A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, May 3, 2020
Coronavirus: Conspiracy Theories Or Conspiracy Actions?

Accusation against China on the origin, source and spread of the Coronavirus (or
Covid-19, in medical jargon) – even though logically and rationally
deduced or derived based on facts and the chronological events in front
of us – are being dismissed by some individuals as well as by some
authorities as speculation.
They quickly, easily term them as “Conspiracy Theories” and bucket them
so, without further consideration, thought or evaluation.
Some do so because of their already entrenched opinions—some rightly
formed too–against US, due to it being instrumental in aiding, abetting
and perpetuating internal conflicts and destructive wars in certain
countries for its own ends —for its objectives of world domination,
geopolitical, strategic and economic interests, promotion of arms industries and expansion of its corporate conglomerates.
This anathema towards US has been further accentuated in some by their
dislike for its current President, Donald Trump, added due to his lack
of charisma, awkward demeanour, body language and his tendency to “shoot
off from his hips” on and off with no care for anybody or anything.
Trump is not reflective of the usual image of a US President, especially
him coming in to take over the reins of the country immediately
following the charismatic Barack Obama and falling far short of the
latter’s oratorical skills and demeanour.
I concur with their above perceptions of US and President Trump.
However, what I disagree with is the labelling or even the perception
that if you condemn or question the actions of China, you are pro US and
a lackey of US and, going further, that of Western imperialism.
And, let us not forget that US was always so and the Presidents elected
in the recent past too, despite rhetoric and optimistic expectations of
them, have mostly ended serving the same geopolitical, strategic,
economic and financial objectives.
The only difference is that the previous presidents have taken cover in
niceties of words –in what could be called ‘politico-speak’, or
‘political double-speak’ and well- behaved demeanour; whereas Trump is
blunt, does not mince words or resort to niceties in his expressions. He falls far short in charisma, demeanour and oratorical skills.
Trump has to contend with the opposition Democrats, who would adopt
strategies to dethrone him in the impending Presidential elections in
November and in that process denounce him and his policies, statements
and actions; China’s President Xi Jinpeng (who is said to be ‘Life-time-
President’—an anachronism!) — do not have these political compulsions
and limitations, thrusts and pulls to contend with.
Trump is also symptomatic of an acute dearth of true leaders and
leadership nowadays in many so called democratic countries, to whom one
can look up to as a model and who really take the people of their
countries in particular, and humanity in general, towards, peace,
prosperity and progress. Most of them are crooked and are veterans in
duplicity and hypocrisy — “playing for the gallery” with cheap populism,
blinding the people with ignorance in order to attain and remain in
power, also shamelessly extending undue positions and privileges for
their families, cohorts and sycophants. — all at the expense of the
long-term interest and welfare of the country and the people.
Where I would depart is from the attitude and actions of those who while
they justifiably condemn US and its President, directly or indirectly
condone China and rush to ignore or absolve it of any wrong doings.
Both US & China aren’t saints!
If US is considered as a “wolf”, China is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” —
both competing for the same objectives. Only the paths and tactics
adopted are different – that of US is sometimes covert but mostly overt,
and that of China always covert and ever subtle.
One can easily identify a wolf and take protective measures from being
devoured, but it is very difficult to see through the designs of a wolf
in sheep’s clothing—and only once entrapped in full in its claws, we
would realise that it is also a wolf, not easy or even possible to
extricate ourselves from it.
US does its expansion on the ideology of democracy and free enterprise;
China does it by an autocratic set-up of governance with a life-time
President and a compliant and sycophantic politburo under the cover of
ideology of its own brand of perverted communism, and trampling
democratic norms and institutions.
US interferes in other countries and exploits on the pretext of democracy and restoration of human rights for its own ends; hina,
on the other hand, having no constraints of a free media or democratic
institutions, seeks and props up corrupt and greedy leaders of countries
which have been rendered poor by their own leaders (and side-lined by
US for some reasons) to achieve the same ends as US. It sets firm foot
through enormous bribes and long-terms debts that tie these countries so
as to be compliant and submissive to its interests, that include
opening its doors unreservedly for its products, people, and transport,
including its unhindered access to their military ships and aircrafts.
China, in addition, while exploiting the natural resources and assets
with the aid of the corrupt leaders to its advantage, also mostly
employs its own people as labour force in their projects in other
countries including in those that they fund through their loans. It is
not a natural mobility but an organised movement of people by a
government, despite availability of labour of that sort in the
respective countries, in the name of efficiency; but indirectly getting
back some part of their investment and the advantageous spin-off effects
of having its people in large numbers in other countries.
US engineers regime changes to serve its interests; China sustains corrupt regimes for the same purposes.
There is production and proliferation of arms and ammunitions and the building of armed might by US; so is by China.
China is involved in the tests on sophisticated atomic weapons in its province of Jinjiang as does US in its territory.
US supports Israel and deploys its armed might to intimidate and exert
its domination in the Middle Eastern countries; China supports Pakistan,
a country
run effectively by military junta, even helping to enhancing latter’s
atomic warfare capabilities and propping it up in order to dent India
which acts a bulwark against China’s expansionism. Also, China deploys
its military might in South China Seas intimidating India, Japan,
Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries of the Far East, jeopardising
peace, security and stability in that region.
To US, Cuba is its sworn enemy and determined not to allow to raise its head; to China it is Taiwan, determined to trample it.
They both aren’t saints!
–Wrong is wrong, Evil is evil—be it West, East, North or South!
The
moral dilemma that one is faced with in modern times is that one is
given the choice of not between “right” and “wrong” but, “two wrongs”.
Unfortunately, therefore, when one opposes or rejects one wrong, it is
construed and labelled as support to the other wrong! – A precarious
position indeed!
Need for Impartiality & Objectivity
Therefore, irrespective of our notions of US and its leaders or the West
or China or Russia, or any country for that matter, there is an
imperative need for impartial and objective analysis by each and every
one whose “souls are not yet sold”.
This earth continues to suffer a dearth of proper thinking and necessary
actions to follow up with, because of the propaganda, falsehood and
lies that are continuously heaped on every aspect of our lives through
the power of money and the capacity for reach through propaganda.
We do not know whether we are dismissing the truths as falsehoods or accepting falsehoods as truths.
It is easy and comfortable to dismiss as coincidences or conspiracy
theories, even those matters that have to be further given thoughts and
contemplation.
We do it at our own peril and the peril of the humanity as a whole! The
danger is, the real victim is the “truth” –the urge, the search for the
truth and getting at it is denied!
Some Questions to Ponder

