The Sinhala Buddhist will hit us next in 2020

This is so easy, so predictable. Even a five-year-old Muslim kid would make this prediction effortlessly. Anything that’s psychologically overwhelming becomes easily predictable through a process known as conditioning. Classical conditioning whose teachers are many today, is the first type of learning to be discovered within the behaviourist tradition. The major theorist in the development of classical conditioning is Ivan Pavlov and his contemporary Sigmund Freud.

There is certainly a distinct pattern emerging, not too difficult to comprehend. Inter alia the interplay of demographics is huge. When two national leaders with Buddhist credentials come forward as main candidates for example at a presidential election in Sri Lanka, the insecure one plays the “entitlement” and “Sinhala exceptionalism” card. This strategic stance extends a lot of leverage. Coupled with an attempt to induce fear psychosis in the minorities the mantra forms a healthy equation. 

Those that want to remain in power can subvert any political system. More detrimentally people can be turned idiots if one of the popular candidates is a polished and veteran demagogue. This is the only reason I find democracy infinitely imperfect. Basic intelligence is not a widely distributed commodity, that’s why we have Donald Trump at the helm today.

Come 2020 the election year, those incessantly feeding the ravenous “entitlement” and “exceptional” appetite will release their stashed dough to create havoc once again so that they could motivate an obtuse and nescient mob to accomplish certain essential milestones.  The usual slogans “they are taking our land” “they are mixing vandha beheth”. 

This is essential “political investment” for some to make their own people idiots for political gain. This way the strategy could garner most of the Sinhala Buddhist votes and minorities vote could also go communal and a clear winner emerges. 

The residual sediments of the afore-stated lethal politics still lingers though not active as it should be. We have not seen its full force. The psychologically tormenting and ubiquitous “orange revolution” is at work though deprived of full throttle.

To continue on the mental torture phenomenon one of my friends told that his seven-year-old daughter associates the colour orange with violence. She hugs her parents the moment she sees anyone walking, talking or running in orange. This is an unfortunate development.

Like the ominous footprint of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), «the Army of Defence for Israel,» the criminal military force of the State of Israel who terrorise Muslim households in Gaza and West Bank and other occupied territories. This deadly outfit enters homes of Palestinians in the cover of night and creates psychologically torturous mayhem. I am sure the world has seen and heard the shrieks and screams of young children and women. A strange parallel.

The priceless gifts some sections of the Sinhala Buddhist continue to give so lovingly to the Muslims does bear ample testimony of their profound gratitude. Valiantly and steadfastly committing to uphold the territorial integrity of the country, Muslims stood firm. Sri Lanka our motherland. A great reward indeed for the Muslim leadership who constantly reassured the youth not to take any violent recourse despite persistent and pressing provocation. Previously by the LTTE and now by some white-clad scoundrels and their easily malleable protégés. 

Are these people so amnesic? Some of the most trustworthy intelligence in the Army and military were Muslims. Some of the best fighters were Muslims. My alma mater Zahira College Colombo gave a lot to the Army in terms of bravery only to be bitten by a bunch of treacherous scoundrels. The Kattankudy massacre was too much for the Muslims. To be eliminated at a place of worship was simply unthinkable. Many incidents I can cite, but what’s the point? It’s history repeating itself.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the Minister in charge of Law and Order (at the time of writing), I have some words for you. I had a lot of respect for you. I was once your ardent supporter not anymore.

My Prime Minister, sir, is a 45-year-old bright spark and one heck of a human being. When you couldn’t stop your own people from trespassing an UN-funded refugee camp and started to relentlessly dehumanise a bunch startled Rohingya refugees my Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent planes to Syria to bring them to Canada and give them a new life. And he was there in person to receive them at the airport. 

When the unruly mob in Sri Lanka with scant respect for the law caused havoc and judged innocent Muslims as being terrorists and meted them with everything extra-judicial, my Prime Minister settled a case involving a Canadian inmate of Gitmo for $ 10.5 million because in his own words: “The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is for all Canadians and must be respected at all cost.”

The Charter is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982. These are not mere words in a piece of paper but palpable rights enjoyed by all Canadians.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe you have been at the helm of your party and the country for the last 25 years but my Prime Minister Trudeau is just into the third year of his first term and some of his policies are suicidal politically as the opposition takes him to task. But the people know he is doing the right thing and that’s what matters. He is not greedy for power. After all, what’s power for if you’re unable to protect your people? Finally I wish to state to my Sinhala Buddhist brethren: Don’t try to destroy the economy of the Muslims. It’s the same God who gives them who gives you. Another issue that’s worrying the Sinhala Buddhists is the supposedly disproportionate breeding of Muslims. I addressed this issue many times and wish to address it again. We are still less than 10% of the population according to the last census. If this is still a problem, who am I to tell a people how to increase their population?

Please, please, please do what has to be done to increase the Buddhist population. Two countries in the world have already legalised polygamy, polygyny to be precise. Eretria and Tanzania. Let Sri Lanka be the third and let this action prevent the Buddhists from casting a “vapara” eye at the Muslims. Incidentally by legalising polygamy the Sri Lankan Government will be implementing a proposal made by the Most Reverend, Most Disciplined, Most Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara.

I surely would want my favourite Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to take advantage when it becomes law. A true opportunity for him to save his race if he indeed feels threatened.