“Et tu Brute!” cried an anguished dying Julius Caesar, the greatest Roman of them all (though this cat’s favourite is Mark Anthony epitomized by Richard Burton), when he saw his friend Brutus raise his dagger to thrust it into his already bloodied back on the steps of the Roman Senate, beside the statue of Pompey, in 44 BC. It was all a fallacious allegation that prompted the dastardly murder, ignited by jealous Casca and promoted by lean and hungry Cassius. They alleged that Julius Caesar wanted to be Emperor of the Roman Empire, thus discarding the democratic Republic of Rome, and so they worked on honourable Brutus long and hard and finally, convinced him that Caesar was over ambitious and a threat to the democratic State.
Local attempted assassination
We in Sri Lanka in the year 2018 and the Ides of March (or thereabouts) were to see an enactment of another assassination and betrayal in our version of the Senate – Parliament by the waters of the Diyawanna. And the conspirators: stout and eternally showing-his-teeth Gaman-man, inspired and instigated by the Fat Ex and his fat and shouting JO. The victim: the Prime Minister – Ranil W; the weapon: a petition (or whatever) of no confidence. And, who would the dying local Caesar direct his wail of sorrow, surprise and accusation of betrayal at? Who but the supposedly turncoat UNPers who the Gaman-man says are very keen to sign the paper and support the no confidence motion. Et tu ungrateful UNPers!
The Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims clashing in several parts of the Island put paid to the motion being moved or presented in Parliament on the scheduled date – March 6. So will it now be presented on the apt date – Ides of March, ill-fated March 15?
Parallels between then and now
The greatest dramatist of them all – Shakespeare – introduced a soothsayer to his tragedy Julius Caesar. On Caesar’s triumphal, battle-won return to a tumultuous welcome in the Roman marketplace, a lone voice intones; “Beware the Ides of March.” Do we in this country in this day have a soothsayer? Plenty astrologers but Ranil W is mercifully not known to be governed by them – quibblers with predictions most times. What or who is our parallel to the soothsayer of 44 BC? This cat is inclined to name the media, but hastens to add, their cry is not one of sympathy or due warning. More incitement and condemnation, at least one TV Channel. They’ve been crying for Ranil’s blood for long now.
Shakespeare brilliantly brings in pathos and the feminine touch. He has Calpurnia warn her husband not to go to the Senate that day as she had a nightmare. The Senator who arrives in Caesar’s home to make sure he comes to the Senate (and his death) taunts Caesar:
“Break up the Senate till another time, when Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams?
If Caesar hides himself, shall they not whisper, ‘Lo! Caesar is afraid?”
We have our local Calpurnia of maithri nature, but her warning cannot actually prevent the Gaman-man and his pack hound to impeach her husband. Maybe, but to no avail. Maybe, the real Maithri can save Ranil from being impeached, but as things progressed during LG polls campaigning he may consider Ranil’s ousting a G R O B R since he wants to curry blue favour. This cat holds no brief for any one and is apolitical. However, her gorge rises at the ingratitude and intransigence of political seekers of fame and fortune. It was claimed one or two UNPers were in cohorts with the Gaman who is eternally baying for people’s blood. The others join forces as if they are lily white and completely incorruptible. This petition against the PM is instigated by the Bond Business, isn’t it? So, only straight and honest MPs should sign it. Not party people who benefitted by Ranil’s leadership. But no. In our country more than in most other countries, self comes much much before country. And underhand retaliation and betrayal are endemic, mostly among politicians. So let’s wait and see how the Ides of March comes and goes.
In Shakespeare’s tragedy the soothsayer is again by the road to the Senate on the fateful day. Caesar comments triumphantly: “The Ides of March are come” The soothsayer succinctly and tragically replies: “Ay, Caesar, but not gone.”
Emergency and all that
An emergency of two weeks prevails island-wide and Digana and other areas near Kandy are under night curfew. Very good to curb inflamed passions; mass or mob passions in this fair Isle are ever ready to be inflamed. An apt Sinhala saying alludes to a fly going past one’s nose – enough to raise a hornet’s nest. Just one random act of violence like the assaulting of a driver who did not give way to a drunken driver can and has raised the bogey of ethnic and religious conflict. There is however, ongoing simmering resentment in the Sinhalese towards the Muslim people’s economic success and expansion of progeny. Additionally of course, those yellow clad so called monks congregate like crows on carrion to inflame angers. It is said that the Bodu Bala Sena came from Ampara to Digana. They are all to blame but there is, in this cat’s opinion, a concerted effort to destabilize the country and for that it’s not ethnicity or religious fervour that is culpable, but politics. To some politicians who have no power and thus no perks and privileges and salivate at these, want a destabilized, conflicted country - their Eldorado to claim.
Electronic media or social networks are to be blamed mostly for inflaming angers and inciting hatred, murder and revenge. That’s modernity, and so called advancement. Facebook and Twitter have shown how effective and efficient they are by being used as an effective means of rapid communication during the so named Arab Spring.
A lot depends on the Buddhist chief prelates, particularly, to influence people to act with responsibility and fellow feeling.
- Menika