Mind your Cleavage!

Mind your Cleavage!

Times have changed. Tsunami’s have come and gone. Waves of generations have crashed out of our shores seeking greener pastures in far off lands. The slip is showing. Por Favor!

Tolerance, rather than a virtue that pulsates common sense debate and understandings of differences, has unfortunately become a norm that chooses to enforce rather than respect. It is seen as a gesture that groups of people have to ‘put up with,’ within certain limits, towards people different from themselves – the poor, the elderly, the disabled, refugees, ethnic groups, indigenous people, theists, beggars, and even migrants. A thousand apologies!

There used to be an era where homes were fenced by half walls or hedges, over which neighbors and people passing by would stand across and chat. Security, privacy, and the threat of intrusion hardly crossed people’s minds. We used to play cricket on the streets and the neighborhood mums used to support us so gladly with cookies and lemonade. Xmas, Deevali, Vesak, Eid, and Aluth Avurudhu were all celebrated with great pomp, pageantry, and passion, filled with fun and frolic by one and all. Mum was saddled with making Watalappam to whet the palettes of the boys and girls in the neighborhood. Other Mums had to make Cake, Kavum, and Kesari on other festive events. Jolly Good!

Racial insecurity, ethnic disharmony, and the massive influx of high rise condominiums, within an environment of fear and security, have built Chinese walls between peoples. It is time to reassess the development process beyond the second hand approach of handouts to the excluded. Sadly, the cleavage is widening. Oh Blimey!

If teamwork means strength, then, keeping the bodice tightly clasped across our shoulders has to be the right way. Aso!

Fazli Sameer

Sep 2019