Time to Think Real Hard

I was trying to analysis as to why many of us (Sri Lankans) are not willing to embrace changes or look positively for completely overhauling of the present system of governance.

On every occasion when the issue of changes was brought up in open forums and in Media as well as in friendly discussions, instead of having a dialogue of substances, many started hurling insults and misquoting many religious texts that neither they properly fathom nor practice or cultural baloney to scuttle the process.

Those who behave in such a fashion can be categorized into four main groups, namely,

1. Frogs in the well.

2. Inadequacios’.

3. Feudalists.

4. Fast Track Dreamers.


Frogs in the Well.

My sympathies are with them because they are unaware that there is a different world exists beyond their hamlets.

They are not necessarily peasants.

Some of them are neither poor nor illiterate.

Someone I know who is dirty rich but has never gone beyond the shores of Sri Lanka was confused and dumbfounded when I posed him to explain how a visually impaired person would make a telephone call from a public telephone booth?

He had no answer to give and that he was equally surprised to hear that there are ways available in many developed countries to facilitate such a need.

That was why from the inception I mentioned that my sympathies are with such people because the main culprit for such inadequacies is our outdated education system and the existing Media.

They were made to believe that their world is the only world and there is nothing beyond the mountains.

Inadequacios.

They are well aware that there is a different world beyond their hamlets but are afraid of facing or meeting them because of their inbuilt inferiorities.

In their hearts that they truly know that the world beyond their hamlets is different because there the pecking order in the society is decided based on meritocracy and not because you have connections with influential people or enough cash to flash and throw to get the work done.

Every time when an opportunity comes along they start looking for a connection in their networks to secure that than trying to upgrade themselves voluntarily and wait for opportunities to pop up.

They are happy to lay blames of their inadequacies and inactions on some other external entities and maintain the status quo because they know that they would never survive in the other world.

Feudalists.

Unlike the medieval times, many do not have big lands so to say but have a very elite network where caste, religion, creed or your political allegiances are never an issue in this elite society.

They are educated, wealthy and very well aware of the pecking order of the world beyond their village.

They use their influences and wealth to go there for education and various other needs but paint a very bleak picture of the world beyond the other side of the mountain once get back home.

They too know that their survival and social standings can only be maintained by suppression of such information.

In the other world beyond their mountain, where the pecking order is decided on merit and not influence, there they will stand no chance.

Someone who would not even get a position in a forecourt of a Gas filling station or 7-11 Mini Market there can get a  position of a CEO here with their elite connection.

So why struggle to change the status quo when you can call all the shots.


Fast Track Dreamers.

This lot too is educated, wealthy and have seen and enjoyed the privileges of the world beyond their village but have still not really have arrived at the doorstep of the elite group.

So they keep weaving their small network into a bigger one, hoping and dreaming one day that they too would get there. 

They too constantly strive to maintain the status quo, while trying to throw their nets far and wide, as they are aware of the unlimited privileges and entitlements available in the elite society. 

Those who are not belonging to any of the above categories are yearning and calling for changes. They are confident that they can meet the needs of the world beyond them head-on and win too without much effort.

I think they are the minority here today.

Like in many parts of the developing counties, the majority is always very boisterous, raucous and noisy in Sri Lanka too.

But now, this minority’s voice too can be heard in the din like a clarion call for a complete overhauling of the system.

Sooner we tackle the issue it is better for most of us.ng from Oman.