Fast & Furious
by Nadira Gunatilleke
Youth is the most fast and
furious stage in life. No one can say it is not. It is very good when it
comes to studying, working and doing something good. But how about
driving ? Now what are you thinking ? Do you become fast and furious
whenever you take your trail bike out of your gate ? If it is so, why is
it ? It is because you start late and do not want to get late or it is
because you want to show off your `talents’ or `fearlessness’ to the
rest of the world ? Oh ! I am not blaming you. I am just describing the
possibilities ......
 I was travelling from Panadura to Colombo in an intercity A/C bus. I
was siting behind the driver. There was another two men sitting next to
the driver who was a youth. While we were passing Ratmalana Airport, a
boy in a trail bike with a female pillion rider (probably his
girlfriend) passed us just like one of Robinhood’s arrows ! “ Kellawa
maranna geniyanawa !” (on the way to kill the girl), said the bus
driver. Then the three of them laughed at the rider telling that stupid
he is.
It was not only they who thought like that. The same thought crossed
all of our minds at the same time.
What do you think about this ? If fast
and furious drivers think that they draw the positive attention of
all, it is completely wrong because they never get a chance to observe
the `looks’ and `comments’ of the `viewers’. The other thing is, only
stupid fast and furious drivers compete with others. No sensible young
drivers do so. The majority laugh at you and consider you as an idiot
and not a hero ! I am not a teenager any more but I still like to drive
fast exceeding 120 kmph ! But there is no thrill at all if I do it in a
crowded road at 12 noon ! It is not about driving fast. It is where and
when you drive fast.
No one can say that you should not be fast and furious ! There are
times you should be fast and furious and show your fearlessness, talent
and all the capabilities. Come forward to assist an injured person
during a road accident. Drive fast to the hospital ! Drive fast to save
the life of a patient who is paralyzed or suffered a sudden heart
attack. You will be a hero and you will get paid by mother nature for
your good deed. You need to be fast and furious to save a life.
Become furious when you see injustice, anti-Sri Lankan,
anti-religious or anti-social acts or persons who are involved. Fight
against such acts. Act against them.
You will be a hero for your motherland, religion, society and
culture. Stop being heroes in `face book’ or in the Internet !
Forwarding an email or writing something in the face book walls does not
make you a hero. People call them cardboard heroes ! The real heroes are
in the society. They stand by their motherland, all religions, society
and cultures. They work hard in paddyfields, grow paddy and feed us with
rice. They do fishing in deep sea and feed us with fresh fish. They do
not know what the `face book’ is.
So be fast and furious at the right place...right time....Apply
breaks whenever you see a road accident. Save a precious life. Speak on
behalf of a young girl harnessed by another passenger in the bus. You
will be a real hero remembered by the people ! At least you will be
remembered by a sweet girl ! |
