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Morning Spice by Ginger
Pavement hawkers experienced better timesGinger eats his words. He said that pavement activity in Nugegoda had not been as brisk as it was in the past but a TV interview given along with the news gives the impression that pavement hawkers were more than happy with what they earned this year. I don’t know whether these pavement hawkers were sympathetic to certain parties and made this statement to show that no one was strapped for cash as such. Anyway we presume that they were speaking the truth.
Partly to check on the veracity of this statement and partly because Ginger was running out of drugs for his wretched fever that had gone on for ten days, he went to Nugegoda where the usual action was at 10.15 a.m. on Boxing Day. The pavements did not seem to be half as crowded as they were and even the two drug stores he knew were closed. So except for a few umbrella wielding women who tried to scoop out his implant there was hardly a crowd. Maybe hawker trade has spread out considerably which is good for the trade and it may have been hawkers in another area who were being interviewed.
Looking for a partner
If you are looking for a partner in life and you are based in Europe and don’t believe in promiscuous relationships after marriage, your wisest move would be to marry a Spanish national. Now despite the hot Latin blood that flows in their veins they don’t believe in extra-marital affairs or sex as such.Only some 22 per cent of Spaniards confess to having sex other than with their partners. Their cousins in Italy are not quite so correct as the Spanish and some 38 per cent of them confess to adultrous associations. Now the correct Britisher no matter what impression he would like to create of conservative respectability has to admit that 42 per cent of them like to have a bit of fun outside marriage.
An inquisitive nature
We have a inquisitive nature and unlike the cat who died out of curiosity have made all our progress due to this is supposed to have helped us considerably in our efforts to see what was on the other side of the hill. The horse, mule and ox driven carts took whole tribes from one part of the world to the other.Now the first wheels invented for such purposes have been traced to Mesopotamia and were possibly invented as far back as 3500 B.C. The wheels that resemble the modern wheel however were created only around 1500 B.C. and were fixed on to the chariots used in warfare.
Trishaws, police and law abiding citizens
Apropos your editorial a few days ago regarding Tri-Shaw Drivers, I am a resident of Evergreen Park Colombo 5 and I have regularly observed tri-shaw drivers driving their trishaws at night without lights and transporting persons/goods in a very suspicious manner.
It has now been established that there is a link between the underworld and some unsavoury three wheeler drivers.
This is evident from the crimes commiied by gangs coming in trishaws.Rita John, for example who abducted , raped and murdered by a trishaw gang in Mattakkuliya. Sometime ago , a girl who was abducted by a gang and bundled into a three wheeler near a famous church in Colombo.She was later found in a suburb sexually assaulted.
Some trishaw drivers are also involved in drug trafficking and prostitution. As such the police must keep an eye on the activities of trishaw drivers.
I have written numerous letters to the O.I.C. Narahenpita (with copy to the I.G.P.) but no action has been taken. Ironically, the tri-shaw drivers who congregate at the top of Dabare Mawatha are very friendly with the police officers. Dur-ing the day they get together, cast remarks at young girls passing-by and generally make a nuisance of themselves and block the road. If they behave like this during the daytime, you can imagine what they get upto at night.
What does a lawabiding citizen do when even the police and the state fail to provide any protection to them.
A resident
Animals can be compared to human beings in many respects. Both groups have life, they feel pain and even have emotions and feelings like fear and sympathy. But the animals lack self consciousness and the distinction between the self and the other. We can distinguish between our interests and desires and those of others. Isn’t this the basis for our distinction between ourselves and animals.
We are moral beings while animals are not. Moral beings have a sense of right and wrong. As such they are subject to the moral law. This moral law confers rights and duties on beings. Rights of others cannot be violated without a sense of guilt. Can animals be called moral beings? Can we tell the lion not to kill the deer? Can we ask the tiger to eat grass? Can we blame the mosquito for biting us? To attribute rights to animals who have no conception of rights or duties (duties are only the corollary or anti-thesis of rights) and no ability to recognize the rights of other creatures, seems pointless. This is why nobody preaches" bana "to animals. Won’t we be cruel to animals if we prevent the lion from killing the deer or the mosquito from drawing our blood. That is their way of life. To deprive the animals of killing is to deprive them of their sustenance.
