Rising indulgently to criticism and bored look at the nation

March 28, 2019, 7:43 pm 


Vinod Moonesinghe criticized Cassandra severely, somewhat at length, in the Opinion Page of "The Island" of Monday March 25. Yet to her it was a mere carping whine. Hence the indulgence mentioned in the title and the couple of days taken to respond.

Why quote European Classics?

Vinod M was critiquing her article in "The Island" of Friday 22 March where the cartoonist Jeffrey’s picture of two huge legs got her quoting Shelley and Shakespeare who wrote sharply on legs – men’s, and in power. Vinod’s crit of Cass is that she "…looks at things from a very Eurocentric viewpoint." SO WHAT? This was her immediate and rude reply. One is free, Cass presumes, in this democratic socialist etc country of ours to have any viewpoint, even to take an anti-government stance. Vinod faults Cass for quoting Shakespeare and the Greek and Roman classics. She quoted the Bard, but only made a passing reference to a battle in ancient Greece.

Puzzled by this baseless accusation, she read Vinod’s article further and had her being preached to on the Spartans, Persians and Greeks. Then this sentence: "This brings us back to Cassandra. Why is she, an Asian, siding with the Europeans?" This really is laughable and not even worthy of repudiation. She is not ‘siding’ since there is no conflict or argument. She was quoting an English poet and the incomparable Bard who wrote so brilliantly that one could pick quotes from every second line of his. Vinod details who the original Cassandra was (don’t we know!) and then asks the idiotic question "So why should Cassandra be quoting these European classics and not Asian ones? Why not Kautiliya and the Dhammapada or at the very least the Bible or the Quran?"

For the very obvious and simple and completely justified reason that she could not recall a quote from the Bible or the Dhammapada, both of which she is familiar with, on massive legs!! Also she is not, repeat not, so conversant with the two classics mentioned that she can freely quote from them. She has not read a word of Kautiliya, nor from the Quran. Obvious that she quotes as she does because she is more familiar with the English classics, admittedly a small number in the ocean of English lit, but sufficient to appreciate.

Vinod demonstrates how blinkered persons can be and how narrow in opinions and judgments made. Also, just because Cass quotes from English literature which those of the older generation were fortunate to be immersed in, it does not make her Euro-centric. But what if she is? Neither her nationalism nor her love and admiration for Sri Lanka are diminished therefrom.

However, Cassandra thanks Vinod Moonesinghe for reading her, and more, for critiquing her. Cass, as a freelance journalist, adores and thrives on criticism. Thanks also for the dose of education! Immediately on reading Vinod’s opinion a quote came to her – yes, Eurocentric again – from an Anglo-Irish poet, Oliver Goldsmith - and his rather tongue-in-cheek poem on the Village Schoolmaster. Once you read the quote you will understand why it seems apt though one is certain Vinod Moonesinghe is no schoolmaster!

The village all declared how much he knew — And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew. !!

The week’s news

Not so much to comment on as it is centered on nominated and hopeful candidates for president. Cassandra shies away from this topic but hopes fervently the Elephants will select to nominate that Brave Heart – Karu Jayasuriya.

The Standard Five Scholarship Examination was pushed up front on Tuesday news by a TV clip showing HE the President very emphatically, very forcefully using wide hand gestures, to announce that on his recommendation he would ban this examination. In the very next breath the announcer Cass listened to said the Deputy Secy to the Ministry of Education was awaiting a final decision on this matter. Nothing goes without controversy: Opposition opposing everything the government even plans; the Pres and his government pronouncing contrary statements. Well, Cass decided to wait patiently for the morrow’s newspapers. No mention on the Grade 5 scholarship examination in the Wednesday 27 press. So, as often happens, we news-seekers are left high and dry. Is the exam kaput or not?

Turmoil and disasters all around the globe

The US is embroiled in the Mueller Report and the Mexican Wall with Trump solidly and vociferously centre staged. He celebrates the report clears him of collusion with Russia in the run up to the 2016 Presidential election and crows over the granting of a large sum from some emergency fund to build his wall, in spite of the Democrats’ attempt to stymie him.

Theresa May continues trying to get her Brexit deal through Parliament with Conservative MPs voting against her proposal and a Minister or two of her Cabinet resigning. Graphically, a colour lights system revealed analysts’ prognosis, with two lit orange lights indicating an early general election in Britain and a referendum on the Brexit issue. No light lighting up on her early exit as PM.

Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been utterly devastated by Cyclone Idai. In Mozambique alone 1.8 million have been affected and severely with them losing everything from homes to family members. Malaria, cholera and dysentery are feared while another African nation fights Ebola.

Better news flashes

The world cannot be bogged down by misery and horrendous trouble, much caused by itself. There has to be good news too. One major item to cheer and gloat over, even in this land of ours, is the taking over militarily, the last of the ISIS strongholds in Syria. Their areas of strength were targeted and wiped out by US led military forces. But as every reporter on BBC and CNN added, with the good news was: "But ISIS is not crushed completely." Militants are in considerable areas in Iraq and Afganistan and in pockets in Indonesia. We remember the widespread showing of brutal beheadings of journalists caught by the militants. Thousands more would have been put to death. And when the jihadi fighters fled their last stronghold in Syria a few days ago, they did so leaving wives and children in the thousands who now languish in desert tents. Countries some of them came from have refused to take them back; justifiably so.

Good to see pictures of Prince Philip and Camelia, Duchess of Cornwall, in a previous communist regime – Cuba. One clip seen which delighted Cass was of the two of them enjoying a ballet class conducted by a former star performer in the (British) Royal Ballet.

Wave was the cathartic outpouring of deep deep grief suffered by Sonali Deraniyagala on losing her entire family of parents, husband Stephen Lissenburgh and two sons. Published in 2013 urged by Michael Ondaatje, it was selected one of the ten best books worldwide recently. She tried drugs, drinks and considered suicide but mercifully let time heal her. Reading the book Cass kept thinking of all the women of southern and eastern Sri Lanka who suffered a similar tragedy or worse, and had not the very many supportive relatives and friends Sonali had; neither material resources. Now this Cambridge graduate in economics with a doctorate has contracted a same sex marriage. Headlines announced "’Tsunami’ Sonali Deraniyagala finds love and bliss marrying ‘Potter’ actress Fiona Shaw." The actress has many films to her name and was Harry Potter’s aunt Petunia Dursley; out of the Hogwarts gang but dangerous in her own way. We sincerely wish the two happiness and fulfillment. One question: How are they addressed? With their separate names or Mr and Mrs - which surname?

Cassandra leaves you with that question and some light–heartedness in this world of turmoil and island of election fever, prevarication and of course drugs and corruption.