Two Days till she goes off to Sri Lanka
July 26th 2007 00:11
Two Days till she goes off to Sri Lanka
In two days my wife will be heading off to Sri Lanka and despite the news headlines and ongoing strife in the country. The newspapers and television stories from countries at war often does not reflect the ordinary lifestyle and existence. Image and existence are often two different things. Why do I believe that she will be safe even in Colombo, or traveling around to places like Kandy in the high country? The answer is experience.
Headlines do not even try to tell what the entire situation is, nor can they possibly cover every situation. The lifestyle and normal existence are often not news worthy because they are competing for space with every other disaster on the planet. Sometime I don’t bother reading the news from Sri Lanka for a few days just to let the dust settle and common sense float to the top again. Hysteria is a common reaction to news of a bomb blast from hysterical people. Panic sells news stories faster than quiet reflection and analysis. So it is important to know that editors will be looking at sensations and shocks as their ticket to easy money. What is not tainted by money is often ruined by the censorship that is enforced due to the state of emergency powers. Anything left that is not biased could be described as the remnants of the truth. What this means is that if you believe everything in the papers you are going to be unnecessarily depressed.
The reality of Sri Lanka is not just the war between the government forces and the LTTE (Tamil Tigers). Even that conflict has been simplified to make it digestible to Western eyes and ears. The reality for this nation is that it is very much like any other nation. People get up in the morning, they go to school, work, university; businesses operate; busses move populations; train rattle along the lines and pedestrians create aimless herds. Had the situation been different then there would be no nation at all. The trains would stop; the school all close and even the international airport would shut down. Yet despite the danger of air attacks the International Airport remains open.
On my wife’s last trip I heard the news of a bomb blast in Colombo city knowing that she was going there that day. She was quite relaxed about the whole situation because the blast occurred a few kilometers away. Our close friend was a little disturbed because he driven his car passed the same location of the blast less than 30 minutes before it went off. Yet by the following day the incidence was forgotten. Stopping for every terrorist threat or bomb blast would completely cripple a person’s life to the point of not being able to do anything. There is a kind of acceptance in people minds that even though chaos exists it should not stop your plans in life. Otherwise everyone would be at home hiding under the bed on the remote chance that they would be killed by a bomb. In comparison to the dangers of driving in the insane traffic it is very small.
What does this all mean? It means that the risk of going to Sri Lanka can be assessed with some degree of predictability. Hysteria and fear are just personal factor but the actual risk is another matter. By understanding the actual risks rather than the hysterical headlines I can see her get on the flight with a greater degree of confidence than the headlines would lead me to believe. As such I expect her trip to be more positive than staying in Australia too afraid to seek any adventure.
One of my favorite works of art from Sri Lanka. Painted by a man consumed with fear 1500 years ago
Headlines do not even try to tell what the entire situation is, nor can they possibly cover every situation. The lifestyle and normal existence are often not news worthy because they are competing for space with every other disaster on the planet. Sometime I don’t bother reading the news from Sri Lanka for a few days just to let the dust settle and common sense float to the top again. Hysteria is a common reaction to news of a bomb blast from hysterical people. Panic sells news stories faster than quiet reflection and analysis. So it is important to know that editors will be looking at sensations and shocks as their ticket to easy money. What is not tainted by money is often ruined by the censorship that is enforced due to the state of emergency powers. Anything left that is not biased could be described as the remnants of the truth. What this means is that if you believe everything in the papers you are going to be unnecessarily depressed.
The reality of Sri Lanka is not just the war between the government forces and the LTTE (Tamil Tigers). Even that conflict has been simplified to make it digestible to Western eyes and ears. The reality for this nation is that it is very much like any other nation. People get up in the morning, they go to school, work, university; businesses operate; busses move populations; train rattle along the lines and pedestrians create aimless herds. Had the situation been different then there would be no nation at all. The trains would stop; the school all close and even the international airport would shut down. Yet despite the danger of air attacks the International Airport remains open.
On my wife’s last trip I heard the news of a bomb blast in Colombo city knowing that she was going there that day. She was quite relaxed about the whole situation because the blast occurred a few kilometers away. Our close friend was a little disturbed because he driven his car passed the same location of the blast less than 30 minutes before it went off. Yet by the following day the incidence was forgotten. Stopping for every terrorist threat or bomb blast would completely cripple a person’s life to the point of not being able to do anything. There is a kind of acceptance in people minds that even though chaos exists it should not stop your plans in life. Otherwise everyone would be at home hiding under the bed on the remote chance that they would be killed by a bomb. In comparison to the dangers of driving in the insane traffic it is very small.
What does this all mean? It means that the risk of going to Sri Lanka can be assessed with some degree of predictability. Hysteria and fear are just personal factor but the actual risk is another matter. By understanding the actual risks rather than the hysterical headlines I can see her get on the flight with a greater degree of confidence than the headlines would lead me to believe. As such I expect her trip to be more positive than staying in Australia too afraid to seek any adventure.
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Comment by David
Firstly, the painting. I'm no art expert, but I'm a bit baffled by how an image like that could be painted by a man consumed with fear, unless its a symbolic painting of prophetic fear over modern governments legalising homosexuality and approving same sex marriages.
Are you sure your wife isn't going to Sri Lanka to avoid the domestic dangers of living with a blogger?
David ...
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Good question?
I think the best answer is no man is totally evil and no man totally good.
It is a true story about a place called Sigiria
I'll write some thing about this story sometime soon. In short he murdered his father to steal the crown due to his brother; Built a rock fortress, had a thousand wives but always lived in fear of his brother returning to take revenge. The way the story turns out explains much about fear and the dualism of human nature. Even the greatest artists can do terrible things.
My wife escaping a blogger? What's to fear. My sharp wit ? That is no match for her lessons in body combat.
Comment by David
Enough with private details of your marital bedroom combat.
Time to change the subject to matters more salutary for the born-again bachelor.
I'll look forward to the forthcoming post about the painting.
David ...
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Can we in the USA, Aus, etc escape white-black thinking and avoid the propaganda to have "endless war" to "wipe all of them out everywhere"? Sri Lanka and other British Commonwealth nations of the area are very familiar with divide and conquer methods of control. We may survive if we dump Cheney now and avoid an Iran war by Jan 2009.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
In a way we in the west are lucky because we can still see the difference between propaganda and much of the news. I think a free media has helped a lot in that regard.
Looking at every issue on black and white is as bad as looking at everything in tones of gray. The problem is everyone seems to have the answer but in the end the answer never seems to fit every situation.
Unfortunately in many cases the ordinary folk can only stand by and watch with dismay at what our so called leader do.
Yet from my viewpoint the world is not as bad as it looks on TV.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
unfortunately, if the probabilities hit and something happens, it's a nasty experience...
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
So you dn't recommend running around and waving my hand in the air screaming?
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for the comment and encouragement.
I have no doubt that my wife will be safe other wise I would not let her go. (Not that I could do much to stop her)
You get to know how to stay out of trouble by sticking with friends etc.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
There's no substitute for good ol' common sense is there. Going anywhere in the world could be considered dangerous. But if you take reasonable precautions you'll generally be fine.
If you're unlucky and get caught up in something.....well you don't have to be visiting a supposedly 'war torn' country for that to happen. I'd rather use my common sense and travel places than sit at home in fear.
Kylie
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Thanks for your comments.
Common sense is what lets people enjoy with out being a complete dork about it.
Actually it is now one day to go. I wish I was going too, but circumstances are such.
Yes I love the adventure of travel and fear is anything but an adventure.