Comments on: We Regret To Inform You That Your Condolences Cannot Be Accepted At This Time

By: Sujeewa

Sujeewa — Fri, 28 May 2010 17:35:57 +0000

who gave condolences? For those who walk to weapons to show their might and dogma, it shud only be a warning. If you try it again mate, result will be the same. You’ll be blown to dust again.

By: Tanuja

Tanuja — Sat, 22 May 2010 06:36:48 +0000

Clearly put Humanist! It seems like xman doesn’t realise that there are other dimensions to the war. One does not have to essentially experience the war to be pulled down, dehumanised and tormented by it. In fact many of the Tamils living in the South or in Central Sri Lanka have not been ‘directly’ affected by the war!

By: Humanist

Humanist — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:04:08 +0000

P.S. I just came to the realization that you are “the Ms. Ganeshananthan”. I loved your book “Love Marriage” – it has the same nuanced sensibility as this piece of writing. It doesn’t matter the least to me, unlike to xman, that you grew up in the diaspora. I wish more people in the disapora had your sense of perception and humanity.

By: Humanist

Humanist — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:34:01 +0000

My sincere apologies. Come to think of it, perhaps only a Ms. Ganeshananthan could have written such a nuanced piece.

By: xman

xman — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:46:41 +0000

it should be noted that V.V. has never ‘known’ war and has only been to SL a few times. And that just to colombo and galle i think. This is just what she though/thinks war would be like. the poet/writers view. not someone who has seen it or lived it or been shot at or shelled

By: vivimarie

vivimarie — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:54:23 +0000

Wow. Thank you for this.

By: Groundviews

Groundviews — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:55:54 +0000

Dear Humanist, that’s Ms. Ganeshananthan.

By: Humanist

Humanist — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:43:37 +0000

This is the most evocative and powerful statement I’ver read in this special issue so far. Thank you, Mr. Ganeshananthan.

By: jcnars

jcnars — Fri, 21 May 2010 03:02:51 +0000

Beautifuly written…the only meaningful poems are those written by those who went thru’ life and death and know what it means to be still alive:

” We lost our children willingly and unwillingly. They were torn from our hands; we fought to keep them with us; we pushed them away from us to save them; we held them close in the hope that we might take their bullets and thereby die before them.”

By: jayathilaka

jayathilaka — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:29:49 +0000

what awonderful piece of writing the reality of war.

“Those who takes arms will will be killed by the arms” Lord Buddha

By: Pearl Thevanayagam

Pearl Thevanayagam — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:24:18 +0000

No words can describe my feeling when I read Mr Ganeshananthan’s very poignant piece.

I am grateful for your words which describe the different emotions or numbness and apathy we felt when we fled and when we watched our loved ones taken away, killed, abducted, arrested and maimed.

We finally learnt to accept whatever obstacles the world throws at us and not be intimidated. Since we have experienced it all we empathise with those who are still suffering and will strive to tell everyone what the war was like.

Thank you once again

By: Dilkusha

Dilkusha — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:30:43 +0000

I can only imagine what it must be like to be in this situation….not to feel anymore. Thanks for bringing out the pain of our fellow humans, hopefully the human spirit can begin to feel again and hope again.