Harmony is envious

Mar 06, 2009 Features / Columnists

The Parrot is an ardent cricket fan. This may be an understatement given the many years I have followed and played the game. Over that period I have seen the game evolving and teams reaching new heights and others plummeting.

Gone are the days when teams played 60-over one-day matches; gone are the days when an over comprised eight deliveries; gone are the days when pace bowlers bowled bouncers for an entire over; gone are the days when only the on-field umpires made decisions; gone are the days when people lined up overnight outside Bourda to purchase tickets; gone are the days when all cricketers played for country and pride; gone are the days when West Indies dominated; gone are the days when Dave Martins’ song: “We are the Champions” was played on radio.

The recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, has further catapulted into oblivion the days when players’ safety was not the number one priority. The attack was despicable and cowardly. The cricketers are a group which represents a diverse and cohesive set of Sri Lanka’s representatives in a sport that is growing in popularity.

While they may seem to have the physical attributes of one ethnic group, the Sri Lankan team comprises men of religious and tribal diversities, diversities that provide the nucleus of the team’s strength, a strength that led to harmony, a harmony that, seemingly with the beginning of time, has become a source for envy. This lack of harmony is not confined to Sri Lanka itself, but to other parts of the world.

Billions of dollars have been spent and numerous initiatives launched with the intention to bring peace to troubled areas. Thousands of lives have been lost. Peace in some parts is still elusive and seems distant in the near future. Whenever small gains are achieved, acts like the Lahore attack serve as a negating factor.
Sri Lanka’s history is punctuated with clashes between government forces and the Tamil rebels.

The animosity between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is as old as the partition after independence; wars have been fought. Tensions in the Middle East need no explanation; it’s as age-old as time. Many other countries in that region grapple with the problem of peaceful cohabitation among groups or tribes. Millions died in parts of Africa for similar reasons.

Over the last few years, Islamic rebels with alleged links to Al-Qaeda have threatened the stability of a nuclear-armed Pakistan. This is, and must be, of concern to the rest of the world. The USA has been forceful in articulating their position on curbing global terror. The situation in Iraq reflects such force.
However, despite such efforts, harmony seems like a mirage.

The attack on the Sri Lanka team must be condemned. Cricket in Pakistan and, not to sound pessimistic, in that region will never be the same. Its future there is under threat. Ardent fans like me will indirectly feel the pain of such an attack. The only antidotes for relief are to intensify efforts for peace and for good sense to prevail.

Maybe Guyana can assist in this regard. The religious, ethnic and cultural harmony that permeates can be a shining example to countries that are desperately seeking a solution. Guyana had, and has its problems, but the harmonious co-existence of its diverse people is indeed a source of envy to others. And yet the naysayers would categorise this country as worse than others. You judge. Squawk! Squawk!

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Harmony is envious

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