Last week I went there was some respite from the incessant and heavy rains over my home state of Tamil Nadu, which I had predicted as far back as in July 2010 in this post. I and my brother took the opportunity to go around Western TN to visit temples and offer prayers. Over about 3 days, we traveled on local buses in the three districts of Salem, Namakkal and Erode. Here are some plots - the quadrilateral within which we were moving around.
The Yellow line leading away at the apex is the in/out route to my hometown Chennai (Madras), and reflects the extent where the roads - the national and state highways were in poor state. So poor that one could not sleep at all and getting banged up once in a while - almost broke my glasses once.
As to the next part, irrespective of what other Americans feel, I entirely agree with what the Top Marine General Amos had to say on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
Before anyone jumps on me (no pun intended), I wish to clearly state that I have no hang ups, either religious, social or ideological about LGBT. If that is the way they like it, they are welcome to it. As a matter of fact, there is a Gay man in our neighbourhood and he is more of a ‘fun-character’, a ‘buffoon’ to most of us, rather than a threat. Over the years, we have learnt to gently laugh/fend off his flirts and advances. Even though he is nearing ‘seventy’ he is still at it.
Over last few years, a guy whom I’d classify as someone between a friend and a known person has been revealed as a Bisexual. None of us have taken offence at it and the most that those of us in the know do, is gently pull his legs. Apart most of the people I know have no problem with any of them.
Before the road trip last week, my thinking was along the lines of the current US administration. But the return trip has made me realise what the General has been talking about.
While on a train, bus or air, I always prefer the aisle seat, for the leg room. For some one who is almost six feet tall, it would be a torture to be seated at any other seat. Thus this return journey, I happily stretched my legs on the aisle and went to sleep.
Lo and Behold, the bugger on the seat behind me was Gay and he lay down on the aisle spreading a news paper. I didn’t mind at first till he started brushing his feet against mine.
For the first time in my life, I realised how women must feel when they are groped. No amount of squirming seemed to lessen his ardour and finally losing my cool, I picked up my bottled water, took a gulp and mimed coughing/spitting it out on the aisle - on which the bugger was lying. I think he took the point, but my whole night was spoiled as I was not able to totally relax and sleep without care.
A whiff of air when someone opened a window or a slight twitching of my legs instantly brought me awake - it was a miserable night.
So, now I am totally, entirely in agreement with the Marine General that openly LGBT personnel in battle field conditions will be a distraction, to put it mildly.
God knows that the Americans (and Westerners in general) want to become more and more politically correct, but there are situations which just do not allow for political correctness.
My Mischievous Half murmurs,’I had a sarcastic laugh at this Oliphant’s cartoon, a week and half before the incident; With 20/20 hindsight, it captures the essential facts. Hats off!’
The Yellow line leading away at the apex is the in/out route to my hometown Chennai (Madras), and reflects the extent where the roads - the national and state highways were in poor state. So poor that one could not sleep at all and getting banged up once in a while - almost broke my glasses once.
As to the next part, irrespective of what other Americans feel, I entirely agree with what the Top Marine General Amos had to say on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.
Before anyone jumps on me (no pun intended), I wish to clearly state that I have no hang ups, either religious, social or ideological about LGBT. If that is the way they like it, they are welcome to it. As a matter of fact, there is a Gay man in our neighbourhood and he is more of a ‘fun-character’, a ‘buffoon’ to most of us, rather than a threat. Over the years, we have learnt to gently laugh/fend off his flirts and advances. Even though he is nearing ‘seventy’ he is still at it.
Over last few years, a guy whom I’d classify as someone between a friend and a known person has been revealed as a Bisexual. None of us have taken offence at it and the most that those of us in the know do, is gently pull his legs. Apart most of the people I know have no problem with any of them.
Before the road trip last week, my thinking was along the lines of the current US administration. But the return trip has made me realise what the General has been talking about.
While on a train, bus or air, I always prefer the aisle seat, for the leg room. For some one who is almost six feet tall, it would be a torture to be seated at any other seat. Thus this return journey, I happily stretched my legs on the aisle and went to sleep.
Lo and Behold, the bugger on the seat behind me was Gay and he lay down on the aisle spreading a news paper. I didn’t mind at first till he started brushing his feet against mine.
For the first time in my life, I realised how women must feel when they are groped. No amount of squirming seemed to lessen his ardour and finally losing my cool, I picked up my bottled water, took a gulp and mimed coughing/spitting it out on the aisle - on which the bugger was lying. I think he took the point, but my whole night was spoiled as I was not able to totally relax and sleep without care.
A whiff of air when someone opened a window or a slight twitching of my legs instantly brought me awake - it was a miserable night.
So, now I am totally, entirely in agreement with the Marine General that openly LGBT personnel in battle field conditions will be a distraction, to put it mildly.
God knows that the Americans (and Westerners in general) want to become more and more politically correct, but there are situations which just do not allow for political correctness.
My Mischievous Half murmurs,’I had a sarcastic laugh at this Oliphant’s cartoon, a week and half before the incident; With 20/20 hindsight, it captures the essential facts. Hats off!’
No comments:
Post a Comment