Features
One of the better American Presidents – Jimmy Carter
Worldwide attention is riveted on the incomprehensible tantrums of tricky, tentacular, truculent, tenacious, tweeting Trump. Only one reason for his staying on in the White House and not attempting civility and even a reluctant handing over of the presidency can be adduced: not being right in the head. But remember he got the highest number of votes of any defeated presidential contender. He is also backed by hordes of white Americans and Republican Senators. He is such a contrast to Biden. Obama is a diamond to this clump of coal while John Kennedy and Bill Clinton glisten in spite of their minor flaws. To me the greatest of our times, barring Obama, is Jimmy Carter. He was no outstanding president, but his humanity shone forth. Of the five living U.S. presidents, Carter is the longest-lived president, the longest-retired president, the first to live 40 years after his inauguration, and the first to live beyond the age of 95. He and Rosalyn celebrated their 74 years of devoted marriage on July 7, 2020.
He was not known very well beyond the State of Georgia when he came forward as Democratic contender against Gerald Ford, but served well as 39th Prez from 1977-81. He was the man with most heart and continued after retirement to work in social projects. His greatest achievement is co-founding the Carter Center advocating human rights for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Sites in Atlanta
I have a son living in Atlanta, Georgia, so would spend holidays with him. While he worked I went around, spending hours in the Carter Center, libraries and the small museum in the ground floor of the house down Peach Tree Street where in the basement, Margaret Mitchell wrote her one and only novel, a best seller for all time no sooner it was out. My son’s flat is bang opposite Fox Theatre but the film of Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind was first screened in another cinema. However the hotel where Clarke Gable and other stars stayed for the grand opening night is adjacent.
Seeing the 39th President
Imagine the wonder of what my son did during one of my holidays with him.
“Would you like to go to Plains and see and hear Jimmy Carter in the Baptist church there?”
Wouldn’t I just love it! It was a weekend when the Prez and wife were to be in Plains and one had to reserve seats in the Maranatha Baptist church on-line. So on a Sunday in September 2008, we attended Sunday School conducted by the President (even ex-presidents of the US are addressed as president).
A friend of the Carters first laid out detailed do-s and don’t-s in a friendly manner; following specified protocols was important. The main section in the church was reserved for visitors while the pews on either side were occupied by neighbourhood congregation; the well groomed women ‘Steel Magnolias’ in their elegant hats. Carter and wife walked in and he took his place below the simple alter. He said he and Rosalyn had returned from building houses in Africa. Then he got down to the business of the day, first asking those out of State to indicate themselves. Egged on by persons seated near us, I did so and said, “Out of country – Sri Lanka.”
His welcome was warm and he added, “We are saddened by the fighting over there in your island home. We pray for your country.” More surprising was when we were allowed to take photographs with the First Couple. We had been instructed not to speak to either, not to thank him, not to wish him, but just get the picture taken (which a person did) and move aside since so many wanted to do this. When my son and I went beside the couple, Carter spoke to me: (Surprise! Surprise!) “You are from Sri Lanka. Beautiful island. We wish you well and the country.” I had to thank him didn’t I, notwithstanding strictures? I wasn’t wearing sari. Maybe my brown skin was the telltale clue for recognition.
James Earl Carter Jr. was born on October 1, 1924 to peanut farmer Earl Carter and Lillian of Peace Corps to India fame. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946 with a BSc degree and joined the US Navy, where he served in submarines. His father died in 1953 and Carter left his naval career and returned home to take up the reins of his family’s peanut-growing business. Carter inherited comparatively little due to his father’s forgiveness of debts and the division of the estate among the children. His sister took him on a blind date and he fell in love with his partner of the foursome, Rosalyn Smith and married her in 1946 and had three sons and Amy. They were 21 and 18 years of age when they married.
