For All My Friends ...................

On this Sacred , Blessing Uduwap Poya Day, i wish entire Universe a Merry ChristMAS!

Is (the) Pen Innocent?

The Open University, Nugegoda celebrated her ‘OPEN DAY’ on the days 10^th, 11^th, and on the 12^th of December 2015. Amongst the events organized by her, the exhibition of the Early Childhood & Primary Education, the department headed by Mrs. D.M.W. Munasinghe took my attention not just because I work for the department but because of the content of the event. And what I learned from its activities, drafting letters to selling tickets was tremendous. Selling tickets taught me the lessons of ‘importance of human contacts’, basics of marketing, fruitfulness of effective communications, why and how some strategies fails, weaknesses of poor marketing strategies (self strategies used in selling tickets)? 

The Exhibition was about ‘Teaching Aids’.  The aids were prepared by both the Students who are following the programmes conducted by the department ( the ‘Certificate in Pre-School Education programme, Advanced Certificate in Pre-School Education programme, the ‘Diploma in Early Childhood & Primary Education’ Programme) under the guidance of the Department authorities, the authorities of the Faculty of Education and the authorities of the University as the principal Instructor in managing and handling both academic and non academic work  and by the experienced teachers who are already active in the field including the teachers of the Supipi Pre-School. Other than them, the whole department crew supported the event. 

There were many events  parallel to the main events, crafted by each and every faculty of the University. For instance debate competitions for school children, and robot competitions also for the school children took attention of every participant in addition to the other cultural and art events such as ‘ kalamanakaranayata wiramaak’  (an interval for management?). Let me not forget the fairs with very spicy and salty pickles to taste.

The Book Stall with Plenty of new and old arrivals took every persons attention. And I think the 'Acts' that was there to sell was equally important for all levels of learners to match their own interests of learning.

I found many good award winning books though I didn’t buy them respecting my poor financial strategies of the month.

So amongst the books that were there for us to buy, ‘is pen innocent’ mEk wysxilo ? / Paena ahinsakada   took my first attention because of the title chosen and of the author of the book, Experienced writer, Ex- editor (?) of Rawaya paper, Victor Ivan. According to my personal opinion, not at all an innocent Pen. 

I think there is no reason for a pen to be innocent unnecessarily, but to be very strong, steady, sword like, very necessarily.  Pen is a right and a responsibility and is not solely a duty. And a pen is not bread winning tool but a heart winning teaching aid.  Pen is to think and ink is to write. very (highly) importantly pens are not to be sold.

Pen is to be used for non judgmental purposes and it is alright to listen to what others say other than hunting knowledge and news and observe what ever the pen pleases but when it comes to reporting the pen should know what to cut and what to keep before the readers.

I once wrote to one of my favorite benefactors, Sunday Observer Magazine’, Pen is mightier than a sword ‘, my first essay published in an English Magazine. The Editor has not done a single change, grammatical.  Perhaps that was because I used not AL Standard English but OL Standard English

Let me dedicate this essay for all SURVIVING PENS AND FOR THE PENS OF THE PAST.

Local Armies and Global Armies and their roles……………..

Recently, I saw an interesting article.  The title of the article questioned something. Is it necessary to re-organize our ARMY according to the needs of the England?(Ada, 15^th December 2015). I couldn’t read the content, unfortunately. But the question as well as what it asked us was mind awakening, I thought.

What is the role of an army of a particular country? Needless to say, that the armies of any country are shouldering responsibility of the ‘SECURITY OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE’. Am I wrong? 

So, the armies of our country have the same responsibility. What does it say, mean, if India says Sri Lanka should re-structuralize their armies the way they want? What does it say, means , if Russia says, Sri Lanka should follow what Russia says or only follow what Russia gives as a security plan of the country? What does it mean, if US says, Sri Lanka should do what they say, not what we want, just because we purchase weapons from them?

We cannot follow any of the above. 

Out Armies should do what they think is right and applicable to our situations.

If you take recent history of  the country, you can understand country’s security situations in two main segments. 

1)    Pre-war era   ( 1976 – 2009)

2)    Post-war era ( 2009 – present) I am not going to talk about early stages of the history of the country. Yet, the role of the army back then cannot be compared with the role they play during Pre-war era. The roles they play , alright to change only according to the current  needs and requirements of the country, very independently. 

No army is planning their inner strategies according to the agendas of other countries am I right?

If you create a global army to address any global issues, then the situation is different. The local armies joining the global armies, according to the visions and missions needs to adjust or change, it’s a different matter. 

Out sky, our sea, our earth, our geographical limit should be protected according to the plans of our own.  Who would understand our geo territories better than us? Who would understand our own people better than us? 

Above theory is applicable and applies to any country of this globe we live.

I know that this world has somewhat became a global war zone.  Russia had to change their security plans and I guess France has another plan or same plan within this global security system we live. UK , for sure has their own plans and Yes India and US too. I do not know what allies they have so far formed. I pray and like to believe that do not keep any chances to talk about any WW III in the future.

I like to beg before any terror groups go for a ‘discussion’. Its time to keep weapons down and welcome every body to a round table. 

Within this global situation we live, it is so hard to maintain a peace zone, believe it or not. Responsibilities of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police haven’t decrease unless it has increased up to sky level.

I see no reasons to decrease the number in every security force. I see no reasons to think we must change our plans according to the agendas or plans of any other country.

Yet, if there is a global need to address or support globe to protect it and its people, who live in what ever region, territory, continent we must give our fullest support.   Not just because they are one of the experienced armies, forces of the world that have gained sky full of experiences , handling such or complex situations well, intelligently and won countries humanitarian needs.

i think i can agree to what John Kerry says

"Muslims entering America must be stopped totally" this is what one of the Presidential candidates ( Republican) has expressed as his views regrading the current situation world wide and in America. In response to that John Kerry says "This statement is not a statement of a real American". ( Reports Irudina paper 13 December 2015)

i have some issues with John  Kerry regarding some of his views related to inner affairs of our country, now and then but here what he says is accurate. specifically America shows her interests towards maintaining world peace. How she deals with maintaining global peace , i too have things to say. Muslims are one of the ethnic groups of world, reside in all most all parts of the world
( Communities, regions, continents etc)

I guess Republican candidate should understand there are groups called terrorists and ethnic groups. Every Muslim is not a terrorist' though you find 'ISIS' group understood as a terrorist group threat to global peace because of their visions and practices. America must promise world that she take every action to protect every innocent Muslim reside in America and have shown no affiliation to terror activities.

There is a certain accepted ways to tackle and handle suspects and procedures to follow according to the International Terrorism Prevention  acts or rules, regulations. i think there are many Muslims reside in America,workstudy in America. If you say that any issues related to current issue can be solved by just not letting any Muslim to enter into America, that is foolish i say.  You need to have required General Knowledge, strategies differentiate terrorists from innocent groups.

i think America needs a better internal plan to secure their country and the globe from any terror hazards but at the same time she should learn to respect every other ethnic group reside under her roof.

sorry i cannot correct any grammar errors due to practical difficulties i face i.e. hackers

i am not going to define the Term American or Sri Lankan here they hold their own definitions and ways of explaining.

I know what ISIS done to the city of humans withbetter understanding , Paris. it is not just Paris i know. I guess ISIS needs to think whether they need to see their own people suffering or living like others happily.

Thanks very much for reading .....................