Features

Biden the Gracious pays respects to cast-aside Carter

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/9

I was most taken up by hearing on BBC World News that President Biden and his wife had visited the Carters in the southern State of Georgia at the end of the first-hundred-days in the presidency. Having a son in Atlanta, I asked him whether their Georgia visit was to Atlanta. He said yes and added they visited Plains where the Carters live. He did more – sending press clippings and pictures.

Knowing I admired Jimmy Carter very much for the person he is and his hands-on service to Habitat for Humanity and I had spent hours in the Carter Centre, Atlanta, this young man took me several years ago to Plains and we attended Sunday School conducted by the ex-President.

The Bidens’ selection of Georgia to mark the end of the presidency’s first 100 days may have been prompted by the gesture of remembering and gratitude; thus admirable. Within this short period of days, Presidency Biden has almost turned the US around, arresting its Trumpist decline. Reasons: he is a Good Man, dedicated to the people of his country, humane, and he selected the most competent to head various government agencies, many from different ethnicities ranging from Black to Asian Americans and the indigenous American.

The Carters

Jimmy Carter is 96 and Rosalyn 93, and he has undergone brain surgery. They now live permanently in the house they built for themselves in Plains, close to his family home which is preserved and open to sightseerers. They used to divide the time left from going around the globe helping to build houses for the poor, between their home in the Carter Center, Atlanta, and the simple house they built in Plains, the furniture of which was made mostly by Jimmy Carter. He came from peanut farming and was dubbed a dark horse in his presidential bid, since many did not know him though he had served as Senator and Gov of Georgia.

He served one term in the White House (1977-81) winning over Gerald Ford, and lost his second bid to Ronald Reagan. His presidency was not outstanding though he negotiated a Middle East Peace deal. He is better known and remembered for his humanitarian service. And here was President Biden, soon after his first three months of being president, visiting this almost forgotten and sadly neglected Jimmy Carter who is housebound after two falls, with vision impaired. A photograph shows Rosalyn bidding goodbye to the First Couple leaning on a walker.

I intend quoting from an article by Opinion Columnist Maureen Dowd, a firm favourite writer of mine.

Facts plus bits of gossip as Dowd states them

Maureen Dowd starts her piece thus: “Joe Biden has respect for his elders. And there aren’t that many of them. Before the president’s rally near Atlanta on Thursday, he and Jill went out of their way to pay respects to the 96-year-old Jimmy Carter. This made Biden the first president to make a pilgrimage to Plains since Carter left office, unless you count Yasir Arafat. If there’s a pol who knows what it feels like to be underappreciated by his own party, it’s Biden. And he wasn’t going to continue to let Carter, at the end of his life, be treated like a pariah in peanutville.” That says so much

Carter has long nursed hurt feelings about how he was slighted by his Democratic successors. Commentator Jonathan Alter in his book ‘His very best: Jimmy Carter, a life’ says those who came after him made the mistake of not using Carter’s “immense intelligence and experience of the world.” One example of disrespect and near insult was Bill Clinton on losing re-election as Gov of Arkansas blaming it on President Carter for sending thousands of Cuban refugees to Arkansas.

“When Clinton became president, he treated Carter like the plague, not wanting to be tarred with the failures of another Southern Democratic governor.” Carter did not take the insult lying down. He publicly faulted the Clintons for sending their daughter Chelsea to a fancy private school while his daughter Amy attended a public school. Pettiness existed: in their 1993 inaugural ball, the Clintons gave them bad seats. Dowd adds: “When I interviewed Carter, he told me that he and Rosalyn voted for Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary.”

Surprisingly, a First Couple we admire – the Obamas – had not much rapport with Jimmy Carter. In fact a legitimate grouse was that when Michele Obama had a First Ladies’ lunch to discuss mental health, which had been a major concern of Rosalyn’s, she was not invited. Obama resented parallels being drawn between him and Carter. “It was important to Obama to be seen as cool, and he was unhappy when the press began comparing him to Carter three years into the Obama presidency, echoing the words ineffectual and self-righteous.”

