{"id":1424,"date":"2011-12-23T06:07:06","date_gmt":"2011-12-23T06:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/2011\/12\/23\/tp-saran-72\/"},"modified":"2019-11-30T19:56:15","modified_gmt":"2019-11-30T15:56:15","slug":"tp-saran-72","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/tp-saran-72\/","title":{"rendered":"A Conversation with Uncle Claus"},"content":{"rendered":"

By TP Saran<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TP Saran: Hello, nice to see you again old Boy! How are you doing?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Uncle Claus<\/strong> * Mean you\u2019re a myth?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

: Oh I am forever fine, \u2018cos I\u2019m er\u2026 what you guys call that these days? \u2013 virtual, that\u2019s it! I don\u2019t actually exist you see, except in some people\u2019s imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yea, there, clever guy, you got it! But a myth also tells us about ourselves. Like, that\u2019s why you find me still going strong since those Northern chaps invented me nearly two centuries ago. Hard work\u2019s the trick!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Yes, indeed, it certainly does appear that working chaps like you seem happier and healthier\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You bet we are! \u2019Tis said, isn\u2019t it, that work is worship. But don\u2019t count on me for the worship bit!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>But I thought you believed in all that goes with Christmas? \u2013 God, His Son, the angels\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dude, that\u2019s for the believers, let them be, great imagination they have, I say.<\/span><\/p>\n

I worship work that\u2019s what!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Is that why you go on dedicating your life to bring toys to the children of the world? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yup, you got it. All <\/em>children. I am happy to make them happy, especially the ones who have so little that the smallest gift makes them beam. And what with the crisis you guys have created I am afraid I can only get simple presents now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>I do not recall who said it, Uncle, but if my memory serves me right, there\u2019s that author who said that if everyone had just a little bit left of the child in them when they are older, the world would be a much nicer place — and there would be no need for Santa Claus\u2026 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aha, smart guy! You wanna trick me out of a job, do you? But yes, you\u2019re right. Unfortunately in many adults the child has been replaced by a greedy rogue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* I guess things must be tough for you because the world has become too populous, all of 7 billion, and you have no way to reach all the children, isn\u2019t that so dear? And, on top of that, getting gifts for today\u2019s kids must have become a headache what with their craze for iPods, tablets\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Like I said, dude, I\u2019m only make-believe, see, it\u2019s the parents who do most of the running about – and much of the spoiling too if I may add. Good thing is, though, at best kids will say Santa has forgotten them this time around, they won\u2019t curse me, maybe they will be a bit sad and keep up hope for next time. I hope the defaulting parents learn to assume their responsibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* But, Uncle, the older kids seem to be in a much worse lot than earlier generations with many of them falling prey to drugs \u2013 at least this is what a part-time priest and part-time politician here has been saying lately. Unbelievable, don\u2019t you think?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not so unbelievable to me \u2013 I have been coming here long years now, I kinda like the warm weather eh! And have been following your local scene, have heard this from many others of the same mould, part-timer this part-timer that!<\/span><\/p>\n

