The Useful Idiots

“The useful idiots, the leftists who are idealistically believing in the beauty of the Soviet socialist or Communist or whatever system, when they get disillusioned, they become the worst enemies. That’s why my KGB instructors specifically made the point: never bother with leftists. Forget about these political prostitutes. Aim higher. They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of the subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed anymore. They know too much. Some of them, when they get disillusioned, when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power—obviously they get offended—they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot.”

-- Yuri Bezmenov (1939-1993), former Soviet journalist and KGB informant

James Burke wrote an article in the Vision Times entitled, Former KGB Agent Explains Communist Ideological Subversion in America.  I highly recommend reading this article for further insight into the "socialist or communist or whatever system" of which Yuri Bezmenov speaks.  I served with military intelligence for over 22 years, and none of this is news to me.  It does, however, make me shake my head as I listen to the far left loons tout the benefits of the socialist ideology.  Let's be very clear, even Fidel Castro said of Cuban socialism, "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore."  China has adopted certain freedoms for their society, to stave off their own inevitable failure, and the Venezuelan model has all but collapsed as a socialist government.  Nevermind that this list of failures is lengthy, the leftists in the United States would see us follow this same failed path to destruction, and it makes one wonder:  Who is running this conspiracy to destroy America?  I advise everyone to read the article by James Burke, cited above.

No, you couldn't pay me to sacrifice my life for the opportunity to overthrow my country with the hopes of being in a position of leadership when America collapses.  If you succeed or fail, those who conned you into helping them will put you up against the wall and shoot you.  If you succeed, sooner or later reality will disillusion the people and they will rise up against those who weren't shot, put you up against a wall and shoot you.  Basically, there is no good outcome.  Welcome to socialism.

In the 1950s Senator Joeseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) accused Americans, with little to no evidence, of being communists.  It was deemed a witch hunt and, by the latter part of the 1950s, came to an end.  Do we consider what the HUAC did as right?  No.  Was Joe McCarthy and the HUAC right?  Absolutely.  It is an unfortunate reality that communists and socialists have been living the good life in the United States since the beginning of the 20th century, and probably well before.  Un-American activities take advantage of the very freedoms they seek to destroy, in the effort to destroy our way of life in favor of a system which, historically, never seems to work.  

Today, these subversive factions proudly proclaim their status in the Congress and Senate of the United States as they go about the business of destroying us.  They denounce racism while freely declaring their belief in anti-semitism.  They promise everything while delivering nothing.  They tout the benefits of socialism while the evidence against socialism plays out daily on the news.  

We give them the right to do all of this.  It makes no sense, but it is who we are and what we as a country are all about.  I weep at the coming repercussions for my country.  Ultimately they will fail, history bears this out, but not without destroying my country in the process.  Lucky us.

But, this is what they do.  I learned it in our military intelligence, and Yuri learned it from the Soviet KGB.  If you pay attention to American politics, nothing has changed with the socialist agenda, and why should it?  It succeeds when it comes to subverting a government.  It fails when it comes to reality.  But, it only fails if society is strong and intelligent enough not to buy into it.

Are we strong enough?  I wonder.  Maybe we should pay closer attention.  

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.

The League of the Perpetually Offended

“It is much more agreeable to offend and later ask forgiveness than to be offended and grant forgiveness. The one who does the former demonstrates his power and then his goodness. The other, if he does not want to be thought inhuman, must forgive; because of this coercion, pleasure in the other's humiliation is slight.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), philosopher, cultural critic, scholar

Note:  I fully expect this post will piss off and, yes, offend my favorite group.  So what else is new.  And, as always, I am fully prepared to ignore them.  Truth is an ugly animal which many insist on raging against.  I respect their right to rage, but I much prefer if they would agree to disagree, stop harming the innocent, and move on with their lives.

Those who offend me are people offended at everything, perpetually. They can't go through a day without being offended, even if it's an offense at something of life's minutia.  The fact that I am offended at those folks who are perpetually offended should come as no surprise to those who know me.  They know I wait patiently as the perpetually offended feed on their own members, hoping that, one day, they will eventually destroy each other over some insignificant offense within their own ranks.  This feeding frenzy will continue until only one offended person is left on earth.  Having destroyed everyone else, their offense will then be aimed at themselves as there will be no one else left at which to be offended.  This will be the day the last person on earth, perpetually offended, learns they should have lived in harmony with everyone else.  Now they find themselves offended at being left with committing suicide as penance for their stupidity.  The last offended thought slogging through the void between their ears will probably be toward their cowardice, for not being strong enough to brave living life alone for the rest of eternity.  But, that's just my humble opinion, for what it's worth.