He joined the Democratic Party and rose to serve as a Georgia State Senator from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th Governor from 1971 to 75. He opposed the political climate of racial segregation and supported the growing civil rights movement. An interesting tale resides here. When his mother was nogt around, the child Jimmy was cared for by a black sharecropper’s wife – Mrs Rachel Clarke. Carter admits she was one of the strongest influences in his life.
Preserved sites in Plains, Carter’s home included
The high school which he and Rosalyn attended; the farm in which he grew up; the hospital where his mother was a nurse and the small railway station that was the headquarters of his presidential campaign are now preserved sites under the aegis of the American National Park Service. The high school is a Jimmy Carter museum.
After the Sunday School service, my son drove me to Carter’s family farm. Pictures and voice presentations (Carter’s voice describing rooms in the house and the adjoining store) give the visitor a very clear picture of the life he led in his father’s 350 acre farm — extremely tough and necessitating long hours working behind a plough or gathering produce. They ran a store and invariably people wanting oil, sugar, flour or whatever would arrive during the time the Carters were at lunch. It was Jimmy who interrupted his meal to attend to the sale.
The impression that comes across is that of the closely knit family of two boys and two girls; very religious and almost uptight in upbringing. His father bought a radio when radios were luxuries and thus often, the house verandah would be full of neighbours come over to listen to some important news or speech. (All Southern houses have these open verandahs to beat the summer heat, with rockers and a swing). The toilet was converted to a water closet when Jimmy was a teenager, and still to be seen was a suspended bucket with holes in its bottom and a tap above which made do for their shower.
Plains had only one eatery naming itself Mother’s Diner. The Carters are supposed to be frequent visitors, though the food is limited in scope. Cheap though. They have built a far from sumptuous house close to the farm, where they live with guards around when they visit Plains. We peeped in as we passed the closed gate.
We stayed the weekend in The Plains Historic Inn and Antiques, exquisitely quaint, capturing in full measure the spirit, tone and atmosphere of this tiny Southern American city which incredibly threw up a president of the United States. The inn has seven theme rooms above the hall which displays and sells antiques, local crafts and books by and of the Carters. Each room was furnished in the style of a decade of Carter’s life, from the 1920s through the 1980s. For instance, the ’60s room has its bed, sofa, writing table and even bathroom fixtures in the 1960s style, posh though. LIFE magazines of the decade are on the bedside table and two books of the 60’s era. Prominently placed on the double bed was a wooden tray with two packets of peanuts, the major product of Plains. The breakfast area, where cereal, fruit juice, cookies and fruit are available for guests to help themselves to when they please, leads to a large verandah with rockers. It was sheer magic sitting out with a brilliant half moon above, or even in the afternoon, overlooking a lovely garden and the railway line and its quaint station which is now of historic interest, having been the headquarters of Carter’s presidential bid. The headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International is close by, so also the Andersonville Civil War Village, which too is a national historic site.
Carter quotes
Jimmy Carter has thirty books authored by him, apart from articles et al. Here are a couple of what he has said, pertinent to now; maybe said before the latest disgraceful calamity.
“I’ll never tell a lie. I’ll never make a misleading statement. I’ll never betray the confidence that any of you had in me. And I’ll never avoid a controversial issue.”
“Republicans are men of narrow vision, who are afraid of the future.”
“We’ve become now an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I think that’s done the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards of the American political system ever seen in my life.”
Author
- News Advertiesment
See Kapruka’s top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka’s unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.
Author
-
There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.
The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.
To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.
Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.
It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.
All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.
Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.
If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.
In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.
However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.
It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.
The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.
It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.
A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.
Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.
Author
By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.
The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.
We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.
This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.
Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!
At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.
One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.
It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!
ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!
The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.
When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!
I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.
I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.
I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.
Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!
I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.
Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.
Author
Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!
To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.
Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.
The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..
How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!
If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.
And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!
Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.
Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.
I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.
He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.
Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.
He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!
I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:
“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.
“There is no science to beat common sense.”
But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!
