Category: Fourre-tout

Where is truth?

Right now everybody is looking for it, but it has not been seen or heard for quite a while and it has many people worried.
Where is that elusive creature hiding out?

Interestingly enough I could not even find a clear definition of that word in any publication. So, it seems that anybody feels free to adopt the brand of truth that suits him or her best.

Lately that poor thing has been abused and battered; by politicos, media and foreign powers. All kinds of strange “truths” are popping up everywhere and it is becoming very difficult to tell which article is genuine and which one is a fake.

And whom can you presently trust to speak candidly? Our elected representatives? Don’t make me laugh…

“He is a shifty-eyed goddamn liar…. he’s one of the few in the history of this country to run for high office talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides.” Harry T.

Who could Harry be talking about? Anybody we know?

Some people claim that truth is dead and that you better forget about it. But you cannot do that. If you do, you may as well leave the country and take refuge on Pitcairn.

When truth is handled or massaged by a “populist” who repeatedly says, “believe me”, watch his nose. You will see it grow.

Truth can only be revealed by dedicated crusaders and it can be a very dangerous enterprise.

Like all endangered species, it should be kept in sanctuaries to protect it from poachers. If it is not defended it will wither away and you might end up living under regimes like the National Socialist German Workers’ party. Some people liked it; most abhorred it and fought it to the death.

Truth should be found and rehabilitated at all cost. It is a rare commodity and it is extremely difficult to live without it.

Alain

“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. Nelson Mandela

My mother tongue is French and I spoke it daily until my 24th birthday. Then I moved to America, and not knowing a single soul there, I probably didn’t utter a single word of French for more than a year.

Expatriates come to America as bachelors or as married couples. I surmise that single people learn English faster, through sheer necessity… and often with the eager help of native girlfriends or boyfriends.
A married couple on the other hand will continue to speak its native tongue and don’t feel the same pressure to master English as bachelors.

For my part, I have lived in America twice as long as in France and my French is getting a little rusty. Since I only speak it once or twice a week (sometimes less) some words sometimes escape me. When it happens, I lazily plug the missing words with more familiar English terms.
In the long run, this bad practice will hurt my familiarity with my native language.

English is much simpler than French and much easier to master. It is also more practical. You can often express yourself with much fewer words than in any other Latin language. This is the reason why after a certain time, French immigrants start speaking a hodgepodge of French and English. Instead of saying “c’est formidable” for instance, it is much easier to simply say, “cool”.

But the French generally don’t like abbreviations. Jean-Michel will always remain Jean-Michel and practically never JM. Some people have tried to call me Al, but I strongly object to it. Alain it is and Alain it will remain.

I bet that some Americans would love to call the pope Frank or the Queen of England Lizzie but it would be a big “faux-pas”, probably punishable by Riding the Rail.

In the pétanque environment you can hear a variety of languages and accents. On the field I frequently hear Italian, Spanish, German, Swiss and of course French. This Tower of Babel context suits me fine.

I am fond of foreign languages and eager to learn, but even though I don’t use French as often as I would like, I remain highly partial to my roots. Quality French is celestial music to my ears.

« Pour tout homme de coeur, le culte qu’il a voue a sa langue maternelle est une chose sacrée. » Georges Isidore Barthe

“For every noble-hearted man, the worship that he has devoted to his mother tongue is a sacred thing!”

Alain

Many people have been wondering why usually assertive Donald Trump has been so subdued and deferential towards Vladimir Putin.

Well my friends, I have my own pet theory about this. As the French say, “cherchez la femme”… seek the woman. When there are shenanigans somewhere, start by looking for the woman…
I might get in trouble for saying that, but I am merely repeating what Alexandre Dumas said a long time ago.

“I do think Russian foreign policy is very savvy. There’s a need for great caution because the Russians are able to discreetly blackmail countries.” Vaclav Havel

The Russians are masters of blackmail, the practice of threatening to reveal compromising information about a certain person.
It is an integral part of their arsenal of dirty tricks. In French blackmail is called “chantage” from the verb “chanter” (to sing). Through chantage, you can coerce anybody to “sing” by threatening to reveal his/her dirty secrets.

The classic Russian ploy is to use a “femme” operative to seduce a gullible diplomat or businessman, and have the entire episode filmed by accomplices. The victim is then blackmailed into cooperating.

How was your trip to Moscow? asked the diplomat’s wife.
Well, my dear, there was a lot of activity often ending in all-nighters.
You bet!

“Blackmail is more effective than bribery.” John le Carre

I agree with you John!

Many people still probably remember the Profumo Affair.

In 1961, John Profumo the Secretary of State for War for Great Britain had a brief relationship with Christine Keeler a 19-year-old would-be model. Then it came to light that Keeler may have been simultaneously involved with Captain Yevgeny Ivanov, a (spying) Soviet naval attaché.
As a result, adios Mr. Profumo.
Well done Yevgeny!

Finally, our president has so many femmes to hide, that it makes him the perfect Manchurian candidate for шантаж (chantage).

Vladimir is toying with him and pulling all the strings. Ever noticed his smirky smile?

Question of the day

How will our Master Deal Maker get out of this quagmire?

Alain

To be continued…