“The person who offends, and the person who has been offended and awaiting for a revenge have one thing in common: the real uncertainties of tomorrow is truly uncertain to both of them.”

― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, author

An old adage states, the only certainties in life are death and taxes.  The offender and the offended are both going to die, sooner or later, as will everyone else.  I wish, with all my heart, I could be everyone else, but the perpetually offended really ride up on me like a tight thong on a fat man's butt.  

My curse is that I give a shit.  For instance, I really give a shit that there are self-righteous dumbasses in the world who think murdering babies, for no good reason, is appropriate.  They take offense that ethical people call them down over the immorality of it.  And, I really take offense when they actually try to excuse the act; excuses which boil down to, "Because it's our freedom to do so."  You have the freedom to murder babies without good legal or medical reason?  The Nazis thought they had the freedom to murder millions of Jews, and made up reasons to excuse their atrocities, as well.  History recorded, for eternity, how their little experiment in genocide played out.

As much as I hate quoting scripture, I do so because it pisses off the perpetually offended.  I keep this firmly in mind when I think of Romans 12:17-21, to wit:  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  So, we're supposed to let them keep murdering their own in hopes they will murder themselves out of existence?  Sounds like something I'd say.

As a person of faith, though, I have to ask:  When is that vengeance going to rain down, Lord?  Where is that promised hell and damnation?  How many of your "gifts" to mankind's future have to die, before you step in and unsheathe that sword?

Overcoming evil with good presupposes that evil isn't totally blind to good sense.  Light can only be seen if you are willing to open your eyes.  I am reminded of the moral of a philosophical parable, The Blind Men and the Elephant:

So, oft in theologic wars 

The disputants, I ween, 

Rail on in utter ignorance 

Of what each other mean; 

And prate about an Elephant 

Not one of them has seen!

And, what if you open your eyes and see it?  What if are not blinded by "utter ignorance" of what you haven't seen?  And, even if you are truly blind, how can you ignore the silent screams of the murdered millions?  Perhaps God's vengeance is a special place in hell, where the cursed are treated to the pleading cries of the innocent, blasted nonstop through state-of-the-art stereo speakers.  But, I digress.  There is so much more that pisses off the perpetually offended than being told they can't commit immoral atrocities, without cause.

Ethics, morality, Christmas trees, patriotism, God, hard work, and so much more, seem to absolutely piss of the League of the Perpetually Offended.  It seems they are only truly happy when making others miserable.  Live and let live, is not in their lexicon.  They must have something to be offended over as much, or more so, as some think we must placate them.  As long as the offended aren't hurting anyone, I say we should turn the other cheek, ignore them, and let them wallow in their own selfish misery if that's what they care to do.  The real curse for the rest of us is that it's hard to ignore selfish ignorance when it's screaming in your ear.

“People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good.”

-- Mark Manson, author, blogger, entrepreneur

The League of the Perpetually Offended is just one more segment of the League of the Perpetually... whatever.  If change is the only constant in the universe, then perhaps we should all embrace the possibility we might be wrong at any given moment, before we engage our brains in a battle of wits which will make us look like so many jackasses braying at each other.  We should all try focusing on the inalienable rights of human beings to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  The most important of these, however, is life.  Without life the other two rights are moot, and yet the League would seek to deny these rights to others perpetually, especially the most vulnerable, those without a voice.

Yes, I am perpetually offended at the perpetually offended and, yes, that makes me perpetually offended at myself.  But, I am not offended, and certainly not perpetually offended, at every little thing life has to offer.  Maybe the offended should do what I do and pay more attention to introspection, along with a bit of history and philosophy.  I do it often and always find these, especially history, quite enlightening.  I'd like to think it prevents me from always sounding like just another ignorant braying jackass.

Just saying.

“The useful idiots, the leftists who are idealistically believing in the beauty of the Soviet socialist or Communist or whatever system, when they get disillusioned, they become the worst enemies. That’s why my KGB instructors specifically made the point: never bother with leftists. Forget about these political prostitutes. Aim higher. They serve a purpose only at the stage of destabilization of a nation. For example, your leftists in the United States: all these professors and all these beautiful civil rights defenders. They are instrumental in the process of the subversion only to destabilize a nation. When their job is completed, they are not needed anymore. They know too much. Some of them, when they get disillusioned, when they see that Marxist-Leninists come to power—obviously they get offended—they think that they will come to power. That will never happen, of course. They will be lined up against the wall and shot.”

