Author: R J Adams

Three absurdities in one day is a lot, even for the BBC News, but there they were staring us in the face this morning, jaw-dropping examples of the crassness of the human species when elevated to any form of authority.

The world is teetering on the precipice of global warming, politicians are burying their heads deep into the sand while pretending they have the matter in hand, and China bans electric scooters and segways from the roads of two major cities. The above image clearly displays the irresponsible attitude of Chinese politicians, their hypocrisy in paying lip service to the containment of global warming while banning environmentally-friendly transportation on the grounds of “safety”. The woman in the image is forced to wear a mask because of the pollution caused by China’s vast number of cars, yet will be barred from doing her small part for the environment.^[1]

Meanwhile, Canadian officialdom is publicising its inhumanity to its fellow man by forcing a couple married for sixty-two years to live in separate care homes. Here is a perfect example of how human beings with power over people rapidly become desensitized to the needs of those they control.

Forcing two people apart who have lived together and loved one another for any length of time is cruel and inhumane. After sixty-two years it should be a criminal offence punishable by public flogging. Fraser Health Authority is the power holding sway over this couple. The key people in power are a Michael Marchbank, Arun Garg, and Vivian Giglio. Their motto is: ‘Better health. Best in health care’. If this is the best healthcare they can provide to their customers then their motto should be: ‘Screw you. We’re alright, Jack’.^[2]

The third – though possibly not the last – absurdity to surface from the pages of the BBC News website today concerns our old friend, Amazon. Apart from rumours of ruthless employee-bashing, Amazon has in the past provided a service most of us have partaken of to a greater or lesser degree. It’s also done wonders for the profits of companies like UPS, Fedex, and cardboard box manufacturers worldwide.

Amazon’s latest idea is surely one offering too far: Amazon Dash. Soon we’ll be able to purchase Dash buttons for many household products: toilet rolls, washing detergent, toothpaste…the list is expanding rapidly. Running short of condoms? Just press your Dash Durex button and a packet will be ‘dashed’ to you within twenty-four hours. (Don’t worry, lads, you won’t have to keep it in your pants for that long once Amazon gets its drones off the ground). The system’s been in use in the U.S. (where else!) since March last year and is catching on rapidly.

With major manufacturers all keen to get in on the act it’s surely one more step on the road to complete corporate domination of our lives; lives that are already rapidly becoming controlled by social media, Google advertising, and huge conglomerates like Apple, Microsoft, and the like. Never mind that we can buy a product much cheaper at the local supermarket, why go out if it can come to you?^[3]

It’s all part of taking control away from us and putting it in the hands of those who hold the power. Whether it’s getting to work or to the shops on an environmentally-friendly vehicle, living out our remaining years together with our life partner, or choosing if the condom we use is made by Durex or Trojan, those choices should be ours as a right, not imposed on us by the inhumanity of governments, health authorities, or corporations.

^{[1] “Beijing and Shanghai ban electric scooters and segways on roads” BBC, August 31st 2016}

^{[2] “Canadian couple forced to live apart after 62 years” BBC, August 26th 2016}

^{[3] “Amazon Dash – who wants to live in a push-button world?” BBC, August 31st 2016}

For years it was considered the height of indecency for a woman to display more than her ankles when at the beach. The Victorians were particularly fussy that way. Gradually, fashions and morals changed. Full swimsuits became the norm, then bikinis.

Over the last few decades the dangers of skin cancer, from exposure to the sun, have become more obvious. Doctors advise us to cover up while on the beach. Few of us take much heed, but nevertheless it’s good advice.

Today, in parts of Southern France, it’s suddenly become illegal to cover up while on the beach. This….

….is fine…

…but this isn’t.

This woman was fined by French police and told to take off her shirt.

A debate is raging throughout France on whether ‘burkinis’, the Muslim version of a swimsuit covering so much of the body its modesty would even have raised the eyebrows of prudish Victorians, was acceptable on French beaches, or if it was a religious ’emblem’ banned under French law.

As the BBC reports today:

In 2010, France became the first European country to ban the full-face veil in public

A 2004 law forbids the wearing of religious emblems in schools and colleges

The 1905 constitution aims to separate Church and state. It enshrines secularism in education but also guarantees the freedom of religion and freedom to exercise it. The original text made no reference to clothing.^[1]

The ban on burkinis, or articles of clothing of a similar nature, was enacted by local mayors after the attack in Nice on Bastille Day that left eighty-five people dead.

French court rulings have overturned the bans, but the mayors say they’ll continue to enforce them in defiance of the higher legal authority.

It’s a difficult debate, given the sanctity of French secularism as enshrined in the Constitution. French children may not wear crosses or other Christian symbols in school, but the Constitution also protects the right of religious freedom.

It would seem the French mayors who are enforcing this ban have ignited a fiery debate that could threaten the very heart of the French Constitution itself.

^{[1] “France ‘burkini’: Mayors urged to heed court’s ruling” BBC, August 27th 2016}

The Rio Olympics are now over. The competitors have arrived back in their own countries and TV companies worldwide have returned to screening their mediocre programming of old movies, half-baked sitcoms, and third-rate ‘reality TV’ shows.

