Tagged by ‘the boy on the run‘ on the five word thread, here’s my response.
Nothing.
It’s strange really. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, having been born during the war I’m finding it hard to accept that it’s actually over. The idea of Sri Lanka not being in a bloody battle is alien to me. Prabharakran’s body, Mahinda making an official anouncement, the celebrations, I haven’t gained closure from any of it.
That being said, there are other reasons as to why the end of the war hasn’t had that much of an impact on me.
Being part of a minority within a minority, I don’t think Sri Lanka has fully accepted us as a part of the nation. Recently, attempts have been made- my community was wedged into the President’s post LTTE speech, it’s been included in newspaper articles as well as the government registration website. However, it would seem that the President hasn’t quite wrapped his head around who we are and how we configure in the scheme of races in the island. Where I’m going with this is simply that I was never made to feel as though I belonged here. While I adore Sri Lanka there’s still a certain degree of detachment I apperceive from the people here.
Also, living in Colombo, I haven’t been exposed to the raw side of the war. In comparsion to the explosions and deaths in the north and east, I’m lead to believe that we’ve seen nothing! I’m not going to pretend to be some Colombo moron and set crackers a light, because honestly what do I know about the death and destruction of war?
I’m just a city dweller who’s been bulwarked from the worst of the war by the limits of the city. Sure, we’ve had our share of Palintonon attacks in the form of sucide bombers, but it’s in vast contrast to what those in the north and east have faced on a daily basis.
The only effect the war has had on us is in the economic perspective.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that the killing has ended. Even if none of the hundreds and thousands of casualities of the 25 year war were related or even connected to me, they were human beings- with families, dreams, aspirations… So you can’t help but feel relieved that it is finally over.
However, I’m not going to pretend that I fully fathom the death, destruction and trauma of the ethnic conflict that plagued the country for more than two decades.
Since I’ve diverged from the original concept of this thread and just about everyone has been tagged as it is… I won’t be tagging anyone. If you haven’t been tagged, consider this an open tag.
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