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| Thursday, 13 February 2003 |
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Aiding and abetting the corrupt by Afreeha Jawad Come to think of it - it's a tragedy - yes - a deep rooted, large-scale Sri Lankan social affliction. Lest you get your wires crossed in what this writer is talking about - yes - the infamous 'image and confidence building' exercise. All you've got to do is put on your sociological lenses - just look around - you are sure to find it - at social rendezvous - perhaps down the street, in the bus, neighbourhood and even in your own office. Sad to say, we in the press should take on greater part of the blame in this national tragedy for corrupt individuals have made it up there not out of intellectual strength but due to a faltering pen or whatever aiding image building. However, press apart - the public are also not guilt free. The Sri Lankan's innate ability of pulling the correct wire, paying panchandram and bootlicking is all too well-known - corruption of this sort - far too widespread knows no borderline. We sit and talk corruption while at the same time unhesitently encouraging it in the image and confidence building exercise of the corrupt. Now what does all this mean. Just think. When did you turn your eyes away from such folk? Didn't you say 'Hello' to him or her and continue talking shop while one by one the rest join in the conversation. On further observation of such behaviour, one could see how each entrant is given a pat on the back with a loud banging 'Hello' along with a clockwise massage shoulder downwards - a further invitation on the part of the corrupt to consolidate his or her position in the group. Just think. Do we ever care to socially ostracize such crafty manipulators? Instead, we only bridge their shortfall - image building. When did you ever contract your eye muscles before resting on such? And if you do, you'r sure to get that 180 degrees side long glance. Be happy. It only goes to show your unreadiness for deception. People laugh it off - Yes, I mean corruption and so it finds further social favour. It is emulated by others and helps increase 'membership' and 'clientele' in corruption's 'discipline'. Modern society with unlimited needs is basically self oriented and individual based. Opportunism holds sway. People's interests are specific and human relations based on mutual gain. City dwellers are the worst in craftiness and cunning because of task diversity, labour division followed by high dependency rates. A friendly and foolish people are two necessary ingredients in the image building effort. Next time, watch out on those big loud 'Hellos', back patting and stomach massaging. Don't slump into a mentally comfort zone. Anay Hari Honda Manussaya. Maath Ekka Hunga Wela Katha Kara Ney. (What a nice man he was speaking to me for a long time).
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