The Olympics were a success. At least, they were portrayed that way, and for most viewers there wasn’t too much external controversy to detract from the events themselves.

One man’s name did make the headlines and it wasn’t for winning a medal. Ryan Lochte, a U.S. swimmer, disgraced himself and his country by a drunken altercation in the early hours of the morning with security guards at a local petrol station. Not content with trashing the premises’ restroom, he then lied to police and made a false statement concocting a story of being robbed at gun point.

The next day, realizing there may be repercussions, he abandoned the three colleagues who had accompanied him on the escapade and caught a flight back to the United States. Unfortunately for Lochte the media had picked up the story and it made banner headlines around the world. Now we learn the Brazilian police are charging him with making a false statement and he could be extradited and face time in a Brazilian prison.

Of course, that’s unlikely to happen:

The US and Brazil have an extradition treaty which Brazil has flouted in the past. Authorities in the US could take the same stance if Mr Lochte is found guilty. ~ BBC ^[1]

The U.S. government is quick to protect those of its citizens who behave badly in other countries. It’s probable they’ll do likewise with Lochte. After all, wasn’t this just a case of four young men out for a night on the town who became embroiled with over-officious foreigners just because they were having fun?

No, it wasn’t. It was four men in a foreign country who showed disrespect and arrogance towards their hosts. At least one of them caused damage to property, threatened those who tried to stop him, and then made up a cock-and-bull story for the police when they became involved.

Ryan Lochte showed himself up as the epitome of the ‘Ugly American’. It’s a well known and oft-used phrase to describe certain elements in American society, particularly when they’re abroad on vacation or business. It stems from the spoiled brat image, the kid who had too much, who was brought up to believe he was better than anyone else – particularly if the ‘anyone else’ was a foreigner, or as U.S. officialdom derisively calls them – an alien.

It may be that Lochte shouldn’t be blamed too much for his behavior. After all, he was only aping his nation’s political policies. The U.S. has coerced governments in over sixty countries worldwide into accepting U.S. military bases on their territory. Most are bitterly resented by the populace. The attitude and behavior of many U.S. servicemen in these bases towards the local people can leave much to be desired. ‘Ugly American’ behavior by military personnel is a frequent cause of media attention in many countries:

Tens of thousands of people on the Japanese island of Okinawa have taken part in one of the biggest protests against US military bases in recent years, weeks after the arrest of an American base worker in connection with the murder of a 20-year-old local woman…

…Okinawa’s anti-base governor, Takeshi Onaga, told the crowd he regretted being powerless to prevent crimes by US military personnel, two decades after the abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen…“We had pledged never to repeat such an incident,” Onaga said. “I could do nothing to change the political system to prevent that. That is my utmost regret as a politician and as governor of Okinawa. The government … must understand that Okinawa residents should not suffer any more from the burden of the bases.” ~ Guardian ^[2]

US military personnel have committed over 5,800 crimes on Japan’s Okinawa Islands since the territory was returned to Japan in 1972, according to police figures cited by protesters rallying against US presence in Japan’s southernmost prefecture…[10% were classed as ‘serious crimes’ – RJA]

Mass protests are regularly staged by the island’s inhabitants over incidents of alleged rape by US armed forces’ personnel stationed in Okinawa. The Japanese government has started taking action to address the concerns. In May, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the government is set to create a special interdepartmental commission for preventing crimes committed by US military base personnel. ~ Sputniknews ^[3]

And that’s an example from just one base. The exact figure isn’t known, but it’s estimated the U.S. has between 700 and 800 military bases worldwide.

We need only to remember the atrocities committed at Abu Ghraib Detention Center in Iraq to realise America’s powerful military presence throughout the world is perpetuating the ‘Ugly American’ image demonstrated so admirably by Ryan Lochte.

America’s determination to utilize its military to globalize the world and bring all nations under its control and influence may not appear so threatening as the aspirations of the radical Islamic group, Islamic State, but it’s certainly breeding an unattractive example of citizenship, as characterized by Lochte.

That’s unfortunate for the majority of Americans who are decent, friendly, warm-hearted people. Sadly, it’s easy to become tainted by the actions of a few, particularly when those actions are highlighted by the world’s media.

Lochte’s paid for his arrogance. Due to his prowess as a swimmer, sponsors once rushed to do business with him . Now, they’ve deserted him. One of his co-patriots on that early morning rampage was fellow swimmer Jimmy Feigen. He paid $11,000 to a Brazilian charity in settlement of his case. It’s not likely Lochte will get away with less.

However, it’s a cheap price to pay for the damage he’s done to his country.

^{[1] “Brazil police charge Lochte over robbery claim” BBC, August 25th 2016}

^{[2] “Thousands protest at US bases on Okinawa after Japanese woman’s murder” Guardian, June 19th 2016}

^{[3] “US Military Personnel Have Committed Nearly 6k Crimes in Okinawa Since 1972” Sputniknews, June 20th 2016}