Focus

Cowards of Colombo

The people that can pronounce democracy don't vote. We just complain over cocktails and hope that the storm will pass us by. We worry about the tragedy in the north and don't donate a single sanitary napkin to the IDPs. We complain about the quality of our politicians and don't write a cheque for anyone good. We worry about corruption and dutifully pay bribes to drive drunk. We are a city of cowards and you need to wake up. 

If you care about the civilian tragedy in the north then do something. The Sri Lanka Red Cross is accepting donations to A/C No. 8860012, SLRC-IDP Contributions, Bank of Ceylon, Hyde Park Branch, Colombo 10. And donate to the troops, because they are sacrificing for you. Just SMS 'api' to 8877 (Dialog) and donate Rs. 100. The tsunami displaced over 500,000 Sri Lankans and united our nation in compassion and service.

 And we don't lift a finger

This long war has displaced about 500,000 (according to internal-displacement.org) and we don't lift a finger. Your fellow citizens are displaced, they are disabled and they are diseased. If you truly feel their suffering then do something. People don't have rubber slippers or clean underwear. Our soldiers need someplace better to come home to. There are small things that you can actually do.

If you can't stand the politics in this country, support better politicians. It's actually quite simple. Just find a politician without a record of murder, assault or rape and support them. The bar is low. And offer more support than words, because they put their lives on the line for you. Write them a cheque.

Use your vote

Call 10 of your friends. And stand your own self in line and vote. If the whole thing still disgusts you then run for office. It is simply not enough to complain about 'those politicians' anymore. This is not a cocktail party and things are not all right. This is people's lives. This is your children's future. If you see something wrong, do something about it.

If you're paying enough tax to buy a minister a car, you can pick up the phone and tell him what you think. If they ask you to buy Diaspora bonds you can demand that the jumbo cabinet be halved and Mihin Air be grounded.

You are meek as lambs

You Colombians might feel powerful in your Pajeros, but as your own businesses face collapse you are meek as lambs. You will sacrifice the future to have one sale today, and thank them for the privilege. There are people living on one meal a day and good workers losing jobs. If not for our people, will you not act to save your own money?

If you worry about freedom of speech then speak up. A bundle of sticks is harder to snap than a lonely twig. The few brave journalists we have are exposed and alone, but they don't have to be. If you join them.

They say that evil triumphs when good men do nothing. Well, better men than you or I have died for this very paper. And we mumble curses into our coffee. Speak up, speak out. Write a letter to the paper, write a letter to your provincial councilor, start a blog, send emails, go to Lasantha's vigil each Thursday.

 Write a line or two in support

Underpaid, under-appreciated journalists put their lives on the line for you. Write a line or two of support. This is 2009. You don't need a printing press, just press print, or send.

At the very least stop the self-censorship - telling writers and the youth not to speak out, to be careful, that they're going to die. The censorship of kith and kin is more potent than motorbikes and guns because it works from within. It may make sense for your nephew or friend, but as the silence spreads it will poison us all.

 Some citizens are working to break this fear and it's very hard when loved ones tell you to be afraid. If you can't support us then at least don't slow us down. As Bob Dylan said - don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall, for he that gets hurt, will be he who has stalled. There is a wheel in spin. Do not stall the engine.

Dear Colombo, you are cowards and you are fools. Lasantha died for you. Soldiers die for you. Women and children die for you. Even cricketers almost died for you. You won't live for yourselves.