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Morning Spice by Ginger
Beggars who extortGinger always feels sorry for a beggar. That is if they are actually beggars. Fate may toss them far below the poverty line and force the humiliation of stretching out their hands to a fellow human on them. The reflection and the shame is really not on such individuals but on the state and society. On the other hand one wonders whether some of these individuals are really beggars. Sometimes their threatening manner could suggest that they are really extortionists and not beggars. However Ginger would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and put down poor background and the petulance that could follow constant misfortune.
All this apart what irks Ginger is their getting into buses and making a nuisance of themselves to the travelling public. They virtually coerce you into parting with your cash. The worst are those who belong to the
"Glee club". The moment they start making gleeful noises the instinct is to pay up and stop the tuneless agony they subject you to. Stop the tuneless agony they subject you to. They mistake it for deep appreciation of their musical talent and give the same treatment to the next busload of people. Every citizen is entitled to get about his lawful avocations without let or hindrance and this nonsense must stop. Let them collect what they can at the halts.
Alzheimers disease
It is catching up here as well and not common only in the west. Alzheimers disease is common here as well and the trouble is that many don't spot it at the early stages. America spends about a hundred billion dollars annually on its dementia patients as there are about four million of them right now. What should we do here reduce chances of one getting it.The first precaution is to keep your pressure down and prevent being a victim of a stroke. Really it is up to your family members to keep a look out for it if you begin to show memory loss or seem confused. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen may cut the risk of getting it by half. The disease is now treated with Tacrin and Donepezil.
Mexican Criminal Law
Let's hope we will not follow Mexico's criminal law and the penalty for rape here. The recent laws that changed the law on rape which lasted almost a hundred and fifty years have come in for severe criticism. Now an accused in a rape case could get off the hook by offering to marry the victim.The law really applies to gang rapes. If one member of the gang that is accused of the charge offers to marry the victim the others are discharged. Jurists and judges are not very pleased about the amended laws as there are about 25,000 women raped every year.
The tragic and brutal rape-murder of Rita Jones has stirred the conscience of many right thinking persons and shaken the confidence of many more, in the inability of the law enforcement authorities, to give protection and security to ordinary citizens. This sad incident is unfortunately not an isolated one. During the last few years, there has been a significant breakdown in discipline and law and order. An insidious wave of crime is gradually engulfing society. Despite the media highlighting the growing increase in violence, there seems to be a sense of helplessness and hopelessness within our society. Decent, law abiding citizens who definitely constitute the majority in our society remain silent, not realizing that they have the power to protest against wrong doing and reverse the downward slide of this country.
Coincidentally, the day the newspapers reported the abduction of Rita Jones, there was another news item about the break-up of a political meeting and the assault of one of the organisers by thugs who had arrived in Pajeros without licence numbers. Though apparently unconnected, the two incidents do have a significant connection. The abduction, rape and murder of Rita Jones is a symptom of the serious malaise affecting our society, the break-up and assault at the political meeting is a pointer to the cause of that malaise.
Sri Lanka has unfortunately become a highly politicized society. Witness the way people, even highly placed officials, bow and cringe before politicians. No event - be it the laying of a foundation stone for a culvert, the opening of a school library, the commencement of a sports meet or the completion of repairs to a dam - is complete without a ceremony at which a politician is the centre of attraction. Our politicians demand and revel in publicity. Publicity which is both undeserving and unnecessary. The sole objective of the state-owned media, seems to be to inflate the shabby egos of politicians of the governing party. Little wonder then that our politicians have become bloated with arrogance and shamelessly abuse the power and privileges given to them.
What do the people get in return?
Flashing headlights and violation of all the rules and regulations of road usage, parliamentary debates which have become a mockery and parliamentary behaviour which borders on hooliganism, the deliberate distortion of facts, the incessant repetition of lies, the transfer of police officers who try to maintain fair play and law and order - irrespective of party affiliations, protection given to well known criminals and thugs, the interruption of inquiries initiated by dedicated government officials against businessmen who are highly placed party loyalists, the indiscriminate waste of pubic funds for personal glorification, the harassment of talented persons who don't accede to indecent advances, the vulgar display of authority, a trail of broken promises and election pledges............... The list is almost endless. But these are the priorities of our politicians.
Therefore it is our politicians who are to blame for the wave of lawlessness, thuggery and crime that is sweeping our land.
The PA government came into power with an assurance to do away with 'beeshanaya' and 'dooshanaya' and to bring about a moral reawakening of the country. However it is sad to note that never in the history of post independent Sri Lanka has an elected government so soon and so blatantly broken all its promises and violated the trust and confidence the people placed in it.
The favourite defence by PA Ministers is that the UNP government did worse things in their time. This defence is good enough only for those who so vociferously proclaim them. The PA government was elected precisely to be different. They have up to now failed miserably and its unlikely that they can ever change themselves. Therefore the time has come for all right thinking people to unite and bring about a re-awakening of society.
The lead has been given by the business community calling on the two main political parties to address their joint attention to solving the country's most critical problems. Let all other organisations - religious, cultural, educational, professional and social join them and demand that our politicians serve the people instead of serving themselves.
May the power of the people reign supreme.
Arjuna Nanayakkara
Maharagama.
Cold blooded murder and rape at Crows Island
The recent rape and killing of Mrs. Rita Manoharan is condemned by every right thinking person as a horrendous and despicable act perpetrated on a recently-married woman which calls for deterrent punishment. This type of gruesome killing of youth, men and women are reported almost daily in the newspapers. In many instances we have seen and heard killing of young girls after being raped. Child abuse, rape and drug offences are the order of the day. Stringent punishment is called for these offenders. These killings go unabated but the guardians of the law sometimes are able to apprehend the culprits but there are others who could defy the law and go unnoticed. It is to the credit of the Modera Police to have swiftly apprehended the suspects and produce them in Courts.
Although we are wedded to international agreements in regard to human rights, the question arises as to what right the criminals have in regard to violation of human rights of the law-abiding citizens. It has been noticed that in many Court cases witnesses are threatened and prevented from appearing in cases for the accused to escape punishment.
According to the existing laws accused could be kept in custody only for a period of three months without any charges being framed against them. Prisons are not new places for these criminals who indulge in this type of mayhem. A plan of action should be formulated to restrict the freedom presently enjoyed by these criminals who are remanded or imprisoned. The only disadvantage for those serving rigorous imprisonment is that they are deprived from moving in society.
We should be alive to the fact that in the Middle East countries offences of this nature, if proved, are meted out with the death penalty. I suggest that this be followed in Sri Lanka.
I therefore appeal to the rulers, specially to Her Excellency the President, to enact laws like in the Middle East countries, to impose the death penalty after the culprit being subjected to public whipping. It is sad to note that the lives of innocent are snatched away in the prime of life for no fault of theirs.
Austin de Silva
Moratuwa
On behalf of the residents of Crow Island, Colombo 15, I have great pleasure in conveying to you, our grateful thanks and sincere appreciation of the wonderful transformation of Crow Island.
Mrs. S. Nihar Maas
On behalf of the residents
