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by Ilika Karunaratne

What are the headlines in the newspapers today? Either school boys on a violent rampage against principals, teachers or pupils in rival schools; goons smashing their way into hotels, attacking everyone or everything within sight; dead bodies being found or raped. What has happened to our country, once called paradise? Why is there this simmering anger inside which seems to erupt with the least provocation? What this urge to inflict pain and to kill?

Anyone who loves this country must get to the root of the problem. It calls for joint action by parents, religious leaders, teachers and other associations whom people respect and are willing to listen to. Why has this happened in a land governed for so long by the teachings of Lord Buddha, whose life was an example of compassion, tolerance and self-control?

Has it come to this because of the war situation prevalent for so long? For lack of religious teaching from childhood or because of films in cinemas, video parlours and on TV portraying terrifying, horrendous crime. We have to turn the searchlight within and find a way of stopping the flow of violence before paradise is called hell. The spoils of war are veritable spoils indeed and could well have caused this boom in crime.

Children have grown up with the constant talk of war, of parents and relatives being killed. Of hearing about nothing but war and arms. This can quite easily use children to be recalcitrant or opprobrious. Parents should give a start by refraining from gifting children with toy weapons. Playing games with guns can lead to an attitude that killing means nothing. Parents and teachers must endeavour to be dominant forces in children's lives.

They must be totally involved and caring in order to exercise influence over children in their care. Old habits do die-hard and if one inspires by example; the difference between right and wrong plus humility, compassion and the importance of being unpretentious and down to earth; children will quite naturally imbibe these qualities.

We have all had our share in one way or another of knocks, shocks and taumatic bumps; but we have to learn self control and to be brave, dependable and indomitable in spite of them. Cinemas and the electronic media must cease showing films with murder and violence. This instills ideas in those with a tendency for crime. Why can't they show films of family togetherness, of compassion, of wild life, of nature. We must fill little minds with beauty in all its forms.

There is far too much ugliness and suffering in the world as it is. Beauty does soothe the soul and an appreciation of beauty is a must. Too many films portray minds awash with thoughts of evil, man's baseness, cruelty and inhumanity.

It is imperative at this stage, before violence particularly rape and murder get even worse that the death penalty be brought in for these crimes.

The victim of rape is often a silent sufferer; taunted and looked down on as a result of parents thinking more of the disgrace to them than of the effect on the victim. The perpetrator gets away and the victim suffers for life. This is most unfair. It is beyond my comprehension as to why such a state of affairs continues regardless.

Schools too should introduce discussions with students on moral issues like 'How to deal with anger', 'Respect for elders', 'Jealousy', etc. Religious leaders must take the initiative to reach out to their flock by speaking on the electronic media on values and principles, which are important to all religions.

People do grow and evolve and if religious leaders, teachers and parents unite to be more of an influence, our youth will, I am sure acquire positive, worthwhile characteristics. One cannot continue to look the other way and place the blame on grinding poverty for cruelty and barbarity.

A good measure of the present rise in violence can be attributed to the fact that there are about 20,000 army deserters who have deserted with weapons. This is why contract killers are rampant; they are also responsible for leading gangs into crime, murder and violence. The police must make an effort to keep tabs on these deserters in every town and village.What is the solution? Perhaps it would help if politicians do not interfere to try to get culprits in crime out when they are remanded. They must allow the rule of the law to takes its course.

Right is right and wrong is wrong, whoever does it. It is also important that governments do not appoint people to high office unless they have a clean slate in every sphere. There should be no allegations of wrong doing against them be it financial or anything else. There is a feeling that big fish get away and are sometimes even rewarded while the small ones get caught.

It would also be a good idea for big companies in the private sector to give awards to the police for towns and villages with the least crime. This would be an incentive for them and also prevent them from getting into the hand of criminals.

We all have children, mothers and families. We want this to be a safe place for everyone. People must be safe on the roads, in hotels and restaurants without goons approaching them and creating havoc. We must be able to go to a boutique for a necessity even at night without fear of being beaten up.

If Prabhakaran could do it in Jaffna and the Maldivian government have ensured that tourists or anyone else is not pestered, molested or assaulted on the streets there, why can't we do it here? I was ashamed when some foreigners told me that they were unable to walk on Galle Face Green without being harassed or insulted but that it is just the opposite in the Maldives.

From reported incidents of crime, it is quite obvious that this has permeated every strata of society.

Incidents have taken place even in the most exclusive and expensive clubs. In the higher strata of society, parents who tend to give their children too much luxury and too little time are at fault.

There is a tendency to keep up with the Jones'. Every possession must be bigger, better or at least the same even if one cannot afford it. Children are more interested in these than in their academic studies, as they know, they will find a place in their parent's business, if all else fails.

Young children are sometimes even given credit cards and mobile phones. Aren't they aware that these children will certainly meet with disaster? As Bob Dylan says in "Blowing in the Wind", "How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see. How many deaths will it take till he knows, that too many people have died".

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