E pluribus unum

The stunning aftermath of Brexit gives pause for reflection.
Regardless of what spin-doctors will say, the decision to leave the European Union was driven for many Brits by the fear (real or unfounded) of unchecked immigration.
This choice is regrettable but understandable.

Brexit

A massive influx of foreigners in any country tends to upset one’s comfort zone. It feels for many like a kebab joint is pushing out his local pub.

Personally, I am not a fan of the much-ballyhooed “diversity”. It tends to tear up the social fabric of a community and exacerbates social unrest.
As someone once said “One hot chili pepper makes a dish interesting. Too many of them make it difficult to digest.”
Today, after ingesting too many chili peppers, many European nations have debilitating stomachaches.
Hence the Brexit vote.

The more diverse a society (e.g. India), the more difficult it is to govern. Trying to please everybody often ends up satisfying nobody.
To be strong, a nation needs to be fairly homogeneous. It needs to have the same language, the same laws, the same customs and conventions.
And, it should absolutely do without any undue religious interference.
Religion is a personal matter; it has no place in government.

You cannot join a team and play according to your own rules.
I don’t care if you are white, yellow, black or green or if you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or Zoroastrian, you must abide by the same democratically approved laws. No exceptions.

Diversity is a two way street.
You have no business applying for asylum if you are unwilling to comply with the prevalent rules and customs of your country of adoption.
First and foremost, you have to accept the separation of church and state and gender equality. Those are the pillars of modern democracy.

If you cannot agree with this, you have no right to remain in a country that provided shelter and a slew of benefits totally non-existent in your country of origin.

I (unlike that pompadoured quacking fool) don’t condone Brexit. I think that it is an historical miscalculation, but it emphasizes the need for national cohesion and an orderly, tightly controlled immigration process followed by intense integration classes.

Alain

The toll of loneliness

“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” Kurt Vonnegut

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It seems that in America, mass shootings are becoming an almost ordinary occurrence.
After such an incident people express grief, shed tears, hold memorials, say prayers, make heartfelt speeches and… fatalistically wait for the next massacre to occur.

Tightly controlling the sale of guns (a measure strenuously opposed by the GOP) would be an obvious way to curb that scourge, but eradicating loneliness would also be another way to limit the carnage.
Because lonely people (consciously or unconsciously) are angry, resentful, and these alienated individuals are irrational, dangerous human beings.
Most of the shootings are perpetrated by disaffected loners.

Anger is a manifestation of a deeper issue… and that, for me, is based on insecurity, self-esteem and loneliness. Naomi Campbell

In our age of effortless, instant communication, isolation is paradoxically the most virulent disease. And you don’t have to be old to be lonely. Loneliness strikes indiscriminately young and old, blacks and whites, poor and wealthy.

Version 2I recently met an enthusiastic young woman on the pétanque field.
Her name is Jenny and she piqued my interest when she mentioned that she was working on a project “to bring together different generations”.

Her undertaking meshes neatly with my own philosophy. I always believed that to remain in the game you need to mingle and interact with people of all ages and background. Jenny’s goal is as I understand it, to integrate different generations in a big happy melting pot.

We have a lot to learn from previous generations, and similarly seniors need to keep in touch with Milleniums in order to avoid becoming human flotsam.
If you don’t want to be classified and treated like a relic, you need to mingle and interact with younger folks.

Youth is impetuous. It often takes an older person to temper the impulsiveness of a hothead, but it also take a younger person to creatively think outside the envelope.

To sum it up we all need each other, and Jenny could be the linchpin who could in our own group bring about a solution to this modern predicament.

If you see that young lady on the field, don’t be a stuck-up geezer; approach her, talk to her and include her and her friends in all your activities.

Alain

Parting is such a sweet sorrow

Generally when there is a barbecue, there is a barbecue master (the guy with the oversize white hat) who provides and burns the meat.

But yesterday at La Pétanque Marinière, a different scenario took place. A barbecue grill was set all right, but instead of having a short order jockey singe the meat for you, it was BYOS (Bring Your Own Steak) and cook it yourself.

The formula seemed to appeal to a bunch of guys who gathered around the grill to exchange drivel and play Chef For a Day.
A potluck table was also set with guests contributing various dishes to be shared by all.
I recognize that our party was no Woodstock but about 30 faithful still came to partake in our little get-together.

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From Sonoma we got Ed Porto, Frank Pipal, Dave Riffo (who by the way is leaving sunny California to settle in not so sunny Oregon) Joe la Torre and Rob Everett.

From La Pétanque Marinière, Henry and Calvert, Charlie and Liv, Alain and Evelyne Marchand, Jacques Gautier, Christine and Larry Cragg, Minou and Minette Etallaz, Noel Marcovecchio, Brigitte and Herb Moran, Bart Zachofsky.
Who am I forgetting?

Our party was graced by Colette Van der Meulen and her husband who temporarily decamped from their New Mexico digs to participate in our little “fête”. Colette was in good spirit and sported a new short haircut that suited her very well.

IMG_2176We were also pleased as punch to have Jenny, Kali and her mom Kit as guests. They came a little too late to play in our little tournament but later on they participated in a spirited game and it looks like they enjoyed it.
We certainly hope to see them on a regular basis.

The impromptu tournament was organized by Verena Rytter and Liv Kraft. Thank you ladies.

The following people signed up to play:

  1. Henry Wessel & Genevieve Etallaz
  2. David Riffo & Noel Marcovecchio
  3. Ed Porto & Colette Van der Meulen
  4. Jean-Claude Etallaz & Caitlin W.B
  5. Alain Efron & Calvert Barron
  6. Alain Marchand & Evelyne Marchand
  7. Frank Pipal & Robert Everett
  8. Joe la Torre & Charlie Davantes

Four leisurely relaxed games were played after lunch and around 5:00 pm the winners were crowned.

They were:

1st prize: Henry Wessel & Genevieve Etallaz      $46.00 ($23 ea)
2nd prize: Ed Porto & Colette Van der Meulen         $30.00 ($15 ea)
3rd prize: Alain Marchand & Evelyne Marchand       $22.00 ($11 ea)

Alain

PS: not too many pictures, but still a few (My Photos). Too busy schmoozing and exchanging vacation war stories with guests.