“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture are like a tree without roots” – Marcus Garvey
We live in a changing world where our island has been steadily assaulted by various trend s. Ranging from cool to chic to bizarre we can see the influence of various trends invading the minds of our vulnerable islanders. Of course, change is vital in progressive growth.
So, where do we stand on the platform of culture these days? To enlighten you, culture is a set of ideas, customs and social behaviours’ which are part of a community. We in sunny paradise have a beautiful symphony of culture which has been nourished by four major religions with extra input from being colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Today, our cultural ‘system’ which is centuries old, is under influence from Western nations (or is that the excuse we use to hide our own deviant mannerisms). Indeed, there is much to learn from our dear friends in the West, but then again where does one strike the socially accepted balance? Each individual has his/her own perception of good and bad and cool!
Society under pressure
If you walk into a mall today, you can identify various expressions and belief systems from people’s attire. Clothing is one yardstick to measure, or at least understand to an extent the attitude of the wearer. I see women in saree, their jackets have been ‘architectured’ to accentuate curves. Women wearing black nail polish a Gothic trend (did the Celtics ever arrive here?), shorts that are designed to reveal ‘Colombo’ thighs (this would have caused your grandma a heart attack 30 years ago) and tank tops which expose gym toned bosoms that display a sliver belly ring. On my last visit to Bellanwilla temple with a friend I was shocked to see many devotees clad in white with their coloured bras resonating from within, certainly disdainful. The men have their own interpretation of being in vogue. Elevated pony tails with the tips tinted blonde (akin to a poodle carried by Paris Hilton) and beards that would be the envy of pirates. These ‘liberated’ types are the ones who listen to death metal music and watch bloody horror movies. Ah, then again, there are bearded souls in forest hermitages and defiant communists. Alas, one’s discernment is tested these days. When I was a schoolboy the headmaster said a woman in a short skirt was an adulterous predator, and today, the lady netball coach wears a shorter skirt. Being ‘inked’ is a cool trend today. Four decades ago a tattoo would have the Police sergeant eye you with suspicion. Some have no clue of the symbols they display. There are pious ones with tattoos’ of crosses and dhamma chakaras going on sacred pilgrimages. Even the ancient Illuminati had a secret tattoo!
I have lived in America for three years and been exposed to a world of fashion from pulsating New York to sentimental Louisiana. I happily wandered the streets of Austin, Texas seeing beautiful brunettes and scintillating blondes. I straddled the beaches of Florida with my fishing rod where some folks swim in their birthday suits.
My point is this - in the west, clothes are worn primarily for comfort and secondly, to adjust to the climates of winter, spring summer and fall. Except for the divas of Hollywood the people don’t use their clothes to brand any self exalting image. Gosh, the butcher at Wal-Mart wears a suit, no big deal! Sadly today, in Sri Lanka people tend to identify and greet a person by his appearance and secondly, by the brand of vehicle driven. A classic example of this silly behaviour is evident in some of Colombo’s hotels where the concierge staff sizes you up by your ‘grand entry’ into the lobby. You can’t assume and judge people. I met a tattooed man in Tennessee and found he was an ordained priest. I was surprised by a Professor of Marine Biology wearing shorts at Disneyworld, humbly cleaning a massive tank that houses a whale. It’s time that our folks remembered that clothes are not a measure of any form of perceived status. Of course, one must dress neatly and modestly.
Fusion (confusion) Cuisine
Food is another area where there is much drama without any culinary essence. I have written in the past about the way people use food and eating habits to put on a show. As a former culinary student I can boldly say, Sri Lankan cuisine in its authentic form is world class. I have met foreign chefs who have asked me for local recipe books to learn the rich heritage of our spices. Again, it is with regret I note that many younger folk seem to resent our flavour laden curries and rice. I appreciate global cuisine, having been exposed to many regions. I can’t fathom how eating a pizza or burger can elevate your social status. I see this often in the predominantly Tamil area of Wellawatte where young ones enriched by dollars (sent by relatives who work 12 hour shifts) desire fast food and look down on their Jaffna cuisine which has a glorious cooking tradition. Fast food must supplement a busy lifestyle.
Social media and ethics
Ethics are a system of accepted beliefs which control behaviour. It is pathetic to note how using social media has become a silly trend. Some are so obsessed with Facebook that they dedicatedly chart every action of their day and upload selfies. The addiction to selfies is now classified as Narcissism (a mental disorder) in the US. If you’re not Kyle Jenner you don’t need to have that many uploads. Mark Zukerburg built an empire by founding Facebook. If you want to copy the west copy his business model.
It irritates me to see village youth who can’t speak English asking each other if they have “FB”? (Pronounced pacebook with vernacular accent). Guys, come out of it! It is nice to interact online but get your priorities right. Enrol in a decent English class and improve your language skills. Some are influenced by ‘impressing’ online that they pose in front of other’s big cars.
Social media has caused much hidden sexual dilemma as the young and old chat online, exchanging lewd photos and people advertise wild pool parties. As a nation how much have we shifted from our cultural values? Do our values have the same amount of emotional investment? Does a bhikkhu get a seat in the crowded train? Younger folk consume much alcohol and smoking is another cool trend. Clubbing at night is making a strong resurgence. Has our desire to be accepted by others made us compromise our values? Why do we need their acceptance? Have we Asians become dissociative with our magnificent heritage?
Mahatma Gandhi opined “A nation’s culture resides in the heart and soul of its people”. Today, we don’t have to look at Sigiriya and Dambulla for culture. It is time to look deep within our own minds. How do we face the future and sustain our culture, values and ethics? We must entertain change. We must keep up with decent modern trends. We must keep our national identity as Sri Lankans. As the American Wade Davis said ‘Change is no threat to culture”.