History repeats, failure to failure

"The great theatre of the world has a small personnel. In historic costumes, with the language of various epochs in their mouths, the same figures keep appearing, playing in a few eternal conflicts

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OUR dreary post-independence history seems to be that of a country going round in circles; a lot of posturing, a big noise, but a poor performance.

In self-justification, it is argued by some politicians that Sri Lanka had advanced relative to what prevailed in 1948. This claim is undeniably true; we are now not what we were 70 years ago. This would be true of every country on this planet, they have all advanced in these 70 years. However, this comparison is to only our country, in relation to ourselves then in 1948, to now. They don't compare our progress against countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore or China, the resurgent Asia.

If they were to, the uncomfortable truth will hit them between the eyes, the wretched results of a leadership much wanting. In a dispassionate analysis of our relative progress against these Asian dynamos, we would look like a ramshackle three-wheeler loaded with clueless passengers and a scoundrel for a driver; an embarrassment trudging along on the fast moving Asia highway meant for sleek cars with turbo charge. The passengers don't seem to know where they want to go, the driver is taking them for a ride. From the looks of it, they would all be delighted to abandon the three-wheeler for a powerful car.

We may be pitied, but not respected.