Features
Biden = democracy & back to normalcy; Trump = anarchy & more chaos
The Island stated two shared-by-many-facts spot-on in its editorial of 3 November. Cass quotes them below:
“Trump’s political style makes one wonder whether he is of Sri Lankan descent.” Cass adds: and more a black dictator than those who rule African banana republics.
“Therefore the possibility of lightning striking the US twice, so to speak, cannot be ruled out.” Brilliant transference of aerial turbulence to the US of America, supposed to be the greatest but brought to dirt by the very man who shouts : “Make America great again.”
Maybe when you read this on Friday 6, the American voting results would be out, but as things seem to be in the cards, power from one president to another will definitely not be passed on peacefully. Trump winning or losing are both predicted to be utterly chaotic. In the first case, the majority sensible people’s spirits would be killed along with any hopes for the next four years. If he loses, the Orange Orangutan will ride the crest of anarchy instigated by him and his sons with zest and insanity.
Methinks mighty power does not only corrupt mightily but twists the brain cells of the mighty one so they go berserk resulting in madness. Otherwise how explain Trump’s expressed threat that he won’t concede defeat at the polls. Also, power illegally grabbed Prez Alexander Lukashenko clutches tight to the presidency of Belarus like a tentacled octopus, given succor by Putin in the face of continuous protest marches calling for his resignation. It was feared Trump would declare himself Prez even before counting was complete and tallying of the Electoral College numbers.
Back home can anything be more outrageous than the Minster of Health accompanied by Gamenpila and Ranatunge throwing white covered pots of pirith water to a river to placate the gods (?) and drive out COVID-19? The said virus was almost re-invited in with his bristles by carelessness overtaking most Sri Lankans, taking the Minister of Health’s assurance that dear ole Sri Lanka was free of COVID-19 around the time the 20A was being vociferously championed. Cassandra in many articles, living up to her fame on foreseeing the future (not that in this instance it needed any foreseeing at all) cried: “I see the second wave approaching!” That was when she commented in this column of the mass partying at live TV shows of song and dance. Then when crowds milled around to see the electioneering bods, particularly the pohottuwas, perchance to bow and be blessed or even clutch a stretched VVIP hand. No masks in sight. After all those strict lockdowns in March and April, the moment the boast came forth from the Health Minister that Sri Lanka had defeated the corona virus, people discarded masks and threw physical distancing to the winds. Our Pavithradevi outdid even the PM of New Zealand in claiming victory; while the PM of NZ was totally justified in patting herself and her officials on their backs.
As for the pot launching, is it a move to help the Meti Amathi to boast greater sales? Anyway less noise, criminal waste and ferocity setting sail pots rather than smashing coconuts.
We can criticise but cannot at all point fingers as this virus is devilish devious, getting worse in ferocity and infecting power. We can only place palms together in gratitude to the Health Service personnel, most doctors, police and armed forces. Their contact tracing, effective quarantine and treating of patients, calls for loud hosannas.
In Parliament on Tuesday 3, Sajith P, spoke well against the Health Minister’s misplaced optimism while another opposition member suggested it would be better if the Health Minister threw herself in the river, instead of dropping pots. Cheers! And Pavithra shouted stridently back that she was ready to drown herself for her country. Let’s applaud aloud! Another female patriot for Mother Lanka, one wielding a murderous knife and knocking on the pohottu door as depicted by cartoonist Jeffrey; the second – a Joan of Arc, willing to substitute the burning at the stake by drowning in a Sri Lankan river. Cass dreamt further. When she, Pavithra, jumps in (or is lowered as a scared patriot), the displaced water (a la Archimedes in his bathtub) would cause a voluminous flood. But no fear, the All Powerful Now will approach, part the waters and have the Navy save Pavithra like they did the poor displaced dolphins recently. And the lady will emerge with white, wet clinging sari.
Celebrating end of term of punishment for dishonesty
Sanath, the Master Blaster from the South, proudly announced the end of his two years banishment from cricket by the ICC for suspected dishonesty. Cass believes it would have been better to quietly return to cricket than remind people that the pinnacle of cricket passed judgment on him for a proven breaking of the rules of conduct, honesty and ethics. MTV 1 news celebrated the announcement with a short resume of his years with bat and ball. No mention of how he too limpet-ed himself by using political clout to continue playing international cricket for SL long past his glory days. He humiliated himself in a test series in England, Cass recalls.
Post Script: Outrageous!
November 4: 1.30 pm (local); approx 4.00 am NY time
Donald Trump appears before family, friends, peers, supporters and has the gumption to say: “As far as I am concerned, we’ve already won.” “The vote counting must now stop.”
Cheers and sycophant calls. And more in like vein from the man determined not to accept defeat.
Reporters on BBC condemn him outright and assure the public the vote is still being counted.
Biden calmly: “I have not won nor Trump; the votes are being counted.”
Biden had 220 from Electoral College and Trump 213. Oh, may that first number go beyond 270. A very close contest. But according to BBC reporters/commentators Trump has a plan drawn up roping in the Supreme Court where Republican judges are double the number of Democrats.
It will take much longer, maybe a day or two for full results to be announced. Over there stores are being boarded; people preparing for the dogs of war to be unleashed by that vile man who singlehandedly degraded the US so much.
I have to send this to my editor. So ‘bye for now. May COVID-19 and Trump both be vanquished!