In contrast Biden

“Biden was the first senator to endorse Carter’s presidential bid in 1976 when he was a long shot. A former Biden aide says, ‘Those guys love each other.’ ‘Some of my colleagues in the Senate thought it was youthful exuberance,’ Biden recalled in a new documentary, Carterland. ‘Well, I was exuberant. But as I said then, Jimmy’s not just a bright smile. He can win, and he can appeal to more segments of the population than any other person.” He also was keen to have the Carters at his convention, but they could not travel, instead sent a recording.

Jonathan Alter writes: “Any president who puts solar panels on the White House — taken down by Reagan — is going to be seen in a better light now.”

Maureen Dowd ends her article thus: “Reports of the Plains summit were positive. Biden, naturally, did most of the talking. And Carter did most of the basking. ‘He gained five years of life,’ enthused a Carter friend.’”

The Guardian reports that a new film rejects the popular narrative that Prez Carter was ineffectual and recasts him as a very prescient thinker who was concerned about climate change and what needs to be done, long before others thought of it.

On home turf

How has it been in Sri Lanka? Our past Prime Ministers and Presidents, if they lived in retirement, got the same off hand treatment of not being remembered, leave aside being revered. And why? For fear those who acknowledged them and hobnobbed with them would be marked adversely. When a VVIP loses an election all those who flocked around the person singing

hosannas and licking boots and slippers, slip away and avoid the fallen politico. Hasn’t Chandrika suffered thus, even her presidency of the party her father created and mother nurtured being grabbed off her hands? Just as we as a nation are notorious for our short memories, our leaders (present and past) are time servers, and VVIPs who fade into the sunset due to age, retirement or losing elections, are just thrust aside and not only forgotten but avoided.

One stark example. How many political VIPs visited JRJ when he retired? Maybe his nephew Ranil W did but… A niece of mine took her 11-year old son to the Jayewardene Centre down Dharmapala Mavata to reinforce his recent history know-how. The young chappie said: “How I would like to meet this President.” My niece brushed this aside as impossible but the curator heard him and said that JRJ would appreciate a visit. JRJ was telephoned and was delighted to invite mother and son to Braemar that afternoon. He spoke to the young boy at length with Mrs JRJ graciously serving cucumber sandwiches and a fruit drink. The all powerful ex Prez was sure lonely.

How many big wigs visited D B Wijetunge, Prez for a short while who graciously left the presidential abode no sooner CBK won the election? He, simple sincere man that he was, would surely have preferred being left alone, inviting his old cronies to his home in Pilimitalawa.

Another example of dinun paththeta hoiya and neglect of those out of power was witnessed by me. A near family funeral in the outskirts of Galle had my sister and brother–in-law taking me along. While there with several others present, W Dahanayake walked in. He paid his respects to the dead and sat down in the verandah – alone – after the mourners spoke to him. There were several administrative types and ‘gentlemen’ present but no one dared go speak with him. Why? He was out of power and the government was SLFP. My b-i-l who was still in government service and had served under Dahanayake when he was Home Minister, sat beside him. My sister, sensitive to political winds, later surmised it may have negative results. Back came her husband’s reply. What nonsense! I do not care if I am blacklisted. Dahanayake was an excellent Minister; he helped our poor upcountry provinces with his Kandyan Peasantry Commission and I appreciated his honesty and commitment. He was a just PM though maligned and now forgotten.

The Buddha laid great stress on gratitude, equating it to the four Brahma viharas of metta, karuna, muditha and upekka. I strongly feel we in Sri Lanka, us Sinhalese, lack this quality and is thrown overboard by the powerful as not conducive to their power; no gain in taking time to visit a past leader.

A 10-year old monk teaching younger monks is reported to have taught them to concentrate on breathing. The monk said: “Inhale the beauty, exhale with gratitude.”

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Features

Political violence stalking Trump administration

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

A scene that unfolded during the shooting incident at the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. (BBC)

It would not be particularly revelatory to say that the US is plagued by ‘gun violence’. It is a deeply entrenched and widespread malaise that has come in tandem with the relative ease with which firearms could be acquired and owned by sections of the US public, besides other causes.

