Au Cochonnet Marin

Politicians always strive to be “politically correct”. To say the “right” things to the right audiences. These “holier-than-thou” fellows absolutely hate to ruffle feathers (and offend potential voters). Every vote counts you know…

Personally I don’t care about being PC. As a matter of fact I don’t like it at all, for I despise pandering.
The expression “politically correct” has its roots in the Stalinist doctrine.
“Anyone who is not with me is against me,” observed Joseph Jughasvili Stalin (and likely to end up in a gulag, or worse).
In order to remain in friendly terms with the Georgian despot you had to toe the communist party line (his line) and always deliver “politically correct” messages.
This rule by the way still applies in Russia today where dissenters often meet a politically incorrect demise (see Boris Netsmov and Anna Politkovskaya).

Being PC is usually perceived as doing something noble, altruistic. But it is often unwise or unpractical, or both.

UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) has recently been asking western nations to welcome/absorb Syrian asylum seekers. Praiseworthy goal indeed, but why asking mainly Christian nations to welcome Muslim nationals? Fellows who are not generally known to be particularly tolerant and friendly toward the West?
Why insert potential Fifth Columnists in already troubled and financially burdened countries?

Why not ask wealthy Muslim nations to help their coreligionists?
Why not demand that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Brunei and the United Arab Emirates be more charitable instead of building newer and shinier skyscrapers and buying soccer teams?
After all, they have a common culture and share the same beliefs…
Would Muslim countries welcome Christian’s refugees in a similar situation?
Hum…

I realize that what I am saying is heresy to PC activists but I call them as I see them.

It would be politically correct for lions to become vegans, but despite politically correct speeches by activist lions, most felines persist in eating innocent zebras.

I know that these beasts are wrong but isn’t it is more practical to let them be than providing tons of Wheaties to these incorrect creatures?

Politically correct? No, I prefer politically astute.

Alain

As I have stated many times before, I am a doubting Thomas. I refuse to believe most everything without a direct personal experience.

In life I favor Cartesian logic, a philosophy rooted in mathematics. If things don’t add up properly, they are not credible.
It is as simple as this and that’s the way cold-blooded businessmen operate. They can pretend that they are devout individuals, but in business they will demand more concrete evidence than mere faith.

If I go to my banker and ask for a million dollar loan, he will undoubtedly ask me how I would repay it, or what kind of collateral I would use.
I don’t have any money, I would tell him, but God will provide.
If the banker didn’t laugh outright, he would certainly demand more proof of solvency.
I don’t have much, I would say, but you can use my life as collateral.
The banker would then point out that life is cheap (certainly not worth a million bucks) and that he very much doubts that the Almighty would help.

That’s why I am an atheist.
And that’s why I fail to understand why so many people blindly follow the worn out precepts of any religion.
How can you believe what nobody has ever been able to prove?
Miracles? Blind faith? Those are definitely not my cup of altar wine.

Anybody is entitled to think whatever they want, but I strenuously object to be imposed upon by any form of theocracy.
And that is the ultimate goal of any religious establishment: impose their biased, self-serving ways on everyone.

Nobody is infallible and no leader can ever claim to detain the absolute truth.
Personally, I claim the right to mock anybody I please without having to fear stoning, beheading or crucifixion.

About five centuries ago, the Spanish Inquisition started a reign of terror and tortured and put to death anybody who was not deemed a “true” Christian.
Now ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) is doing the same (even worse) to those who are not “true” Muslims.
What kind of barbarous charade is this?

To live harmoniously with our neighbors we don’t need “guardians of the faith”. We need social workers and technocrats (an elite of technical experts) not a bunch of self-important, retrograde, bloodthirsty ignoramuses.

 

If you desperately need help with your computer, I would recommend calling for technical assistance rather than imploring  divine providence.
It has proven to work much more expeditiously.

But again, to each his own.

Alain

My favorite debunker:

How is your hypothalamus?
“A region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems, and involved in sleep and emotional activity.”

I am asking because my wife’s thermostat and mine are out of synch. I am cold when she is hot, and hot when she is cold.
«Bolshaya problema» as Putin (Tamara’s Godfather) would say.

It might have something to do with her inbred spirit of contradiction, but it could possibly be something else.
My research revealed that medication, illness, muscle mass and age can be big factors contributing to this adversarial condition.

OK, so how do you cope with this problem?

You can look fairly at your mate and offer constructive suggestions.
The problem is that she will undoubtedly do the same thing and when two people offer “helpful” solutions at the same time, it can lead to a sudden and calamitous drop of ambient temperature.

She insists on leaving windows (doors, drawers) open year round and I demand some sometimes stale but warm environment.
Let’s not forget that she was reared in St Petersburg, Russia, where the average temperature in winter is 20°Fahrenheit and where people like to frolic (sans bathing suit) in the Neva river.

I on the other hand grew up in Paris where the weather is usually milder and where the Seine is too polluted for a dip, even with a “hazmat” suit.

I am a cold-blooded creature (a reptilian?) depending on external energy sources while she is a mammalian (generating heat internally) with lava gushing through her veins.

I could argue that “hot flashes” might have something to do with her condition, but she would probably counter that I am going through another andropausal episode.

We could bicker forever, but I think that it is safe to say that this is no one’s particular problem.
We are both (shall I dare to say it) “deviants”.
Not much we can do about that.

In the meantime, if your mate complains about heat or cold, blame it on a faulty hypothalamus and apply for a refund.

Warmly,

Alain

PS: When my cat cooperates (sometimes she does) I love to use her as a foot warmer.