5th Column

Who says promises are meant to be kept?
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "why is everybody blaming the media for everything these days?"

"That happens because this is election time, Bindu…" Bindu's father Percy explained.

"The green camp is accusing the state media of giving more publicity to Mahinda maama…" "Well," Percy said, "I am not sure whether they will achieve anything by complaining…"

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, they show Mahinda maama, who is also the Prime Minister being interviewed by several children to mark Children's Day and no one would have said anything about it if there was no election in a month…" Percy argued.
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "those children only asked Mahinda maama about what he would like to do for the country…"

"And what is wrong about that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, for instance they could have asked Mahinda maama about why he wanted to stop the Helping Hambantota investigation but they never did…"
"Remember Bindu," Percy advised, "the Blues are also accusing the private media of supporting Ranil maama…"

"Why are they saying that?"
"Well, for instance in opinion polls run by private television networks two thirds of people say that Ranil maama will win the election…"
"And what is wrong with that?" Bindu wanted to know.

"When the same poll is conducted by the state media, three fourths of the people say Mahinda maama will win the election…" Percy pointed out.
"We should not believe everything the media tells us, then…" Bindu said.
"Of course not, especially when someone says they are impartial…" Percy said.
"Who is saying that?" Bindu asked.

"Why, there are these advertisements which say 'dennatamai kiyanne' which means they are advising both leading presidential candidates…"
"What is the problem with that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, they are asking what the realistic solution to the ethnic crisis is and how economic problems would be solved…"

"But those are valid questions, thaaththa…" Bindu protested.
"Yes, they are, but the sponsor of the advertisements claims they have a sense of social responsibility…" Percy said.
"And what is wrong with that?"

"Because they come from a manufacturer of alcohol who not so long ago asked us, 'Is there a Lion in you?'…" Percy pointed out.
"But thaaththa, why can't an alcohol manufacturer claim a sense of social responsibility?" Bindu queried.

"How could they, when alcohol itself is responsible for so many social problems?"

"But thaaththa," Bindu asked, "aren't politicians doing the same thing? They claim to have our interests at heart when they themselves are responsible for most of our problems…"
"Yes," Percy said, "I suppose they are…"

"But of course, when they run campaign for political office or for selling their alcohol maybe they should change their slogan…" Bindu suggested.
"And what should their slogan be?" Percy asked.

"Instead of asking 'Is there a Lion in you?' they should perhaps ask 'Is there a Donkey in you?'…"
Percy didn't want to disagree.

Back to Columns