However, a third apparent attempt on the life of US President Donald Trump in around two and a half years is both thought-provoking and unsettling for the defenders of democracy. After all, whatever its short comings the US remains the world’s most vibrant democracy and in fact the ‘mightiest’ one. And the US must remain a foremost democracy for the purpose of balancing and offsetting the growing power of authoritarian states in the global power system, who are no friends of genuine representational governance.

Therefore, the recent breaching of the security cordon surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington at which President Trump and his inner Cabinet were present, by an apparently ‘Lone Wolf’ gunman, besides raising issues relating to the reliability of the security measures deployed for the President, indicates a notable spike in anti-VVIP political violence in particular in the US. It is a pointer to a strong and widespread emergence of anti-democratic forces which seem to be gaining in virulence and destructiveness.

The issues raised by the attack are in the main for the US’ political Right and its supporters. They have smugly and complacently stood by while the extremists in their midst have taken centre stage and begun to dictate the course of Right wing politics. It is the political culture bred by them that leads to ‘Lone Wolf’ gunmen, for instance, who see themselves as being repressed or victimized, taking the law into their own hands, so to speak, and perpetrating ‘revenge attacks’ on the state and society.

A disproportionate degree of attention has been paid particularly internationally to Donald Trump’s personality and his eccentricities but such political persons cannot be divorced from the political culture in which they originate and have their being. That is, “structural” questions matter. Put simply, Donald Trump is a ‘true son’ of the Far Right, his principal support base. The issues raised are therefore for the President as well as his supporters of the Right.

We are obliged to respect the choices of the voting public but in the case of Trump’s election to the highest public position in the US, this columnist is inclined to see in those sections that voted for Trump blind followers of the latter who cared not for their candidate’s suitability, in every relevant respect, and therefore acted irrationally. It would seem that the Right in the US wanted their candidate to win by ‘hook or by crook’ and exercise power on their behalf.

By making the above observations this columnist does not intend to imply that voting publics everywhere in the world of democracy cast their vote sensibly. In the case of Sri Lanka, for example, the question could be raised whether the voters of the country used their vote sensibly when voting into office the majority of Executive Presidents and other persons holding high public office. The obvious answer is ‘no’ and this should lead to a wider public discussion on the dire need for thoroughgoing voter education. The issue is a ‘huge’ one that needs to be addressed in the appropriate forums and is beyond the scope of this column.

Looking back it could be said that the actions of Trump and his die-hard support base led to the Rule of Law in the US being undermined as perhaps never before in modern times. A shaming moment in this connection was the protest march, virtually motivated by Trump, of his supporters to the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021, with the aim of scuttling the presidential poll result of that year. Much violence and unruly behaviour, as known, was let loose. This amounted to denigrating the democratic process and encouraging the violent take over of the state.

In a public address, prior to the unruly conduct of his supporters, Trump is on record as blaring forth the following: ‘We won this election and we won by a landslide’, ‘We will stop the steal’, ‘We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen’, ‘If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.’

It is plain to see that such inflammatory utterances could lead impressionable minds in particular to revolt violently. Besides, they should have led the more rationally inclined to wonder whether their candidate was the most suitable person to hold the office of President.

Unfortunately, the latter process was not to be and the question could be raised whether the US is in the ‘safest pair of hands’. Needless to say, as events have revealed, Donald Trump is proving to be one of the most erratic heads of state the US has ever had.

However, the latest attempt on the life of President Trump suggests that considerable damage has been done to the democratic integrity of the US and none other than the President himself has to take on himself a considerable proportion of the blame for such degeneration, besides the US’ Far Right. They could be said to be ‘reaping the whirlwind.’

It is a time for soul-searching by the US Right. The political Right has the right to exist, so the speak, in a functional democracy but it needs to take cognizance of how its political culture is affecting the democratic integrity or health of the US. Ironically, the repressive and chauvinistic politics advocated by it is having the effect of activating counter-violence of the most murderous kind, as was witnessed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Continued repressive politics could only produce more such incidents that could be self-defeating for the US.

Some past US Presidents were assassinated but the present political violence in the country brings into focus as perhaps never before the role that an anti-democratic political culture could play in unraveling the gains that the US has made over the decades. A duty is cast on pro-democracy forces to work collectively towards protecting the democratic integrity and strength of the US.