There are pseudo-responsible adults across all of society wanting to get a name by whatever means \u2013 especially exploiting the credulity of the weak-minded, pushing their own agendas, feeding their own appetites and inculcating greed in those children from a young age. Not to speak of trying to find scapegoats to make up for their own failings. And then it\u2019s too late when, to add insult to injury, religion is used as the opium of the people to make the susceptible ones believe that they are owed everything by the State and they don\u2019t need to make their own efforts and work hard like everybody else.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next you have your dude politicians going out of their way to please and appease these fly-by-night operators without taking the trouble to understand what\u2019s truly happening, because they keep away from the hoi polloi<\/em> and remain in their closed sycophantic circles that filter the information reaching them \u2013 they get to hear only what they want to hear! I guess being too drunk on power leads to one having a skewed take on ground realities. And so what else do you expect than getting those drugged guys more drunk on opiate?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Phew Santa! Where did you get all this?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How do you mean? Looks like you take me for a dud…\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>By golly, sorry man I did not mean to offend you!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No worry, I\u2019m made of firmer mettle, despite being virtual, haha, got you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* I forgot that you span and scan the world for most of the year to keep yourself busy, and thus keep abreast of whatever\u2019s happening all over the place. And Santa, thanks for appreciating our warmth.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I meant the climate, not the people \u2013 they sure could be warmer to each other! There\u2019s too much of double face around if you ask me. Sorry to say, but the guys at the top are all the time setting the bad example. And oh, many of them are past-by-date too, stale, fromage rasi <\/em>isn\u2019t that what you say here?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Quite so, I am afraid a lot of people are coming to the same conclusion and are wondering what next, pinning their hope on political reform. What\u2019s your take on that, Santa?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Simple. Get rid of the Westminster system which allows your leaders any number of runs. Adapt the American system. A maximum of two consecutive mandates of five years each, with elections and installation on fixed dates. And that\u2019s it! But sorry to say you won\u2019t get that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>And why, if I may ask?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Can\u2019t you see that these guys want to hold on to power by any means? Aren\u2019t they already talking to and behind each other on the same old agenda of who will get more power, in which position, prime minister or president, without any fundamental reform of the system or even regime change?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* What can we do, Uncle? The politicians do not seem to care, so engrossed are they with damage control when they are not busy jockeying for power \u2013 you know, the usual thing\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, indeed, I can see that. Your so-called \u2018Paradise Island\u2019 has had its MedPoint affair \u2013 that same place brought the MSM and the MMM chaps together earlier, and then brought the latter-day Labour-MSM alliance apart\u2026 How come the scandal is no longer in the news after being whipped up for almost a year by the MMM guys?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Well, you know the things we have been given to see lately \u2013 I mean politicians conjuring up virtues in their long-time political adversaries.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Exactly, and that\u2019s why you will never get your President American style, for there\u2019s no limit to the shameless coustiks <\/em>\u2013 oh do I relish that term! \u2013 these guys are so agile at performing. And I can\u2019t believe my ears – Berenger and the Labour Party sharing the same historical bed, eh? They led the same battle, it has been said! Goodness me, anything goes for staying on!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Anyway, that\u2019s no fault of his, Uncle, if the mustachioed guy has lately become the darling of his\u2026 political adversaries, don\u2019t you think so? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Agreed. Give the old fox credit for knowing how to lure both the MSM and Labour Party into his lair. To hang on to power at all costs they are hanging on to each other. Sad to say \u2013 but you will never have your Vaclav Havel moment here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Vaclav Havel, the ex-Czech President who passed away last week?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, him. Such a decent, principled man, founder of the Charter 77<\/em>, who was a President-Philosopher with no hidden personal agenda. They accused him of not being pragmatic enough, what with his ideas of moralising politics \u2013 but he did it during his ten years of Presidency, damnit, oops sorry, I shouldn\u2019t use such language…\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* It\u2019s ok Santa, I can understand your exasperation. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You could say that again, \u2018cos I\u2019m ashamed that his successor was a namesake of mine, a Klaus, corrupt as the Czechs had never seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Oh?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. He could not be bothered with moral scruples associated with the rule of law. Very quickly the Czech Republic became viewed as a place where politicians became the agents of powerful economic groups, what Vaclav Havel as a staunch, principled dissident had referred to as \u2018mafioso capitalism.\u2019 Now that Havel is no more, I really fear for his country I must say.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Rather scary all this, Uncle. Makes me also think of what news agencies have only this week highlighted: the dilemma of young students in the UK turning to prostitution, gambling and other dangerous pursuits to fund their university studies \u2013 all that due to austerity measures imposed by the British government in the wake of the financial crisis.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re right about the plight of the students in the UK, but this has been going on for some time as far as I know. Got worse now because of the hike in university fees to 9000 pounds a year, there were protests by students in the streets of London about this remember? But at least you must give credit to those who are keen on getting an education so as to improve their lives, and are prepared to sacrifice for that.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t realise how lucky you guys are here that your children have free education all the way through to university level. But I daresay you have to be a bit more careful about your support schemes like free transport. If you ask me, it needed some in-depth thinking about the nitty-gritty of implementation. It is not too late to do so. One should not have things done on impulse. And there is such a thing as midcourse correction, why even on a personal basis one can make one\u2019s mea culpa <\/em>and come clean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* I could not agree more with you, Santa! But at the same time, look at the \u2018banksters\u2019 laughing their way to the bank. Now, that\u2019s\u2026 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Outrageous, to say the least! You saw the fat bonuses the banksters have got in the US, despite Obama\u2019s appeal? Same in the UK too. And here too, your bank guv\u2019nor has been right in calling a spade a spade: Rs 65 million of profits per day by your banks! Isn\u2019t it time to take a more serious look at the cartels?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* These capitalists and their crony politicians seem to have lost touch with the people, haven\u2019t they? What are we coming to? Are we going to have an \u2018Arab spring\u2019 here too?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well you know that the Arab spring has turned into a rather harsh winter. And remember that in your paradise island SMF soldiers don\u2019t get into the streets to give biberons <\/em>to protesters, especially if they are women! You have your answer I hope?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Le mot de la fin <\/strong><\/em>Santa?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m usually a cheerful guy but I am really really afraid that winter is going to last because these are times of universal deceit, and telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act, as George Orwell said. He foresaw that \u2018political language\u2026 is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

* <\/strong>Is it that bad?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I cannot but speak the truth my friend! Nevertheless, you have my best wishes for the season. Bye dear friend… let me hurry back before the SMF guys come after me!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Bye Santa, do come again next year, will you…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I will, if you promise me a biberon…<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

* Published in print edition on 23 December 2011<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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