cat’S eye
Mercy Me! Elections are around the corner!
And this cat is rearing to get to that corner! Just one week and one
day more for going early in the morning to cast the precious vote;
gather some interesting things to munch on all night long; sleep long in
the afternoon to keep awake that night, and have the cell phone fully
charged to call co-result-watchers through the wee hours.
Maybe it’s best Menika has a catnap in the early hours of the 17th
night so she is fully awake when the results are released, gathering
speed as the new day dawns. By then the answers to crucial questions may
already be answered and this feline will be happily purring with
satisfaction or gnashing her teeth with anger that her dislikes have
been liked by the majority and won their seats.
Milk is the liquid that cats lap up. This feline prefers tots of
something stronger and will toast those she favours – so many that there
is real danger she may be too intoxicated to cheer when her colour comes
on top. She does not need to consider the benefits of drowning her
sorrow since that is not going to be called for.
She is sure her colour will win, even though there will certainly be
those of other colours winning seats all across the board that is dear,
free, democratic Sri Lanka.
All eyes and ears will be focused on Colombo and Kurunegala. The
Green candidate will surely win in his long-held borough while there is
severe doubt about the outcome in the electorate looked down on by those
massive boulders, one strongly resembling an elephant. Colombo voters
who are inclined green-wise have a problem: only three preferential
votes, only three names to have the cross in front, while a galaxy of
good men and women contest.
Brains, good breeding, good looks are possessed by many contestants
in the Colombo District so that choice is a poser. Added to this is that
many of them have actual plans for the country. There is one who says in
his personal manifesto that he harbours a kekkuma for the country and
its people. We believe him. He says, “I yearn to build the better
country that you deserve.” In turn we yearn to vote for you!!!
No nonsense attitude
The leader of the Greens claims in his advertisements to be
everything to everybody. He may actually be so. The fisherman, the
farmer, the professional, the pensioner, the youth. His reach always
went far beyond himself; and he never had family to cater to nor fawning
hangers-on to please. Known for his unsmiling manner and no nonsense
attitude, people at last are beginning to realize these are positives.
He never carried a child in public so kids were safe with him around! He
never wore national costume for cheap popularity; never curried favour.
We are tired of the ever smiling, overflowing with bonhomie
individuals whose hearts are bitter, resentful and revengeful. We are
positive those who skimmed the cream off their ministries will be taught
a lesson by the people. Exorbitantly expensive, foreign hand sewn shoes
will have to be stored and Bata slippers donned, not as a first to
school act but to slink home and stay home, sent there by a much better
educated voter this time around.
Kandy being this feline’s home town, she will eagerly await the
results from that hill capital. Hambantota too is a cynosure of
attention with two sons of Presidents contesting.
The biggest mercy and greatest relief is that one is able to walk the
streets or drive around the country seeing the trees, the sky, fine
buildings and flowering bushes without having a Big Brother portrait or
mugs of other politicians gazing down on one with ingratiating smiles.
Critics say that nothing much was done during the yahapalana six months;
and blue ex-MPs and Ministers state that yahapalana was evil since all
development ceased and the Central Bank thing was the single largest
fraud in the history of the country.
Stuff and nonsense! This cat is no financier or economist, rather is
she muddled even in the management of her now increased pension. But she
says add up the hedging scam, the Greek bonds misadventure, the money
spent on the bid to host the Commonwealth Games and the ex President’s
cost of globetrotting with a vast retinue and one would get a sizeable
amount of money willfully sent down the drain, some of it of course
going into pockets.
Statesman
One large benefit and result of the voters’ revolution as they term
the election of Maithripala Sirisena as Prez, is the peaceful and
controlled poll we anticipate. The Elections Commissioner and Police are
in charge and the President, statesmanlike, keeps aloof.
Thank goodness, no dansalas at Temple Trees and freebies distributed
freely. What cheap gimmicks were resorted to previously. There was an
ever present cloud of fear and doubt during previous elections, so
mercifully absent this time.
Instead of the publicly displayed posters and cutouts, postboxes are
full with snail mailed election propaganda; newspapers carry hundreds of
election advertisements; so also television channels. These are no
problem nor eyesore or earache.
This cat for one who abhorred roadside cutouts and ads, quite likes
to read the literature inserted in her postbox and study the faces in
the papers.
TV ads that appear ad nauseum annoy endlessly but constantly seeing
the bust of Kindelpitiya against a red background, or Buddhika Pathirana
being shoulder stroked by an old dame as he emerges from the bridge
connecting the temple in Matara are watched with at least patience and
empathy.
There have been some very effective short clips mostly by the UNP
like the fishermen espying a trawler encroaching their fishing territory
and opining “leave it to Ranil Wickremesinghe to solve this problem”
(not exact words). Menika in her mind’s eye invariably pictures Ranil W
having the sea part itself for his mission or he just skims the waves
and strikes the larger rogue vessel asunder.
So let’s sit back and savour the heating up campaigns and appreciate
all the time and money spent on creating awareness in people that one’s
vote is powerful; one should vote for an educated, well bred, decent
politician. That in Menika’s mind decapitates many a man from the
previous Parliament, even silly dames who knew nothing about even the
Constitution but were legislating for us, the public.
Sunil of Gypsy fame said a mouthful about threats to him but his
being unafraid and suggesting we too fearlessly and wisely vote in
decent men and women thus putting paid to thugs, rapists, murderers and
drug importers who sat in the august House by the Diyawanne. |