I recently told some football fans I wasn’t too excited Liverpool was interested in Wolves attacker Ismaila Sarr as he is an African (Senegalese to be exact).
A friend said I shouldn’t say that out loud as I sounded like a racist and asked what I had against Africans.
Before the politically correct brigade comes after me, the reason why I didn’t fancy another African attacker in the team was that I was looking ahead to the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Senegal are already Liverpool’s main goal threat. Both will play in AFCON.
Guinean midfielder Naby Keita will also play in that tournament so if Sarr came on board, that would potentially mean Liverpool missing four attacking players for up to a month.
That was the reason for my remark regarding Sarr.
For the record, although it is called AFCON 2021, it will be played in January-February 2022 due to Covid-19.
The “rebuke” from my friend made me realise how careful we have to be nowadays.
A slip of the tongue or mispronunciation could cost you a job … as a professor of business communication in the University of Southern California discovered last week.
I stumbled upon the story while watching Trevor Noah on Tuesday morning.
I can’t say for certain the professor meant to use a Chinese word that sounded like an English slur but it was a language class and there are words in other languages which may sound offensive in English.
An African-American friend said he didn’t see what the fuss was about, adding: “I’ve heard this word when Mandarin is being spoken.
“It is a bit disconcerting but I know they don’t mean it the way I hear it! It’s common sense.”
Separately, like most people my age, I was brought up to believe there are only two genders – male and female.
But a BBC film in 2019 claimed there are more than 100 types of gender.
Now, people can choose to be who they are or what sex they want to be. It is their body so they can do what they want. But I find it strange parents are trying to shield children from gender stereotypes by keeping their biological sex secret!
Called “theybies” these children are being brought up without gender designation from birth.
Several celebrities – Charlize Theron, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt among them – have embraced this lifestyle.
There have been some who have spoken out against but have been “shouted down” and told they were not being sensitive or don’t understand what is happening..
I tend to agree with those who have spoken out as I would prefer for the kids to grow up and decide for themselves.
Sigh!
Anyway, today is the 186th day of MCO, and this is the 14th weekly version of ‘The MCO Diaries’.
UNWANTED MARK
In the past seven days, the number of infections has shot up by 337 to 10,147 with Malaysia reaching the 10,000 mark on Wednesday.
There was one death yesterday, which takes the tally to 129. The only good news is the high recovery rate which stands at 91.35 per cent (9,264 cases). Worldwide, the number of cases has exceeded 30 million with over 950,000 deaths.
FAKE COMMUTE TO GET INTO WORK MOOD
Damien Lyons, like most Australians, is working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But every morning he buttons up a work shirt, jumps into the car, switches on the radio and hits the road for a 10-minute drive to “work”.
“Once upon a time, I used my commute to mentally prepare for the day,” he told The Age.
As such, he does the same now, even though it is just a drive around his housing area.
I don’t know about him, but I hate driving. I’d rather start work after a good breakfast and shower. I usually spend half an hour or more complaining about moronic drivers, selfish parkers and idiotic pedestrians each time I drive to work.
To each their own, I guess.
SOLVING MATHS
I was never good at maths (which probably explains why I became a journalist).
This might help me.
AN APPLE (WATCH) A DAY, KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
The Singapore government and Apple have launched a two-year health initiative called LumiHealth.
Designed by Singapore’s Health Promotion Board, it will track and reward use behaviour through the Apple Watch and an iPhone app. Singapore residents will be able to earn as much as S$380 (RM1,156) in rewards and vouchers by completing goals and tasks set within the app.
LIES, ALL LIES
A friend sent me this via WhatsApp. 2020 really is a cruel year.
THE PRICE OF COVID-19
World Bank president David Malpass says more than one billion children have been out of school due to Covid-19 and they “could lose as much as US$10 trillion (RM41.28 trillion) in lifetime earnings”.
The conclusion comes in the Washington-based development lender’s Human Capital Index for 2020, which ranks countries on how well children are prepared for the future, with an emphasis on factors like schooling and healthcare.
SURE OR NOT?
I know it is an oxymoron, but apparently, you can have delicious veggie burgers.
Allow Mark Bittman to show you the way.
BELATED MALAYSIA DAY GREETINGS
Malaysia Day was on Wednesday and while there was a small celebration this year – due to Covid-19 – I did my part by having Sarawak Laksa for lunch, some Kelantanese fare for dinner and tuak for a nightcap.
Hope your celebration was just as good.
SAYA ANAK MALAYSIA
The National Unity Ministry launched a video of the song ‘Saya Anak Malaysia’ in conjunction with the Malaysia Day 2020 celebration.
The new version is sung by 26 local artistes of various races and ages.
