Au Cochonnet Marin

I don’t pretend to like everybody. I only have a soft spot for individuals who prove likable. To me, the “liking process” is similar to trying out a new product; you buy, you like, you keep.
Or, you buy, you don’t like, and you avoid it. Does that make me a bad person?

After the George Floyd tragedy, there has been an outpouring of brotherly love, and that’s good. But let’s face it, everybody is not likable. Some people are stinkers… and ethnicity has nothing to do with it. In every ethnic group, you will find a bad, a good and an ugly individual… and you will make a choice. In effect, you will discriminate against somebody…

In my book, to be liked, you have to prove likable.
And I just read a short essay dealing with this subject. This piece by Tara Blair Ball is titled “5 Non-Physical Qualities Men Find the Most Attractive in Women.” I don’t think that these qualities apply only to women. It applies to everybody.

The author enumerates 5 reasons that make somebody likable.
First of all, you need to look happy. It is not always easy, but nobody is attracted by a grouchy person.
Then, having a sense of humor is important. Because laughing is contagious and it is a good way to establish a bridge to the other side.
Be nice. Nicety is a reciprocal quality. If you are nice to somebody, this person cannot be mean to you.
Be natural. Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be what you are not.
And finally, take care of yourself. To be happy, spoil yourself a little. If nobody brings you flowers, buy some.

This long preamble to say that if you discriminate against some people, it is not necessarily based on skin color. As a “Caucasian” there are millions of white people that I dislike and discriminate against. There are also millions of yellow, brown, black, and green people that I find unsavory and try to avoid.

Even though I don’t know any Japanese people, after watching a little program on YouTube called “Asian Boss” I realized that I like them. Of course, I would not like them all, but the little I know about them, makes them likable to me.
By the same token, I like women… but not all women. Does that make me a misogynist?

We all make choices, but they are not all motivated by race. Before blaming anybody, look honestly at yourself and try to figure out if there are any reasons why some people don’t like you. You might be surprised…

Alain

“There are few things more dangerous than a mixture of power, arrogance and incompetence.” ~ Bob Herbert

In 2016 the American people hired famed carnival barker Donald Trump as America.Inc CEO. As underlined by recent events, it has been an unmitigated disaster.

Children born and raised in wealth, are usually bogged down by an intellectual disability generated by their environment. In their critical formative years, they are surrounded by lackeys whose only job is to flatter and to please them… And they inevitably grow up with this sense of entitlement…

To their defense though, it should be noted that the silver spoon protruding from their mouth prevented them from eating the proper food necessary to normal brain development.

A good commander-in-chief knows his limitations. He relies on recognized experts to lead the country. And those experts should feel free to speak candidly, even if they disagree with their boss. This is not the case in a Casa Blanca ruled by anxiety.
Off with their heads, says the king when displeased. And since the beginning of his reign, numerous heads have indeed rolled down in the wicker basket.

During the monarchy, jobs were generally offered to flattering courtiers, regardless of their competence. Their only qualification was a blind devotion to the king… it was also the case for generals and many soldiers lost their lives because of their incompetence.

It seems that under Donald the First, not much has changed. Advisors are still hired (and disposed) solely based on their servile devotion to the King. And fearing for their sheltered livelihood, few dare to disagree.

Today, it is not uncommon to see a CEO fired for incompetence or gross misconduct. And (according to Mark Murphy) the main reasons are “Ignoring customers, tolerating low performers, denying reality, too much talk and not enough action.”

Besides a lack of compassion, this has a familiar ring… the king would be well advised (very unlikely) to think twice and temper his language before lashing out at his foes.

“Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.”

Caesar, beware of the Nones of November!

Alain

*Incompetence: the inability to do something successfully

There is nothing new about police brutality. America is a violent country and brute force has been part of the landscape for a long time… but it has to stop. It has to be purged from our society, especially from all law enforcement agencies.

Uncalled brutality does not serve any purpose other than to humiliate its victims. Ultimately it does not inspire respect or even fear, but hatred and a desire for retribution.

Even though some policemen are clearly guilty of gross misconduct, they are not directly to blame for their actions. Their direct leadership is… and above all, our  Justice system that bears the blame for such a national disgrace. Following the shocking death of George Floyd, the President of the United States should also have made a forceful statement condemning this tragedy. He did not.

When such a drama occurs, stern discipline should be immediately enforced. To show everyone that this kind of behavior won’t be tolerated. All officers involved should instantly be removed from duty and held accountable.

There is no need for brutality anytime. In law enforcement, brawn is sometimes necessary, but gratuitous violence should never be used or tolerated.
When the public sees somebody mistreating a dog, there is a popular outcry and the guilty person is immediately apprehended. The same treatment should be applied to any brutal law enforcement officer.

A community needs a police force, but it should be beyond reproach. The minute its members misbehave, they immediately lose respect and credibility.

Protests are understandable (and warranted), but vandalism and looting are not. They cheapen the rightful anger of the protesters. A massive, dignified demonstration would have had a more positive impact on the popular psyche than fires and wanton destruction.

When this is over, the name of George Floyd will slowly fade away, but the devastation brought by vandals will be remembered for a long time. It will stigmatize one more time the victims of police brutality and unfortunately, make it harder to empathize with them.

The moral burden of this disastrous story is born by a government that cares more about business and politics than fairness and human compassion.

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” Mahatma Gandhi

Protest yes, but wretched violence no.

Alain