War’s End, The Numbers Game And Moral Responsibility
Prof. R.S.Perinbanayagam
Since the end of the war there’s been a great deal of discussion about the number of civilians killed in the last days of the conflict. These discussions, it seems to me, have both the comical and tragic antecedents and both of them illuminating, in one way or another, in their implications. The first example shows how numbers can be distorted to suit one’s heroic claims and the second illustrates how they can be used to further one political purpose another.
The comic antecedent that comes to mind is the way in which Sir John Falstaff kept changing the number of people he and this buddies vanquished when they were attacked by some thieves. Here is the relevant excerpt from Henry IV (1):
PRINCE HENRY
What’s the matter?
FALSTAFF
What’s the matter! there be four of us here have
ta’en a thousand pound this day morning.
ta’en a thousand pound this day morning.
PRINCE HENRY
Where is it, Jack? where is it?
FALSTAFF
Where is it! taken from us it is: a hundred upon
poor four of us.
poor four of us.
PRINCE HENRY
What, a hundred, man?
FALSTAFF
I am a rogue, if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours together. I have ‘scaped by miracle. I am eight times thrust through the doublet, four through the hose; my buckler cut through and through; my sword hacked like a hand-saw–ecce signum! I never dealt better since I was a man: all would not do. A plague of all cowards! Let them speak: if they speak more or less than truth, they are villains and the sons of darkness.
Video: Defend The Rights Of Muslims: Radical Muslims Speaks Against Sinhala-Buddhists Nationalist
July 22, 2013
Abdur Raziq of Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamat speaks against BBS/ JHU/Sinahala Ravaya and other Sinhala Buddhists nationalist groups including the government of Sri Lanka. Police tried to prevent Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamat meeting by banning the meeting. However, the SLTJ officials went ahead to conduct the meeting at their office premises.
Abdur Raziq of Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamat speaks against BBS/ JHU/Sinahala Ravaya and other Sinhala Buddhists nationalist groups including the government of Sri Lanka. Police tried to prevent Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamat meeting by banning the meeting. However, the SLTJ officials went ahead to conduct the meeting at their office premises.
Defend the rights of Muslims -Part – 1