-- Yuri Bezmenov (1939-1993), former Soviet journalist and KGB informant

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.

Life: It's That Easy

“However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.”

-- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), Walden

I constantly tout that life was never meant to be hard; we make it that way.  God gave us ten easy to understand commandments, and we wrote a user's guide, Holy Scripture, to help us understand what God meant to impart.  We called this "scripture" the "WORD" of God.  I'm not buying it.  The Bible is a mess.  I mean, we've written user guides for the user guide.  How confusing can we really make it?  If it weren't for deletions made during the First and Second Council of Nicaea, notwithstanding additions made by King James, we wouldn't even be able to lift the "Good Book."  Say it isn’t so!  We deleted portions of the collected "WORD" of God?  We actually chose, for God, which "WORD" should be kept or scrapped, and nobody was struck down by lightning?

The only true WORD of God, which I’m aware of, was written in stone and handed down to Moses.   So, are we saying that God really isn't perfect?  Is the supreme power in the universe fallible?  Are we saying God disseminates information without considering the audience?  God's idea of handing down Ten Commandments, directing them to do or do not, is really too difficult for simple camel riding goat-herders, these "chosen people" of God, to understand?  I think not.

“Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering... The love of God did not protect His own Son... He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process.”

-- Elisabeth Elliot, Christian author, speaker, missionary

Information is obfuscated so people must rely on some entity, other than a "perfect" God, to clarify the confusion which has been created.  Usually, the entities we rely on are the same entities which obfuscate the information.  Why would they do this?  Well, I see it as an obvious agenda for control of those mindless lemmings too ignorant to understand that life was never meant to be so difficult to get through.  If this concept isn't obvious to someone, then perhaps they're asleep, in a coma, or they've planted their head firmly in the sand of sweet misery.  But, then, I could be wrong.

“An important decision I made was to resist playing the Blame Game. The day I realized that I am in charge of how I will approach problems in my life, that things will turn out better or worse because of me and nobody else, that was the day I knew I would be a happier and healthier person. And that was the day I knew I could truly build a life that matters.”

-- Steve Goodier, minister, author

Once again I find myself thinking about choices and consequences, about how good begets good and bad begets bad.  When considering this, one also has to consider the simple concept of owning your choices.  Everything that happens in life is due to some choice we make.  We can try to shift blame for the consequences but, in the end, and if we're totally honest with ourselves, the consequences of our choices rest firmly on our shoulders and we have to own the truth of that.

We are too hard on ourselves when we fall; when we fail.  You can "succeed" through what you know, but you only truly learn through failure.  Success is only success until it isn't.  Ancient Greek philosophy teaches us that the only universal constant is change, and it is through this change that we learn and grow.  We tend to pay too much attention to the past which is why we, probably, worry so much about the future.  Learn from the past and pay more attention to the present, because what we do in the present will dictate our possible future.  Stressing over tomorrow is like stressing over yesterday.  What happened, happened, and what will happen is probably going to be a consequence of decisions we make in the now.  If tomorrow doesn't pan out the way we plan, there is always the next day, and the next, and so on, until we get it right.

"Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?"

-- Thomas J. Watson (1874-1956), businessman

If we're penalized for failure, by ourselves or others, we are shortsighted to the benefit of that failure to the greater learning experience.  Great employers realize this.  The trick is to actually learn the lesson so the failure isn't repetitious.  Honest, ethical, owning of that failure by the individual is a sign that learning is taking place.  If a person is fired for their failure the company will be constantly hiring people with no experience and the business will eventually fail itself.  Good businesses are always looking for ethical people.

“We face up to awful things because we can't go around them, or forget them. The sooner you say 'Yes, it happened, and there's nothing I can do about it,' the sooner you can get on with your own life. You've got children to bring up. So you've got to get over it. What we have to get over, somehow we do. Even the worst things.”

-- Annie Proulx, novelist, writer

People stress too much over things for which they have little or no control.  You make a mistake and there is nothing to do for it but to own it and try again.  Shit happens.  Get over it and move on.  Not everything is going to work out perfectly.  If it did, what would we learn?  There must be a balance in the universe; for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  Without balance, everything would eventually spin out of control.

“And hard times are good in their own way, too. Because the only way you can achieve true happiness is if you experience true sadness as well. It's all about light and shade. Balance.” 

