Au Cochonnet Marin

True heroes do not beat their own drum… others do it for him. But sometimes they are so discreet that they need “un coup de pouce” (a helping hand) to inform the public at large.

I am using my own big thumb to let you know what happened today at our pétanque court. After my (semi) daily constitutional, I drove to the field to greet the numerous volunteers who were expected to come and help to clean our neglected courts.

The anticipated mob alas did not materialize, but 4 work heroes showed up to tackle the job. They were John-Philippe Wyek, Charles Davantes, Tamara Efron and Mike O’Leary.

They did a superb job on the frontcourts and it looks like they are ready to be played on. The backcourts need a little more work but unusual help has already been used and is expected again.

If you were caught jumping a subway turnstile, shoplifting, driving under the influence, or possessing marijuana. for instance, you might be sentenced to do some community service. And working in parks, planting flowers, or pulling weeds is an option.

So, I have been told that the County already agreed to such an arrangement, and that the rest of the cleaning is going to be done by the same people. A win-win situation for all. I think that pulling weeds is definitely more pleasant than spending a few days rotting in jail.

It looks like by Saturday or Sunday we will be able to come to the field and engage in some greatly needed social and physical activity.

Our president Christine Cragg has already communicated  the needed requirements to participate in any game to all.
Social distancing and mask wearing are not optional. They are mandatory!

“No hugging, kissing, or handshaking before or after games.
Players will sign once a “Conditions of Play Statement” before playing. (For acknowledgment of safety rules and contact information for contact tracing if necessary.)
They will also log the date each time they play.”

 Please let our heroes know how much you appreciate their help.

Alain

A few pictures are available at the regular spot.

J’ai lu quelque part que pour être relativement heureux, il faut toujours être en attente d’un événement agréable. Dans les conditions actuelles, c’est une chose assez difficile à imaginer.

Quand la pandémie de Covid-19 a débuté, beaucoup de gens ont pensé que ce ne serait qu’une crise passagère… une inflammation temporaire des fosses nasales.

C’est d’ailleurs ce qui avait été communiqué au public par notre Tartarin de Tarascon. Ne vous inquiétez pas, dans quinze jours tout cela sera terminé… Croyez-moi, il n’y a pas besoin de vous affoler ou même de porter des masques…

Quatre mois plus tard, dû à la conduite déplorable de certains individus, nous faisons face a une recrudescence du problème. Et cette fois-ci, on nous annonce en catimini que le virus se propage d’une façon aéroportée. C’est à dire que l’on n’a pas besoin d’être proche d’un autre individu pour être infecté.

Le virus, flotte sur un courant d’air et se dépose sur, vous ni vu ni connu. D’après un nombre croissant de scientifiques, vous pouvez maintenant être contaminé pratiquement n’importe où. Difficile d’être optimiste dans ces conditions.

Et puis, à quatre mois des élections présidentielles, existe maintenant aux États-Unis une situation politique explosive. Le résident de la Maison Blanche (qui ne pense qu’à être réélu) attise maintenant les passions par des discours incendiaires.

Nous n’avons plus d’États-Unis. Nous avons seulement un pays divisé par une politique extérieure incohérente, et une politique intérieure devastée par des luttes tribales.

Et il y a le confinement… Il ne faut pas oublier que l’être humain est un animal social qui a besoin de ses semblables pour s’épanouir. Coupé du monde, il ne pense plus qu’à jouer « la fille de l’air », au risque de mettre en danger tous ses proches.
L’espoir c’est le ciel bleu au-dessus des barbelés. Mais maintenant, le ciel bleu est obscurci par les barbelés.

Pour se divertir, certains cuisinent, d’autres lisent, beaucoup regardent la télé… Pour briser la monotonie, j’ai décidé d’écrire ce petit chapitre en français, chose que je n’ai pas fait depuis longtemps.

Quand je suis arrivé aux États-Unis, je pensais en français pour m’exprimer en anglais. Aujourd’hui, je réalise que je pense en anglais pour m’exprimer (plus difficilement) en français.

Tout change, sauf les imbéciles.

Globalisons les luttes pour globaliser l’espoir ! José Bové

 Alain

Ne dites plus « A bas les masques » mais « Haut les masques ! »

Statues (aka idols) are everywhere. They are familiar parts of urban landscapes, and generally speaking, passersby pay little attention to them. In my hometown, there were plenty of those and as a kid, I never really bothered to find out who they were or what they stood for.

Statues are usually funded by partisan groups, and erected to glorify their champions… typically, military leaders or significant national personalities. But popularity can be fleeting… Due to shifting political winds, yesterday heroes can suddenly become today’s pariahs.

Pigeons are more impartial. They like all statues and find them a nice place to socialize or to relieve themselves. In French, it is called « Joindre l’utile à l’agréable. » Combine business with pleasure.

 Lately, righteous activists have been scrutinizing statues’ past to determine if their presence is warranted. It is their prerogative, but judgements are subjective, influenced by personal feelings.

Regardless of his/her accomplishments, you will find flaws in just about anybody’s career. When evaluating somebody’s journey, the good and the bad deeds should be tallied. If the positive is substantially superior to the negative, this person should be getting a passing grade.

I heard that Winston Churchill’s statue in London was defaced. I am aware that in his early years Churchill was a fervent colonialist, with all evils that it implies. But the world should be eternally grateful to this man for his role in WWII.
Without his dogged resistance to Nazi’s aggression, today’s protests could be totally irrelevant. All opposition would be fiercely crushed and totally anihilated. Despite his youthful misconceptions, this man saved the world from an unthinkable Nazi enslavement and deserved to be honored!

On the other hand, a politically tainted figure like maréchal Philippe Pétain of France  have had all his statues taken down. In 1940, after the invasion of France and most of Europe, this former World War One hero threw his lot with the Germans.  He was responsible for the deaths of countless French citizens and displaced people.
Tyrants, conquistadors, slavers, traitors  don’t deserve a statue; if they have one, their time in the sun is up.

How many statues can pass the test of time? As an artist or as a health professional, you are fairly safe, but otherwise, your fate depends on political conditions. Should a dictator prevail, many seedy characters might be honored. If a decent man (as it is hoped) takes the reins of state, he will hopefully revoke some dreadful policies and help to re-unite the nation.

Just keep in mind

“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it…” Leviticus 26:1

Alain