Tuesday 20 April 2010

Act of God?


Try saying, ‘leading scientists today’ enunciating every letter. The ‘tists today’ bit doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue; makes you feel the language was developed by someone with loose teeth, don’t you think?

Why is it considered kind to put down animals that are in pain, but inhuman to put down people who are in pain?

Why is the government having to rescue people who are stranded abroad because of the flight ban? Can’t these people get a hire car, a train or a ferry from the nearest place that’s not affected? Why do the Brits have a tendency to demand that the government always come to their rescue?

There are all kinds of comments in the media about travel insurance not covering repatriation costs due to the volcanic ash cloud covering Europe being an act of God. In my opinion anyone who believes in a God should consequently have no recourse to insurance compensation. Only atheists have a case for the insurers to prove it is indeed an act of God.



14 comments:

Steve Borthwick said...

The election probably has something to do with it, i.e. makes great telly; Cameron single handedly rows to Calais and rescues thousands from the beaches etc..

If you believe in an omnipotent, omniscient deity and that she has a plan for you then you could ask what's the point in doing anything for yourself?

Ms Scarlet said...

I can say leading scientists today! It trips of my tongue okay.
Are you talking with your mouth full?
Sx

Chairman Bill said...

Scarlet: You've just proved you're an alien from the planet Zog. Humans are incapable of saying it without hissing.

Ms Scarlet said...

...You have to kind of pucker up before saying 'today'... and then the hiss lessens considerably.
Try it!
Sx

Chairman Bill said...

Scarlet: I was right - you're from Surrey!

Chairman Bill said...

...or do you speak parseltoungue?

Ms Scarlet said...

I'm not from Surrey!!!
But I have good teeth.
Sx

Chairman Bill said...

Scarlet: I look like a chimpanzee when saying it your way.

Ms Scarlet said...

That is the downside to not hissing!
Sx

Fletch said...

This 'Act Of God' euphemism appears to be limited to the UK's take on the event. Even Sky (who are renowned for making the news rather than reporting it) managed to change all references to the calamity to an 'Act of Nature'.

Portugal, a deeply religious Catholic country, has refrained from using the 'Act of God' epithet. They probably learned the hard way, when the Great Lisbon Earthquake struck on 1st November 1755, 'All Saints Day', that it was futile blaming your God for all your troubles. You were bound to piss him off!

Kabbalah Rookie said...

Re: 'tists today' - I get the same hangup if I think too hard about pronouncing the word 'crisps'

I won't bore you with my thoughts on "God" and Euthenasia, but the earthquakes, volcano and air disasters can be blamed on Pluto (the planet, not the dog) being a bit backwards. The current astrological line up indicates major global disasters for April and July.
Yep, I know, sounds crazy. I think that Cameron should think twice before rowing a boat across the channel. Or maybe wait until May.

Chairman Bill said...

Fletch: I hear earthquakes in Iran are being blamed on immodest women - a subject close to my heart and a subject for tomorrow.

Kabbalah: Crisps is easy. I hear Gattux is in the sign of the Tongs and it's going to be a bit hairly for lady florists in Chipping Norton and lighthouse keepers the world over.

Kabbalah Rookie said...

Gattux is in the sign of the Tongs? Oh crap, big trouble then...

Paul Hulbert said...

If the ashcloud is an act of god, which one? Thor or Odin?