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Mauritius: God's Will
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L'Express (Port Louis)
7 March 2008
Posted to the web 7 March 2008
- By Deepa BHOOKHUN
Port Louis
I don't know what you do when you get stuck in unending traffic jams but I usually daydream. Last Tuesday, on my way to work, I settled myself comfortably in the car and got ready to enjoy a session of daydreaming. Except that God kept intruding in my thoughts. She wasn't really welcome but what can you do against a God that wants to talk to you?
Anyway, an insistent thought kept pushing its way into my mind - what would the God in whose name those people were strenuously walking to Grand-Bassin and back, think of the side effects of this yearly pilgrimage?
Three precious hours lost in traffic jams on Tuesday morning! Why? Because pilgrims were walking home after having made the journey to Grand Bassin! I have absolutely no problem with people walking to Grand Bassin - after all, walking is good for the health and most of us don't get enough exercise; so hey, if Mahashivratree can be an excuse to make us healthier, I'm all for it. That people mix health with spirituality is also good news - people mostly have good vibes when they pray so that's great for the country as well; we can hold that flag higher next Wednesday.
But does this mean I have to be stuck in a three-hour traffic? Well to be honest, I wasn't (mine lasted only 45 minutes --i t usually takes me 15 minutes to get to work - and that too, only because I don't have to go through Port Louis) but most of my colleagues were. Our daily briefing that usually starts at 9.15 started at 10.00 and was practically empty even by then because people were stuck in traffic. Everybody who works in the city has similar stories to tell.
I have absolutely no idea what this has cost the country financially but adding the two lost hours of Tuesday to the public holiday of Wednesday, my guess would be that it must be quite a substantial amount.
But who cares, huh? As long as God is happy and Her requirements are met. But seriously - is this really what God wants?
Unfortunately I cannot presume to have an answer considering I am not in God's confidence and frankly I don't know anybody who is. Oh don't get me wrong; I am sure there are plenty of people who think they are but we cannot let ourselves be bothered by this.
The point is we're going to be forty, next week and it's about time we grew up.
Nobody has any issue with people practising their religion but this constitutional right should not be exercised at the expense of more tangible and important things. The economy being one of them. The secular state in which we live in, being another. Respect for others who do not share the same faith is yet another one.
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God's will will be done anyway.
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