The politics of Greed

Greed, which has been  obvious in all sections of society in the past few decades has been responsible for the ruin of our nation. Greed for power is even more dangerous, and I fail to comprehend how those who were at the helm of the ship of state for two terms, cushioned by the grandeur, perks and privileges of their position, and should never have contested for a third where they met with rejection which they cannot accept are still clamouring for a return. They should have made a dignified exit after the second term,which would have earned them a measure of respect even from those who were against their policies and politics. 

This is what their predecessors in that office, the late Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, D.B. Wijetunge and Chandrika did with dignity. It is obvious that the moment that the pedestal on which he stood for so long had finally crumbled came as a totally unexpected  surprise to him and his coterie of advisers. One must always accept and expect that the scales of life can tip in a single moment, especially in politics. The greatest joke is asking the government to give the power to him! Do they think we have such short memories and  have forgotten the rampant corruptions, abductions, thuggery, intimidation and murders of those horrific years? Imprisoning of a war hero on false charges, merely because he dared to contest the Presidency and treating him like a criminal in an inhumane fashion. 

Did they think then of the heartbreak and tears of his family? Those dark years were the worst in our nation’s history. 

The war victory, in which they never fought on the front was an excuse and a reason for them to live like Emperors on the fat of the land, letting their stooges, families and spoilt brats ride roughshod over the rule of law. The power they held was feudal which conferred corruption on their faithful stooges. Others shouting their heads off are a learned academic,  a Rhodes Scholar and others hailing from respected lineage who  should know better. The other is the joker in the pack who once acclaimed that a family could live on Rs. 2,500 a month! There are others behaving like pet dogs, lapping at their master’s heels. The less said about them the better. All of them buried their heads in the sand like ostriches during the atrocities practised by the previous regime. 

When I think of them, I recall two famous Churchillian phrases. He once explained a  lie as ’Terminological inexactitude’ and again referred to those who indulged in shooting their mouths off without thought as those who spent too little time on thought  and far too much time on words! Truth seems to be a total stranger to them.  Having filled the government sector with their cronies for the past few decades, they now try to derail the government with acts of sabotage. The lack of maintenance in their period of office were also reasons for breakdowns in various essential services. The public must be made aware of these lapses for which they are attempting to put the blame on the government in power. Politics may be a game to some, but it is essential that one sticks to the rules -- whether in power or not. 

The rulers of the previous  regime believed that they were invincible, which  no politician ever is. They were also adept manipulators of facts. The basest, vilest, most sadistic impulses of man were exercised  during their time. They must learn to accept that the sharp blade of political reality has changed the landscape of their lives, through their actions of putting self and family before the nation.
We are now at long last living in an atmosphere of Peace with a sincere effort of pursuing permanent reconciliation. We have the freedom to speak or write as we feel without the fear of intimidation, abduction or white vans. We have a  President and Prime Minister who lead simple lives and are not interested in flamboyant, extravagant lifestyles at public expenses.

As was mentioned recently in the media, it was disgusting to watch the behaviour of those who participated in a rally of the Joint Opposition. Those who went as onlookers, not as supporters report that many of those present were under the influence of alcohol which was freely distributed to them. It was a vulgar display of showmanship using bad  and abusive language, which was a hallmark of the previous government. In politics, nothing is yours by right; the word politics is derived from the Greek word politikos, which means the art of belonging to the people. What was common during the past regime was an unmistakable desire for conquest, an urge for conflict and trying to create trouble and divide other political parties, relentlessly pursuing their greed for permanent power. When one indulges in doing wrong, it inevitably comes back to hit you. Honour and integrity are qualities which are essential for leadership, not boastful arrogance and rampant corruption. The conduct of public affairs in their time was most certainly for private advantage.

I end  by quoting from a poem by Longfellow which was sent to the late Winston Churchill by the late President Roosevelt during the darkest days of World War II and never left Churchill’s desk.
‘Sail on O ship of State, Sail on O union strong and great.

 Humanity with all is fears, Is hanging  breathless on thy fate’.