{"id":180587,"date":"2017-08-03T16:47:27","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T11:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=180587"},"modified":"2017-08-05T19:45:58","modified_gmt":"2017-08-05T14:15:58","slug":"in-plain-humour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/in-plain-humour\/","title":{"rendered":"In Plain Humour"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rusiripala Tennakoon<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rusiripala Tennakoon<\/p><\/div>\n

Following excerpts are from an Old English Saturday night Prime Time Comedy show:<\/p>\n

You<\/b>\u2026 can be a millionaire\u2026and never<\/b> pay taxes! You<\/b> can be a millionaire\u2026 and never<\/b> pay taxes?\u201d First\u2026 get a million dollars. Now\u2026 you say, \u201cSteve\u2026 what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, \u2018You\u2026<\/b> have never paid taxes\u2019?\u201d Two<\/b> simple words. Two simple words in the English language: \u201cI forgot!\u201d How, many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don\u2019t<\/b> say \u201cI forget\u201d?\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s say you\u2019re on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, \u201cI forgot armed robbery was illegal.\u201d Let\u2019s suppose he says back to you, \u201cYou have committed a foul crime.\u00a0 <\/span>You have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, \u2018I forgot<\/i>\u2019?\u201d Two<\/b> simple words, \u201cExcuse\u2026..me\u2026\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

What a world for us to live!<\/span><\/p>\n

A village guy climbed a Kitul Tree just to taste a little Kitul Toddy.\u00a0 <\/span>Of course on the sly.\u00a0<\/span>Unfortunately got caught to the owner of the tree.\u00a0<\/span>He asked why did you climb-up my tree. Guy answers \u2013 \u201cjust to see whether I can find a little grass for my cow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Owner retorted \u2013 where do you get grass on top of trees?<\/span><\/p>\n

Guy very politely says, \u201cMy friend that is why I am coming empty handed\u201d who can disbelieve this rustic lad?<\/span><\/p>\n

A play where the script is being written!<\/span><\/p>\n

A Minister serving in a cabinet of a government is asked by a judge at an inquiry!<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you go to occupy this luxury apartment with your family?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer –\u00a0 <\/span>the Hon Minister\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes your lordship\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 Do you know that this apartment was leased out by a person accused or alleged of a scam involving public money?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 \u201cNo your lordship.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Question\u00a0 <\/span>\u2013 Do you know Mr.\u00a0 <\/span>Minister how much is the lease rental for the apartment paid to the owner by who-ever?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 \u201cNo your lordship\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 Do you know who arranged for your family to move into this apartment?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 My family \u2013 Wife & daughters Your lordship<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 Did you ask your family how much it costs?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 No your lordship<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 Did your family ever inform you that the lease rental is USD 10,000 per month?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 No your lordship<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 If you knew that this apartment was leased out by a person accused of a charge dealing with public money \u2013 would you have occupied this apartment?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer \u2013 No your lordship<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions yet to be asked<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Question –\u00a0 <\/span>Do you now know that the apartment was leased out to this questioned party?<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer –\u00a0 <\/span>(may be)<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 Now you know that you have done something which you should not have done as a Minister\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer –\u00a0 <\/span>I did not know then your lordship.\u00a0 <\/span>In my busy schedule I only slept there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Question \u2013 But you know now that you have occupied a premises which you should not have occupied.<\/span><\/p>\n

Answer –\u00a0 <\/span>Your lordship my head was burdened with the debt burden of the country at that time.<\/span><\/p>\n

People –\u00a0 <\/span>Now that you know, you have done something which you should not have done why don\u2019t you go home!<\/span><\/p>\n

When we learnt civics in the elementary school we learned that \u201cIgnorance of the law is not excuse\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span>But those of us who did not pursue the studies up to the law degree are not aware whether \u201cIgnorance of facts can excuse one from ethical obligations and public liability\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

We read, see and enjoy comedies, plays and writings on the subject. But a clear answer has to come by way of acceptable verdict.\u00a0 <\/span>Till then we continue to surf the domain in quest of a proper reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignorantia juris non excusat<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

“ignorance of law excuses no one”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rationale of the doctrine is that if ignorance were an excuse, a person charged with criminal offenses<\/a> or a subject of a civil lawsuit<\/a> would merely claim that one was unaware of the law in question to avoid liability, even if that person really does know what the law in question is. Thus, the law imputes<\/a> knowledge of all laws to all persons within the jurisdiction<\/a> no matter how transiently. Even though it would be impossible, even for someone with substantial legal training, to be aware of every law in operation in every aspect of a state’s<\/a> activities, this is the price paid to ensure that willful blindness<\/a> cannot become the basis of exculpation<\/a>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can we extend this application to someone pleading ignorance of relevant facts\u00a0<\/span>who has acted un-ethically due to his ignorance?\u00a0<\/span>What should such a person do once he comes to be aware of the true facts, particularly if the person is holding a high public office –\u00a0 <\/span>The play writer has to provide a plausible answer!<\/span><\/p>\n

*The characters are fictions and refers to nobody <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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