Features

22nd Anniversary Gala …action-packed event

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Skyliners: Shanaka Viswakula (bass), Mario Ranasuriya (lead guitar), Daryl D'Souza (keyboards) and Kushmin Balasuriya (drums)

The Editor-in-Chief of The Sri Lankan Anchorman, a Toronto-based monthly, celebrating Sri Lankan community life in Canada, is none other than veteran Sri Lankan journalist Dirk Tissera, who moved to Canada in 1997. His wife, Michelle, whom he calls his “tower of strength”, is the Design Editor.

According to reports coming my way, the paper has turned out to be extremely popular in Toronto.

In fact, The Sri Lankan Anchorman won a press award in Toronto for excellence in editorial content and visual presentation.

However, the buzz in the air in Canada, right now, is The Sri Lankan Anchorman’s 22nd Anniversary Gala, to be held on Friday, 12 June, 2026, at the J&J Swagat Banquet Convention Centre, in Toronto.

An action-packed programme has been put together for the night, featuring some of the very best artistes in the Toronto scene.

The Skylines, who are classified as ‘the local musical band in Toronto’, will headline the event.

Dirk Tissera and wife Michelle: Supporting Sri Lanka-Canada community events, in Toronto, since launching The Anchorman
in 2002

They have performed and backed many legendary Sri Lanka singers.

According to Dirk, The Skylines can belt out a rhythm with gusto … be it Western, Sinhala or Tamil hits.

Also adding sparkle to the evening will be the legendary Fahmy Nazick, who, with his smooth and velvety vocals, will have the crowd on the floor.

Fahmy who was a household name, back in Sri Lanka, will be flying down from Virginia, USA.

He has captivated audiences in Sri Lanka, the Middle East and North America, and this will be his fourth visit to Toronto – back by popular demand,

Cherry DeLuna, who is described by Dirk as a powerhouse, also makes her appearance on stage and is all set to stir up the tempo with her cool and easy delivery.

“She’s got a great voice and vocal range that has captivated audiences out here”, says Dirk.

Chamil Welikala, said to be one of the hottest DJs in town, will be spinning his magic … in English, Sinhala, Tamil and Latin.

Both Jive and Baila competitions are on the cards among many other surprises on the night of 12 June.

This is The Anchorman’s fifth annual dance in a row – starting from 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 – and both Dirk and Michelle, and The Anchorman, have always produced elegant social events in Toronto.

“We intend to knock this one out of the park,” the duo says, adding that Western music and Sinhala and Tamil songs is something they’ve always delivered and the crowd loves it.

“We have always supported Sri Lanka-Canada community events, in Toronto, since launching The Anchorman, in 2002, and we intend to keep it that way.”

No doubt, there will be a large crowd of Sri Lankans, from all communities, turning up, on 12 June, to support Dirk, Michelle and The Anchorman.

Features

Face Pack for Radiant Skin

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

* Apple and Orange:

Blend a few apple and orange pieces together. Add to it a pinch of turmeric and one tablespoon of honey. Apply it to the face and neck and rinse off after 30 minutes. This face pack is suitable for all skin types.

According to experts, apple is one of the best fruits for your skin health with Vitamin A, B complex and Vitamin C and minerals, while, with the orange peel, excessive oil secretion can be easily balanced.

* Mango and Curd:

Ripe mango pulp, mixed with curd, can be rubbed directly onto the skin to remove dirt and cleanse clogged pores. Rinse off after a few minutes.

Yes, of course, mango is a tasty and delicious fruit and this is the mango season in our part of the world, and it has extra-ordinary benefits to skin health. Vitamins C and E in mangoes protect the skin from the UV rays of the sun and promotes cell regeneration. It also promotes skin elasticity and fights skin dullness and acne, while curd, in combination, further adds to it.

* Grapes and Kiwi:

Take a handful of grapes and make a pulp of it. Simultaneously, take one kiwi fruit and mash it after peeling its skin. Now mix them and add some yoghurt to it. Apply it on your face for few minutes and wash it off.

Here again experts say that kiwi is the best nutrient-rich fruit with high vitamin C, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, while grapes contain flavonoids, which is an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. This homemade face pack acts as a natural cleanser and slows down the ageing process.