was a time when the Prime Minister of the country walked home from the golf links and there was a time when Cabinet Ministers would use public transport. The same will apply to the Royal-Thomian. Two World Wars haven't stopped the Royal Thomian. I don't see how fifty Military Policemen can.

Hejaz Omar Hizbullah

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