Making sense of nonsense
Learning from History
It was the Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw who once said "If
history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable
must man be, of learning from experience". In seeking answers to the
question, the Irish folk idiom adapted by American folk musician Pete
Seeger called his song "Where have all the flowers gone?" and went on to
raise a further question; "When will they ever learn?"
There is so much said or expressed by literary greats and social
activists of all time, where we in this day and age can learn lessons
from. When what happens around us makes no sense, these gems, indeed are
a great source for us to seek and find some solace.
A mixed bag
There is talk of a premature Presidential election to be held. There
is also speculation of a 'common candidate' being fielded. This is an
action proposed by what, not too long ago, would have seemed an
unimaginable alliance. The dramatization is further juiced up by
speculation, if what will be held is a general election or a
Presidential one. Interest rates have been pegged low and attempts are
made to hold down prices of consumer goods with government intervention.
Opposition parties have formed worker alliances and were 'working to
rule' or threatening to take on strike action to claim what is presented
as their just demands. GST plus concession is hanging on a thin thread
and there is talk of our depending on a more diversified economy to fill
in any void from a fall out. The IDPs are being resettled surely but
slowly and strong calls are being made by the President for
re-establishing unity within our diversity through a fast forward
program of social and economic development. The focus is on affected and
backward areas. What we see amidst all of this, is a mixed bag of
determination, intrigue, sense and nonsense.
As you like it
William Shakespeare in his play 'As you like it' said thus; "All the
world's a stage; And all the men and women merely players. They have
their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many
parts". How very true; too many men and women in politics play varied
roles, like good and bad actors do and make this world of ours, their
stage.
We the audience have no choice but to pay dearly to see them play and
watch as they make their exits and entrances, only sometimes being able
to determine the 'when and how' they are made. The Bard in 'Hamlet' also
quipped "The devil hath power; to assume a pleasing shape".
He made us see how, in Macbeth, the good turn ugly and treason
becomes the order of the day. Where friend becomes foe almost overnight,
for lust and greed for power is what drives it. We also must not forget
the words of poetess Emily Dickinson that "A wounded deer leaps the
highest".
The rascal judge
In the midst of all of this reigns Azdak the rascal judge, the
character created by Bertolt Brecht for his play 'The Caucasian Chalk
Circle'; brilliantly adapted and played by Late Henry Jayasena, who left
our midst only last week, in his own version of it, as 'Hunuvataye
Kathawa'.
Announcing Azdak's entrance Brecht had his narrator sing out loud;
"All mankind should love each other; But bring an ax when you talk to
your brother; What miracles of preaching, a good sharp blade can do?;
His honor of the high court knew; And understood it too!
When the sharks the sharks devour; Little fish will have their hour;
Tis fishy to fix the scales of power; Thankfully, he's in the ivory
tower; The poor man's magistrate... ;Who's the man to seal your fate;
The one, the only potentate; Who's the wise? Who's the great?; Who Can
it be?
Who can it be? ; Azdak!". Elsewhere in the play he had Azdak in a
court scene exclaim in disgust, at the dichotomy he is faced in his
world of corruption and disorder with the lines "Terrible is the
temptation to do good..".
He then had him extend his hand to the accused with a gesture of
inviting a bribe with the phrase; "I take".
Guessing games
Referring to war, Brecht is quoted to have said "War is like love, it
always finds a way" and again quipped with deep sarcasm; "Why be a Man,
when you can be a success?" In his play 'The Three Penny Opera' he
stated "For the villainy of the world is great, and a man has to run his
legs off to keep them from being stolen out from underneath him". Is
that not why, we all have had to tolerate our political leaders when
they play their guessing games and indulge in their antics, day in day
out?
The Bard; all time great of English literature, sheds more light in
our attempt to understand the ups and downs of what happens on our
political stage. Some of them are "I hate ingratitude more in a man;
than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness; or any taint of vice whose
strong corruption; inhabits our frail blood"; "Glory is like a circle in
the water; Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself ;Till by broad
spreading it disperses to naught" and advised thus with words of wisdom
"He who has injured thee was either stronger or weaker than thee; If
weaker, spare him; if stronger, spare thyself". The American playwright
Tennessee Williams touched on the wily depths of human actions with the
lines "We have to distrust each other; It is our only defense against
betrayal".
Get off my back
The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy aptly described the reality of the
world in which we live, where exploitation is rampant, with the words "I
sit on a man's back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure
myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot
by all possible means - except by getting off his back".
Hearts and souls
In the midst of it all, what is most comforting is this thought of
Mahatma Gandhi, where he identified that "A nation's culture resides in
the hearts and in the soul of its people". Given this truism, we can in
the least, be hopeful that our political culture must reflect our own
collective desire and that we have the courage and the will to steer our
own destiny for in his own words "Each of us must be the change, we wish
to see in our world".
A word for peace
In this most complex political canopy of ours, these words of The
Buddha from the Kalama Suthra in the Anguththara Nikaya, will be of
immense value to us in making sense of the nonsense around us "...don't
go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical
conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering
views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our
teacher.'
When you know for yourselves that, 'These things are unskilful; these
things are blameworthy; these things are criticized by the wise; these
things, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering' - then
you should abandon them" and The Buddha word "Better than a thousand
hollow words, is one word that brings peace". |