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| Sunday, 28 December 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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A saffron Christmas by FACTOTUM Who ever dreamt of a saffron Christmas we wonder although the all too familiar lines 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' were heard at the shopping malls that in keeping with the great tradition of marketing would plonk on any festival to tempt the shopper and relieve him/her of those hard earned greenbacks. If one were to dig deep into the historical records it would be hard to find evidence of the birth of Jesus on December 25 but that has not caused much bother among those who market the day and others who observe it as the birthday of the 'Prince of Peace.' But like all other mass movements to beat back the marauding devil of war and exploitation the mission of the babe born in a manger has been hijacked by market forces and the propagandists of power. By some quirk as it were it was left to a saffron robed bhikkhu to highlight the vulgar commercialism that has invaded the festivities and celebrations of the birth of that liberator who was condemned to die for championing the cause of the people who came under the jackboot of the Romans. The irony was worse confounded when the very people whom he fought for turned against him in the face of the might of the Roman regime and scheming priests who egged on the people to mock him all the way up the mountain of the skull where he was nailed. But here on Christmas eve the scene was quite a contrast. white clad mourners poured into Independence Square to pay their last respects to a prelate who had captured their minds and moulded their way of life during a short but turbulent ministry. Added to the suddenness of his passing away in a foreign land, the spirit of Christmas as advocated by the moghuls of business was dampened bringing into focus that forthright message of the Ven. Gangodawila Soma that day to day life should be bereft of the kind of feasting that Christmas and other festivals have acquired over the years. Just in case readers missed out on a column written in similar strain and vein in the Daily News of yesterday by regular columnist Lucien Rajakarunanayaka. Let me quote 'Possibly unknown to the Catholic Bishops, one fact that underlined their fears for the safety of their flock due to the unexpected shock and rumours following the passing away of the Ven. Soma Thera was the fact that Soma Thera was one who was forthright in his preaching against such opulence whether in private life or public practice and expenditure. Open criticism and condemnation of the ever proliferating efforts to make Christmas a marketable commodity is hardly heard from the leaders of the established churches in Sri Lanka..' It was left to the saffron robes and saffron flags and saffron banners then to bring home Jesus' message of austerity, sharing and concern for the needy and the marginalised and to revoke a system that perpetuates exploitation however shockingly and sadly highlighted by the untimely passing away of a daring preacher of another faith. It is time then that we thought of the plight of the turkey and the message of this Bhikkhu at Christmas, who Christ like condemned the very frills that now embellish the bare bones of the teachings of Jesus-a liberator cast in a different mould and different culture. |
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