The fact that animals are not moral beings has important consequences. Since they are not moral beings we cannot punish animals for not following a moral code. Pets may be taught what is expected of them by imposing a punishment, but that is only as part of training to guide them to do what is expected of them. But you cannot punish a lion for killing a deer or a dog for spreading rabies. Nor can you punish mosquitoes for biting humans and spreading diseases.
So the question is whether you should have an absolute ban on the killing of animals similar to that on humans. The Buddhists may think there should be such a moral ban and that it is immoral to kill any animal under any circumstances. They may say that animals have a right to live. If so there would be absolute limits to what we could do with animals.
But the large majority of people in the world think otherwise. Large numbers of Buddhists in China and the Far east kill animals for food without any moral guilt. There was a large scale killing of chicken in Hong Kong owing to the fear of the "bird flu".
Buddhists are entitled to say that the moral law bans all killing including animals. Then the same moral principles that govern relations between humans should govern relations between humans and animals. It requires us to pay attention to the sufferings of animals too. Taking animals from their wild habitat and keeping them in captivity in zoos would be cruel and immoral. So would the use of animals for laboratory experiments.
The Western moral attitude is to test these actions from a utilitarian point of view. Since they don’t accept an absolute ban they say it is alright if such actions although causing pain to animals contribute to the greater good of humans. But this attitude is justifiable only if the killing of animals is not ipso facto immoral as argued by the Buddhists. Christianity or Islam does not have such an absolute prohibition of killing of animals. They believe that the moral principles that govern man’s relations with animals are different from those governing other humans. It is also possible to distinguish between animals reared for food and animals in the wild.
Animals reared for food exist only because man has a use for them as food. If they can be put to man’s use after they have had a satisfactory life, they would say it is right to bring them into being. This argument applies to the cow, the pig and the fowl and extends to the mice in the laboratory.
We come to the vexed question of animal slaughter by Muslims. It is no doubt a moral principle not to cause unnecessary pain and fear to animals even if they are being killed. But this will depend on the purpose of killing. The method of "halal" killing inflicts unnecessary suffering say the Buddhists. But the purpose is not only to kill but to kill according to religious practices laid down by their religious tradition. It is not for us to question the religious practice, certainly not for the State. The State is expected by law to permit the free practice of all religions. The Law is to resolve conflict not to provoke conflict among its citizens.
The Marxists preached that the capitalists were wicked and that the proletariat was good and called for the annihilation of the capitalist class enemy for the progress of mankind. Well-meaning Buddhists writers to the newspapers are in my view making a similar mistake. Instead of making friends they are making enemies. Negative thoughts and attitudes can only bring negative results. Since the thought is the father to the action these well-meaning men are sowing communal hatred which could lead to violence by the less educated and ignorant.
There is no proof for value judgements according to philosophers like Bertrand Russell. Moral disagreements cannot be resolved by argument.
(With acknowledgements of the chapter Animal Rights and Wrongs by Roger Scruton in the book Life After Politics Fontana Press)
R. M. B. Senanayake
The downpour Sri Lanka is experiencing at present has caused serious damage to the public road system. The surface of most of the rain soaked roads has been peeled off and the minor damages that had been there have developed into potholes causing much inconvenience to both human and vehicular traffic. The vehicular traffic has been affected as vehicles have to move at snail-pace resulting in congestion and pedestrians are affected by muddy water being splashed on them by passing vehicles.
The situation is worse when roads near roundabouts or colour lights get damaged, for vehicles moving out of roundabouts or colour lights have to slow down to avoid potholes bumps and dents which are aplenty in such places. When this happens vehicles coming from behind have to stop in the middle of such intersections blocking the path of other motorists who are signalled to go ahead. This is one main reason why there is so much confusion and noise thesedays near roundabouts and signalized intersections or any other intersection for that matter.
It goes without saying that traffic confestion causes irreparable damage to the national economy in terms of the waste of fuel and loss of man hours. The damaged roads also result in wearing and tearing of vehicle parts, which have to be replaced at a massive cost. This also in the final analysis goes to increase the trade imbalance we already have with the countries from which we import these spare parts from.
Pollution also results from congestion and imposes a massive environmetal cost on the country. Toxic fumes and noise on roads have a harmful effect on road users and those whose houses have frontages. Restlessness and volatile temper caused by pollutents that are aplenty on our roads drive drivers mad, so to speak. As a result we can see the sharp increase in traffic related accidents where most of them are fatal.
