Traditions given a kick by Trump; us begging for even vaccines

As I write this on Wednesday 20 morning, the Capitol area in Washington DC is swarming with the National Guard and FBI. So, sadly, telling that the guards are being vetted by FBI since an inside job of disruption at the inauguration of the 46th President of the USA is feared. It is a fact but truly mind boggling that one devious man, surely teetering between stupidity and insanity, can almost single handedly throw the mighty US of America into such continued disarray. Of course he had much at stake for wanting to stay on as Prez on the trump card (no pun intended) that the elections were flawed and cheating was perpetrated on Biden’s and Harris’ behalf. Not even a child in Sri Lanka will accept that, but millions of idiotic white Americans believed The Trump as he trumpeted. What a slap in the face to have Twitter etc cutting you off. Maliciously, Cass hopes he will get what is due to him, starting with a fait accompli impeachment and judicial cases against him. They will proceed to the rightful end, unlike in dear ole Siri Lanka where everything depends on your political colour and who you know or who knows you!

Rendering asunder fine courtesies

Trump sneaked away on Wednesday morning when Presidents are present to effect the handover of power. He said he would not be present and Biden, surely heaving heavy sighs of relief politely said that was fine by him and Harris. He should have been more specific and spat out: Much the better; GROBR; Get thee away Satan!

Trump in his boorish peeve did not host the traditional tea to the incoming Prez with his wife showing the First Lady elect the layout of the White House. Of course, Mr and Mrs Biden were frequently at the elegant home as he was VP, twice over.

Another delightful tradition that I got to know about recently is the outgoing Prez leaves a handwritten, personal note to his successor in the Oval office. The courtesy was re-installed formally by Ronald Reagan who wrote to Bush Snr; Bush to Clinton; Clinton to Bush Jr. Bush to Obama. And Obama to Trump. And there the lovely buck stopped, but surely will be resurrected when Biden leaves office, probably writing to Kamala Harris who Cass bets will be his successor after one presidential term. “Each letter humanizes this small but monumental moment in the life of a democracy. Each note graciously acknowledges that one’s duty in office has come to an end, that it is now time to pass the immense power to someone else, and maybe even offer some advice.” A boor knows no niceties and if boorishness is compounded with vanity and vulgarity, such a one’s sole driving motivation being groping women, lying through teeth, cheating and causing mayhem. Thus, was the Tangerine Tantrum-thrower.

Leaving the White House in January 1989 to go to the sunset of even Alzheimer’s, President Reagan wanted to leave a note for his successor, George H.W. Bush, and scrawled on a notepad with a cartoon of a turkey on its pages: “Dear George, you’ll have moments when you’ll want to use this particular stationery. Well, go to it.” He noted treasuring “the memories we share” and said he’d be praying for him. “I’ll miss our Thursday lunches. Ron.” So humane and decent!

“When I walked into this office just now, I felt the same sense of wonder and respect that I felt four years ago. I know you will feel that, too,” George H W Bush wrote in the note to Clinton. “I wish you great happiness here. I never felt the loneliness some presidents have described. I’m not a very good one to give advice; but just don’t let the critics discourage you or push you off course. Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you. Good luck — George.” Those words were so touching that Hillary recalled they made her cry.

Writing to that president’s son, incoming George W Bush in 2000, Clinton wrote “… burdens you now shoulder are great but often exaggerated … and the sure joy of doing what you believe is right is inexpressible.”

In his own letter to President Barack Obama eight years later, the younger Bush advised that “critics will rage. Your ‘friends’ will disappoint you, but no matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead.” Bush’s twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were 27 at the time. They wrote a sort of kids’ guide to the White House for Malia and Sasha Obama, then 10 and 7. It included such advice as “slide down the banister of the solarium” and “when your dad throws out the first pitch for the Yankees, go to the game.”

In his letter to Trump in 2017, Obama wrote, “This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful.” However, unknowingly or did he guess, he added: “We are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions — like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties — that our forebears fought and bled for.” TV clips of the traditional two couples’ tea showed Trump being uppity and the Obamas very civil.

You reader can send your minds back and recollect how power changed hands in this fair Isle. I think JRJ was gracious, and that, after Mrs Bandaranaike tried to overstay. One prez was led to a helicopter, probably dazed that an upstart of a Minister he had kept down, defeated him.

Required: a loan to buy the vaccine

But we do run to form, we Sri Lankans and specially our governments. There we are, as reported, with the begging bowl in hand for charity to buy the Covid-19 vaccine for the country’s people, most of whom work hard to keep this wonderful country going. WHO has promised help in the way of an allotted number of vaccines free of charge; the Oxford vaccine does not cost much and transport and storage are comparatively easy. Cass hopes China and Russia won’t run forth with their vaccines being gifted free. Nothing comes free; you have to pay for it and most often with the family silver which in our country is real estate, free access and final takeover of ports of call both sea and air! Was the begging bowl extended for just this ulterior purpose?

Finally, when the vaccines do arrive one hopes a choice will be offered and one could pay for one’s vaccination. Cass is a close relative of the legendary church mouse, but she can scratch and scrape a couple of hundreds or even a few thousands to pay for hers and her domestics. She wants a dose she can rely on and not a handout she can hardly trust.

Even the Maldives is starting vaccinating their citizens and we in Siri Lanka are deciding and begging. Take what comes free, even if the worst, may end up as policy.

Tongue getting one in trouble

That’s happened to matinee idol Ranjan R. Cass has for a change the milk of human kindness flowing in her veins and feels darn sorry for him incarcerated for four years with rigorous imprisonment. We cannot forget he was almost a single voice and arm trying to free that Saudi maid wrongfully accused of murdering the child in her care. He also tried a one-man crusade against corruption. In SL you’d need an army with God directing operations, so rotten is the State. We hope RR will meditate over the saying, “Wise is the one who learns to dumb it down.” We pray he will be afforded the right to attend Parliament like others in similar circumstances have enjoyed. We also await the judgment of contempt of courts case against Dr Padeniya, which postponement was reported in The Island of Wednesday, Jan 20.

Bye for now. Let’s hopefully see a decent Prez installed peacefully in the US of A.