Are we a civilized nation?
Posted on October 15th, 2010
By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai
Are we a civilized nation?Are we in the 21st century? The recent attack of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the students on the police and the rebuttal by the police causing about 45 people to be injured must make all of us hang our heads in shame. Are we a civilized nation? Make us look worse than the stone age man.
Are we supposed to be a literate nation? Are we the ones who for the first time in the world won over the most ruthless of the terrorists? Yet we can not contain our students. We could not teach them Dignity and patience. We could not instill into them a dignified behavior. And they are supposed to be our future generation. If they had grievances, we could not make them act responsibly and find ways to seek resolutions in a peaceful way.
Whose fault is it? Is it their fault? Certainly not. If they had been met byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ relevant politicians in time we could have stopped this unnecessary blood letting. I still remember the disgusted, unbelieving look on the young police officerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ face, with ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ blood pouring down, when he was attacked. Who is fighting whom? Our own youth fighting our own youth. What for? I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t think either party clearly understood why they were attacking each other. Who should have been attacked? Actually the politicians who failed to sort things out for the students in time are the culprits.
It is the same story again and again. The people end up fighting with each other for reasons not understood properly. If only some high up officials intervened and spoke to the students and assured them that their grievances would be heard by relevant authorities so much of pain and animosity could have been avoided. But no, some nincompoop at the top gave orders for the police to attack the students. So none of the police officers stop to think either they go ahead. I suppose if they did think, their heads would have been chopped off. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Because this is exactly what the politicians want. Some calamity, some blood shed so that they can make capital out of it.
In the future when a trouble brews like this may be some neutral ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ religious leaders should take the leadership to sort things out. To calm the agitators and to bring in some sense into them. To make sure we do not become ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our own enemies. Rather identify ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the real enemy and counterattack them with correct weapon- not necessarily with batons and guns or tear gas, rather with ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢words of wisdom and beautiful preachingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.
People, wake up! It is time we realized we are capable of much more dignity and decorum than this! To realize we can avoid being used as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pawns in somebody elseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s game. We deserve better. Our youth deserve better. If we can if we wake up from our slumber. Yes, We can. LetƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s.
October 15th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
First I thought you are going to do another police bashing. You must be naive to suggest these JVP thugs can be sorted out by some religious leaders. The ring leaders got to be severly punished. One can easily see from the videos, who the ring leaders are. Tha fat man, skinny man and the skinny old man are the organisers of these riots. The police should be equipped with riot gear and ring leaders must be spotted immediately and carried away in police vehicles with riot protection gear.
October 15th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Callistus is spot on.
October 15th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Still better than the uncivilised cursed country of piggies where they nail housemaids.
October 15th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
The uncivilised country of Pig Ladin. Shame.
October 16th, 2010 at 11:07 am
During those troubled days in the late eighties JVP needed just two of their cadres to bring mayhem to an entire village. Even at these commotions, I am sure, the going is the same. I am sure the majority that participated in those riots were compelled to do so. Most students want to study, pass exams, find a job and help their families.
The government is popular. The JVP is unpopular. So, it is the time for the government to act swiftly. The authorities must arrest the key culprits lock them up and throw the keys away. And everything will be fine and everyone would like it.
Someone must put a stop to this
October 16th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
First of all, can these JVP thugs understand the value of the free education?. Sri Lanka is still blessed with the best education system in the world, the free education, absolutely free in the true sense of the word , even including the university education. So, why can’t they understand it and it is the average man’s money they are wasting. Unfortunately the government is still keen in financing these students to continue their education free, thinking that, one day people of Sri Lanka can get something back from them. But, all what we can expect is “disruption and destruction”. I am sure we may have to recognize, sooner or later, that we may have to review the economics of having free education to these revolutionary youngsters.
Do they have free education in America or in UK? No not at all. Do they have University student problems in America or in UK? Not at all, they are all busy in using every penny they spend on education. They only concentrate on their education, nothing more than that.
Do they have free education in India, in Russia or in China,? No not all. Even primary education in India is 100% privatised, you have to pay school fees or without that you will be out.. Do they have student problems in India, in Russia or in Chine? Not at all, they are all busy in utilising every penny they spend on their education. They only concentrate in their education, nothing more than that.
Then should we give these youngsters free education to destroy our economy. Think about it.
October 17th, 2010 at 6:24 am
Those who are commenting on JVP “thugs” should remember that integrity of police, judiciary and not to mention the beurocracy and politics in Sri Lanka is very low on the world scale. (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1588715118). Everyone (including students) should remember that 29K brave people sacrificed their lives for us to live in peace. Forgeting this (as already seems to be happening) and not working towards common good will land us in predicaments similar to what we faced during last 30+ years in no time
October 17th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Sajith,
Sure, Saudi is much more uncivilized than Sri Lanka. Even in Australia sole hooligans behaved in similar manner. It is the same in any other country, except in Tamil Nadu, 200 law students get together to kill one low cast fellow student while police is watching as recent as 21st centuray.
That does not mean we cannot improve further. We should thank Marrena to bring up such an issue. When we were students, I remember JVPians oreganized trouble even to celebarte some incident in Cuba. These student leaders now have become UNpians and even speak only in English now. We did not join them in protests those days but we still speak Sinhala.
Religious leaders cannot do much. They preach violence (underground) , waiting for an opportunity.