So what is the way out?
This situation can be remedied to a great extent by means of a better road system that can withstand heavy rains. A proper water drainage system is essential for maintaining public roads. And extra care should be taken to maintain roads at busy intersections and main roudabouts in the city and towns.
Another reason why there is traffic congestion on rainy days is that policemen don’t brave rain to regulate traffic. The police must therefore be well equipped to carry out their chore even on rainy days.
The authorities concerned can see the situation for themselves if they care to be out on roads on a rainy day near a roundabout or a signalized intersection.
Proper maintenance of road are essential for economic development. And I hope this letter will attract the attention of those who are responsible, especially the Minister of Transport and Highways who, I belive, is a man of action. Over to you the beared minister.
Gamini Ekanayake
Attorney-at-law
Kalutara
Repentance of the Catholic Church
Mr. S. Gardiarachchi replied to my letter on the above subject in your journal on Dec. 5. I fear his knowledge of the Catholic Church, her life and practices is limited and hence leads to many misunderstanding .
His basic problem lies with the willingness of the Church to admit and reject its errors of the past two thousand years. If the Pope is infallible, he thinks, how then did these errors occur?
Infallibility is a highly restricted privilege of the Papacy. It touches only questions of faith and morals and it is invoked only in very special circumstances, when the Pope as Chief Pastor engages his supreme authority to definitively decide on matters of faith and morals, a ruling to be held by the whole Church. This prerogative is really based on the infallibility and indefectibility of the whole Catholic community which is guided by God’s providence, lest it fall into error. The Bishops share this privilege in union with the Pope, as for example in an Ecumenical Council.
The government of the Church is by no means infallible. The concept infallible in this context has no meaning. The Pope and his helpers use their knowledge and wisdom to govern the church as best as they can. They need not give the best direction to the Church. God may assist them extrinsically but this does not mean the direction of government is free from errors and is the best possible. The Church can make mistakes in government and repent for her mistakes. She is not impeccable.
The whole question of myth comes up again. Mr. G is following the ordinary dictionary meaning of myth - "purely fictitious narrative usually involving supernatural persons and embodying popular ideas on natural phenomena" - C.O.D. myth is understood in the Sociology of knowledge as something vastly different, It is a pre-philosophical way of expressing deep truths about nature and history through narratives of events. Myths are found in all cultures and religions; the Hindu Puranas and Greek myth are classical.
Does the inclusion of myth in the Bible make it a tissue of "lies and untruths" By no means. The Bible is not one book but a whole library of books — 76 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. They were written at different times, say from 800 B.C. to 100 A. D. Each book has its own literary genre or genus of truth and must be read in its historical and literary context. One has to distinguish historical truth from poetical truth, rhetorical truth from epistolary, hortatory truth from prayer truth, legal truth from narrative. The truth that the Bible wants to impress on the minds and hearts of humans is religious and salutary truth. This comes dressed in the garb of images, symbols and stories. We have to cut through the literary and mythical bark to get at the inner kernel of truth. That is a long and deficit task; it is essentially the work of biblical scholars and theologians.
The question of private revelations, visions and aspirations, these are proposed to be accepted by human and historical faith, not by theological faith. The Church approves some revelations and apparitions; this implies that such revelations can show good grounds for human credibility and to do not contradict the basic faith of the Church. This is the case of the apparition of Mary Mother of Christ, at Lourdes, Fatima, Guadeloupe and other places. The approval does not extend to all the details of the vision and revelations. There is a qualitative difference between such private revelation and the official teaching of the Church based on the Bible and MAIN STREAM tradition. The freedom of the Christian to critically review such revelations is not withdrawn by the approbation of the Church.
Mr. G is worried by the fate of the Holy Innocents massacred by, King Herod, Mt. 2, 16-20. He need not worry; the Church considers them saints and celebrates their feast on the 28th Dec.
The Church is a pilgrim Church on the way to her fulness which will be reached only at the end of history. The New Testament calls this final state, the New Jerusalem, Rev. Ch. 21. The disciples of Christ have to toil laboriously forwards, reaching deeper into the truths of faith, understanding them in today’s categories, explaining them to modern humans and trying to live as the new People of God in fidelity to His directives and commands. This is not an easy task; the Church often fails she is not meant for saints but for sinners. Hence the need for constant review, repentance, reform and restoration from past errors.
