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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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Letters |  |
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments. Burning Bush: The 11th commandment The entire American nation has been in uproar over the manner of their President George W. Bush's handling of the Hurricane Katrina issue. The anticipation of officialdom was 'lousy' and upto 48 hours later Bush was still busy with his 'holiday'! In the subsequent days, he went around stuttering like a schoolboy, repeating the same words by rote in explanation, somewhat like a memorised poem. The Mayor of New Orleans told him (live on CNN) to 'get off his ass' and do some work with the others in tow! This is their President Ha! This is actually the man who went to Iraq to find Scud missiles which the UN could not find and they are still looking around and getting massacred. Earlier, Bush and America over-ran Afghanistan looking for Osama Bin Laden - and there too, they are still busy looking and dying. by Rohan Jayawardane, Dehiwela. I am in my late seventies. I was on a trip downwards. I was heading for a sort of breakdown that most of us do not wish. Finally, I was hitting rock bottom, when I made an unexpected recovery, I was able to rebuild my life because I am a God dependant person rather than a self-dependant person. My rock-bottom experience became the turning point of the most spiritual developments of my life. When A christian hits rock bottom, he or she finds God is a firm foundation. Serving your God is an investment with eternal dividends. Suffering for your God brings a sure reward - with no regrets. We all need to become avid rose gardeners - hunting for buds of beauty within our thorny circumstances. It is a sure cure for complaining. Rather than complain about the thorns on roses, be thankful for the roses among thorns. If there is anything praiseworthy - mediate on these things. When we go through deep trials or great suffering, we need to be reminded that God is working purposefully, intelligently and lovingly in our lives. God uses trials in our lives to build us up, not to tear us down. by Neville Perera, Dehiwela. Rich children are given riding lessons naturally. Do their parents bother to find out how these schools function? Does any rider take note of the physical condition of his/her horse and why, while he sits comfortably astride, the four spindly legs supporting him are a wee-bit wobbly? We hear there is rampant abuse of these ponies and horses in riding schools, stables and everywhere else, hiring them out to cater to the fun time of humans. Whether inside a posh riding school or owned by a wayside pony-ride vendor, the same fate befalls them all: Neglect of their welfare, not enough food, no medical treatment, consistent overwork with hardly any respite. There is a steady, not too expensive supply, mostly from India, so they are hacked like an expendable shoe, until driven beyond service, when the carcass is sold to the zoo. It is an all-round gain for the owner. Periodic raids by the authorities into these places, using horses for human entertainment or riding lessons, should be insisted upon. We urge the Law Commission, revising the animal laws, to give special attention to the unrestrained abuse of these animals. by Prema Ranawaka-Das, Moratuwa. There seems to be some confusion about the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) and Council of Muslims of Sri Lanka (CMSL) since the names are very similar. Council of Muslims of Sri Lanka is a very old organisation established by some well-known leaders of the Muslim community. Muslim Council of SL emerged as a confluence of about 50 organisations after the tsunami. Soon after tsunami, A. M. Ameen, the President of SLMMA called all the organisations which immediately responded to the disaster, to come together so that the relief work can be coordinated to be more effective. About 45 organisations responded and came together under the banner CCRR - Coordinating Center of Relief and Rehabilitation. They met frequently and planned and coordinated the relief work. But as time went on this active organisation realises that the work cannot stop with Relief and Rehabilitation but must be carried forward for lobbying the Muslims cause - because of this the name was changed to Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL). A constitution was drawn up and discussed widely by the partner organisation and was finalised. MCSC is not an umbrella org. rather it is a conglomeration of about 52 organisations, which have come together to take up matters pertaining to Sri Lankan Muslims. It will also coordinate with the politicians, concerned individuals as well as the mosques in the island. So far, it has coordinated and still coordinating many relief activities, assisted in the publication of the Interim Report or Loss Assessment of Muslims in the affected areas by the MIC and now is lobbying with the political leaders, donor countries and international agencies regarding P-TOMS, CFA and other matters concerning Muslims. by Dr. Mareena Reffai, Dehiwela. Isn't it strange that no Tamil has publicly denounced the killing by the LTTE of Laksman Kadirgamar? They erroneously believe that he championed the cause of the Sinhalese against the Tamils. This is far from the truth. In reality, Kadirgamar stood up against the cruel bondage, the Sri Lanka Tamils had to live, under that brigand Prabhakaran. The LTTE claimed to be the sole representative of the Tamils, Kadirgamar vehemently opposed this, in national and international fora. The LTTE assassinated many prominent Tamil politicians and thinkers such as Amirthalingam, Mahaththaya, Neelan Thiruchelvan, etc. Kadirgamar strongly denounced these terrible acts against democracy. The LTTE are constantly trying to eliminate other Tamil politicians, such as Devananda and Anandasangaree. They are engaged in a murderous conflict with break away LTTEers, such as Karuna. Speaking out loud against the LTTE that is undemocratic, violent and anti-social Lakshman Kadirgamar was doing his absolute best to free the Tamils from this disgraceful, pitiable and demeaning servitude to Prabhakaran. The Tamil diaspora must realise that Kadirgamar wanted all Tamils in Sri Lanka to enjoy the same freedom to choose or reject a political system as other Sri Lankans; to hold their heads erect and not live in moral fear of being stalked by the LTTE killers. Lakshman Kadirgamar laid his life on the line for Tamils. This is what the Tamils do not realise. They have lost their champion. I do not think there is anyone to replace him. by K. Upali Wirasekera, Kohuwela. |
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