2016 Mar 7
by a Valuable Contributor
I leaned back against the pillar at my side, taking in the balmy day and realizing her presence only made the sweet surrounding that much sweeter. Looking deep into her soft brown eyes, I caught her fingers in mine, and watched as she threw her head back and laughed.
And then somebody was asking me to stand up, and to step away from my beautiful girlfriend, because it was “against the teachings of our culture.”
In one of the most dramatic youth movements in modern history in our tiny island nation, the young’ins of Sri Lanka expressed their outrage at the actions of two security guards at Independence Square last week, who forcefully separated a pair of lovers on the grounds that their display of affection was disrespectful to the heritage this society was built upon.
With many protestors looking on, the highly commendable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Harsha de Silva, worked to bring an end to this matter, and took one of the first staggering steps to bringing about real, progressive, much-needed change to some of the traditional values revolving around the Sri Lankan name.
As he brought out in his comments regarding the actions of the security guards, the order the guards were given to follow was that they were to prevent any actions taking place that were deemed uncultured in the Independence Square and in its immediate vicinity, and that they had the authority to do so, given that they followed the guidelines provided. He pointed out directly that the guards had no authority to decide on what was cultured and what was not, and that they had been in direct violation of that fact in doing what they had done.
The fact is: these security guards acted above their station, and in doing so, offended a quite a few people. This is what we refer to as the Big Shot Syndrome, wherein a person whose job description does not go beyond basic tasks gets a touch of extra authority, and they assume themselves to be of much more significance thereafter. They throw their weight around, and usually lower the efficiency of and annoy those they are expected to work with.
Some believe that this is a part of the Sri Lankan personality now, so intricately intertwined within our cultural identity that we don’t know where it began. But if we take the proper steps right now, we will know when it ends. So many of us have encountered peons and lower-level clerks at offices both public and private owned, who have been the cause for many a headache.
It is tempting to look at the psychological cause and effect of this Big Shot Syndrome, and it could be understood that an inferiority complex could be plaguing these peons, security guards and lower-level clerks. This inferiority complex could be playing a rather large role in this aspect. How many of us even consider a daily greeting to a doorman or a peon? How many of us say anything to them, really, beyond specifying duties? This could only cause the further shrinking of these people and their self-esteem, and this will continue to occur until they get a taste of power, and they abuse it as an escape from their inferiority complex.
Now: as a Youth Delegate from Sri Lanka at the United Nations last year pointed out, why is it that you and I don’t follow this tendency to act beyond our stations, to take the morsel of power we receive and blow it up to unrealistic proportions simply to throw our weight around? He believes that it could be due to the polarization of Sri Lankan society: particularly disparity in the reach of quality education, and access to the broader world. The youth of Sri Lanka that has access to the Internet, who have been exposed to what society is like beyond Sri Lanka are much less likely to have this Big Shot Syndrome.
So, in conclusion: though their behavior was appalling, let’s stop blaming the security guards. Instead of blaming anyone for that matter, we as a generation should find a solution to this issue the way the Honorable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Harsha de Silva did. However, we must take steps from where we are, instead of taking political stances at the Parliament. We as a generation should understand that this Big Shot Syndrome is fed by the inferiority complex of the Big Shot, and this inferiority complex is fed by everyone around them ignoring and belittling them. None of us having anything to lose by showing respect to waiters, bus conductors, peons, etc. So, ensure to make a conscious effort to help alleviate this problem, and be nice.
Disclaimer: the story included is a work of fiction created by the writer of this article, and may not be what actually occurred in the event that caused the outrage.
Disclaimer: Big Shot Syndrome isn’t an actual mental disorder, it was created for all intents and purposes of this article.
