Letters to the Editor

Chauvinism: a look at the roots
"Gradually the noble values of Buddhist philosophy have now been replaced by so-called Buddhist nationalism," says Dr. Leonard Pinto from distant Australia (The Sunday Times - Plus, 17/4/2005) under the headline, "We are marching out of pace."

Unfortunately, Dr. Pinto does not bother to ask why Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism has now come to the fore. There are so-called leaders in this country who blithely wanted to celebrate the 500 year anniversary of the Portuguese invasion of this once pristine nation, an invasion and subsequent carnage to instill "good Christian values" in us, which is best forgotten.

There are those political leaders, various governments, members of the so-called 'international community' as well as foreign funded NGOs that want to see this country re-colonized, globalized and Christianized - all in the name of "development" - so that Buddhism and our 2,500 year old Sinhala-Buddhist culture is wiped out forever as was done in Korea and the Philippines.

There are the so-called leaders and their henchmen who want to gift one-third of our country and two-thirds of its coast-line to the LTTE in the forlorn belief that this would solve "discrimination" (we are not told what these are) suffered by Tamils although most of these Tamils prefer to live in the south. Whether they can solve such "discrimination" appears to be nobody's business. Of course, we hear the lone, dissenting voice of Mr. Anandasangaree in the background, but who cares?

Dr. Pinto seems piously concerned about us Buddhists not continuing to practise metta, karuna, muditha and upeksha. Buddhists did so when the Portuguese came with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other. We kept doing so even when the Dutch and the British followed with the customary Bible, but this time with the more sophisticated and "civilized" gun in the other hand.

Dr. Pinto appears to conveniently forget history and the gun and sword carried under the cassock by these ruthless invaders who broke every rule in the book. Even the Kandyan Treaty signed on March 1815 was breached by the British before the ink was dry. That is how 'cultured' and 'honest' these Christian invaders were. If Dr. Pinto cares to read Robert Knox and more modern authors such as Ananda Coomaraswamy, he might become a little enlightened. What the good Christians did to the people of the Americas, Australia, Africa and Asia is too horrendous for repetition.

Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism arose due to extreme provocation by chauvinistic Tamil politicians, by Tamil terrorism, by Islamic fundamentalism, by Christian hegemony during the colonial period, by the international NGO mafia hell-bent on unethical conversions, and above all, due to the anti-social and dishonest political leadership we have been saddled with over the past several decades.

So, as a doctor, Pinto should delve into the root causes of the disease, rather than blaming the symptoms. The people will not keep naively meditating while they are being attacked from all sides and are about to be destroyed.

Revelry that mars Vesak
Vesak Poya falls on Monday, May 23 and the day following Vesak is also a holiday. Moves are under way to organise Vesak lantern competitions and other events, which are likely to end up on a commercial note. There will be revelry on Poya day for the young and the old who will forget the religious aspects of Vesak.

Then there are also Vesak pandals and Jataka stories put on stage on revolving platforms in merry-go-round style. Entrance is by way of tickets and some of these exhibitions go on till after the Poson festival. Organizers are engaged in a collection spree that fill their coffers.

Sponsors completely forget the religious aspects of Vesak and conduct their affairs as a profit-making business and solicit contributions from philanthropists and businesses.

The Mahanayakes of the Asgiriya and the Malwatte chapters along with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana should review the entire situation.

Be kind to your dogs
I'm just writing to say that we wish the people of Sri Lanka well. I'm enclosing an article from our local paper - it says it all - still thinking of you. (See box.)

I would, however, like to say that many of the tourists I spoke to (last year) said they wouldn't want to visit Sri Lanka again because of the lack of care for animals. In Britain, we put our unwanted animals into care. So to hear that the Lankan authorities gas stray animals is totally unacceptable. Most of the dogs I saw there seemed happy -- free to roam outside. But why can't the unwanted animals be cared for or sent to a home? This gives employment but best of all it won't deter tourists!

I'd wanted to see Sri Lanka after I saw a TV documentary on beautiful elephants. To us, the elephant orphanage is probably one of the most fantastic places in the world. I'd never forget the staff's devotion -- to be so close to these wonderful creatures (who wants Disney World?).
The Sri Lankan people are hospitable and I want everyone here to visit Sri Lanka but please, please sort out this animal problem.

Canine cash
Hounds helped to raise pounds to rebuild a school in Sri Lanka at a sponsored dog walk in Bracknell on Sunday. (See pic above.) Dogs and their owners got plenty of exercise at the event held at The Lookout Discovery Centre in Nine Mile Ride which was organised by keen fund-raisers Hethe Jessop and Margaret Reeves.

Every penny of the 135 pounds raised will go towards the Viduni pre-school in Welitara which was seriously damaged in the tsunami disaster. The school needs 25,000 pounds to pay for structural repairs and be re-equipped with furniture and learning materials.

Mrs. Jessop said: "The people that came enjoyed the walk and we made a good sum of money and I'd like to thank them for their support."

That blood-red day
May Day comes bathed in red
All are on the streets
Lining up with banners
In their hands, shouting slogans
Nobody without a red flag
In remembrance of Workers' Day

Hence on this memorable day
Every effort should be made
To renew thoughts of the lower strata
To improve the life of the working class

To achieve equality of society
Guiding the growth of economy
Ever improving agriculture and production!

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