Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Telling it straight
Nobody will know yet, because it hasn't reached the news. We only know because a few of us heard it. A bomb just went off in Colombo - the first in the capital.
From what information we have, they targeted and killed a member of parliament. No civilians are dead - so far - though I'm not sure about the number injured.
What happens, when this happens? When we're on the "brink of civil war", as BBC News will persuade you? Actually, not too much. A sense of urgency will fill the air, with people talking in whispers of "have you heard ... ?". Then the mobile phone networks will crash, as people phone their loved ones to check that they were not there.
Then the urgency returns. But not towards the situation - towards the next office deadlines. People return to their work. Nobody cancels their plans. They still ask whether I'm going to the full moon celebration party at H2O tonight - and they will still go.
I will still go.
Because what else can we do?
From what information we have, they targeted and killed a member of parliament. No civilians are dead - so far - though I'm not sure about the number injured.
What happens, when this happens? When we're on the "brink of civil war", as BBC News will persuade you? Actually, not too much. A sense of urgency will fill the air, with people talking in whispers of "have you heard ... ?". Then the mobile phone networks will crash, as people phone their loved ones to check that they were not there.
Then the urgency returns. But not towards the situation - towards the next office deadlines. People return to their work. Nobody cancels their plans. They still ask whether I'm going to the full moon celebration party at H2O tonight - and they will still go.
I will still go.
Because what else can we do?
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