Rev. Dalston Forbes, O.M.I.
Colombo 15.
1998 has come to an end. We had the blast of the Dalada, visit of the Prince of Wales. The speech of the President in English only had the wrath of some. Peace overtures by Prabakaran, the government has not taken seriously and rightly so. We all want peace, who doesn’t? But one has to be careful in case of a settlement as India will demand the head of Prabakaran as soon as he comes out in the open. We have to surrender all suspects charged for murder etc. in India. We are friends are we not?
The fast track which will be a one way traffic track or one way track has been signed. After all what industrial products can India possibly buy from us that they already do not make. Dr. Kelegama’s letter is very clear. Our industrialists making goods for our consumption and home use will be hammered out of existence. Now George Fernandes says that he wants Indians to refrain from buying foreign goods. What will happen to the fast track bilateral deal.
Halal Bill shelved. We are true Buddhists. We will next call for banning fresh water and marine fisheries and shrimp/prawn farms, then animal husbandry, no more mutton, beef and pork and chicken etc. Only Buddhist eggs, then if our fly wheels are in motion and premeditatedly arrive at methods and formula to prevent an egg being fertilized then we are committing sin, therefore, no eggs. Similarly, the use of condoms do we knowingly slip on one to avoid conception, these too should be banned. My God the list will never end. By the way what happens to cows after their commercial or profitable milk producing period is over and cart bulls after their usefulness is over? Do they end up in some Home for Bovine Elders? I am sure it will be interesting to find out where these are?
Pure Buddhism will be banned but Devala cult and other new found cults yet unborn will be allowed.
In this freedom loving land beer, booze and baila will flourish. The giant businessmen who are on the "verge" of solving the ethnic problem will soon solve their problems like non payment of EPF, salaries and so on. Further rewards will follow like closing Samurdhi accounts in State Banks and passing them over to private banks.
The year 1999 promises to give us some surprises. Sad but true, let’s wait, hope and pray.
Milroy A. P. Bulathsinhalage
Colombo 5
A fitting tribute to the late Sir Nicholas Attygalle
The decision of the government to issue a new stamp in the denomination of Rs. 2.50 to commemorate Sir Nicholas Attygalle, the first Sir Lankan Vice Chancellor is indeed commendable.
During a tenure of nearly fifteen years from 1954 he administered the former University of Ceylon, Colombo and the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, single-handed with wisdom, dignity, strict discipline and unyielding courage.
Three faculties viz medical, science and engineering, the massive gymnasium, several halls of residence, a large number of residential quarters for staff and a recreation hall for the minor employees were all built during his time.
Provision of funds up to rupees one hundred million in order to construct a fully equipped conference hall at the University of Peradeniya is most welcome as a mark of respect and gratitude to this illustrious son of Sri Lanka. The government and the university authorities should jointly decide to name this building
Sir Nicholas Attygalle Conference Hall
As a past employee of the University of Peradeniya for 38 years I will be failing in my duty if I do not pay my own personal respect and gratitude to this unique personage, the like of whom we will never see again.
S. D. Tammita
Matara
UNP thugs and PA thugs (at the behest of their political masters) will continue with their antics in the NWP elections.
It must be a sense of deja vu’ for the UNP.The Poor guys don’t have the government apparatus behind them anymore to do their dirtry work.. must be hard to muster thugs without Police stations to gather around anymore, unlike those days. Afterall they are the past masters of rigging and thuggery and now want to become cry babies when they receive a dose of their own medicine in what is after all an absolute democratic farce.
Who feels sorry for them? Their record of thuggery, murder and mayhem will put any African nut case dictator to shame.
PA thugs on the other hand, have to curry favour with their ruling party bosses as well. They have well nigh tossed their promises out of the window into the garbage pile of bogus claims. How else can they make money? So forget the promises man, go at each other.
Maybe you corrupt thugs will eliminate each other soon and leave the peace loving majority of us alone to restore civility. How many State owned vehicles will be abused again? How much of tax payers’ money will they waste on propaganda?
The masses cringe and remain silent. The once murderous JVP gains and we never learn our lessons. The election comedy goes on, and the rasict fascist Tigers still confound all of us. Damn all of you self serving politicians.
Mano Ratwatte