-- Gabrielle Williams, author

All things considered, when you accept that your own choices beget your consequences, then you understand that life is as tough as you, yourself, make it.  Make good choices.  You may not see your life as perfect, but life is that simple.  Be happy with what you have or strive for more, the choice is yours and it always is.

I told my son, back when he wasn't doing well in high school, that I was done worrying about how well he did in school, that his learning was his responsibility, not mine, and if he was satisfied to be a common laborer sweeping streets or washing dishes, then my only advice would be for him to be the best street sweeper or dishwasher he can be.  I would still love him.  He made his decision and has worked for many years under contract to a major communication company teaching and working with fiber optics and such.  Good boy!

“Life is at its best when everything has fallen out of place, and you decide that you're going to fight to get them right, not when everything is going your way and everyone is praising you.”

-- Thisuri Wanniarachchi, author 

Choices and consequences; life is that easy. Choose a good path for your life, do the best you can do to excel, and enjoy the journey. There will be ups and downs, primarily because this is what a richly robust life is all about. Misery, worry, and stress are ways to teach us the uselessness of misery, worry, and stress. Hopefully, by the end of your journey through this existence, you will learn a thing or two which will prepare you for the next journeys to come.

So, embrace life, be happy and, for God's sake, develop a sense of humor and learn to laugh at yourself, and others. We are, all of us, fallible human beings trying to excel at life. To think any more of yourself is an attempt to take advantage of our common sense and makes you look smaller for the trying. An ability to laugh at your own shortcomings and turn them into humorous anecdotes lets everyone know you're not pretentious and certainly not the superhuman they may think you are. 

Life is that easy.  If you feel it isn't, maybe it's time to get shed of everything weighing you down; unnecessary debt, addictive vices, the job you hate, bad relationships, and those so-called friends who constantly use you because they aren't really your friends.  Clean up the mess of your life and start over, slowly.  Make better choices.  Get better results.  And try telling everyone you're doing it.  Maybe they will learn something about their own lives.  Oops!  Be careful!  Now you're a mentor.  God help us, you might be on your way to excelling in life.

“Humor can make a serious difference. In the workplace, at home, in all areas of life – looking for a reason to laugh is necessary. A sense of humor helps us to get through the dull times, cope with the difficult times, enjoy the good times and manage the scary times.”

-- Steve Goodier, minister, author

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.

It's Not a Fashion Statement

"I’m generally indifferent to most stupid trends, styles, and fashions. Neck tattoos? Hey, who am I to judge? Earlobe stretching? Sure, why not? Donald Trump Make America Great Again baseball caps? Heck, it’s a free country. But, seriously, we’ve got to put a stop to young men wearing their pants six inches before their waist. This is making the entire country look bad. A chain is only as strong as its weakest douche bag."

-- Galantly Miller, "It’s Time to End the Sagging Pants Trend"

The Question: "Why do some people, stereotypically African-Americans, wear their pants very low ("sag" them)?"

My Vote for Best Answer:  "That answer about jail is bullshit. They just lie and say it was created in jail to spread propaganda that they think will make people stop sagging. You can best believe sagging has been around as long as pants have. The homeless don't tend to have such high standards when it comes to fashion. I and a lot of other black men sag purposely because we have larger backsides then American clothes are made for. If you look at the behind of the majority of black men and women and then compare it to the backside of white men and women, you will see we tend to have more junk in the trunk. If I was to wear a pant size that fit my actual waist, it would be very tight in the crotch and upper thigh area, therefore I compensate by going one size up... this then usually leads to sagging a little bit but I tend to correspond to it with my belt but then again I'm not trying to cut off circulation in my waist just to make up for a little sagging or make certain strangers happy. When I was working in retail I noticed this with Higher-End Fashion designers (I worked at A/X) with women also. They tended to have to go a size up to fit their derriere into A/X jeans, but since women's bodies are different they just ended up with a waist size too big, but the actual butt size fits perfectly. Another thing is if you ever in your life noticed fat plumbers they've been sagging since the beginning of time, usually with their ass crack showing but nobody ever says a thing about that usually due to them not trying to dominate their own race and culture. There are plenty of things you could complain about that the subset of the majority do but they're too busy trying to dominate what minorities are doing. I wish they would just let us live."

-- Chris Tion

If you're caught between a rock and a fashionable hard place, there is nothing for you to do but "sag" or pay to have your clothes adjusted so they fit right.  On the other hand, if "sagging" is considered a fashion statement, well... hell no.  Not in my book.  It's not a fashion statement any more than wearing a ball cap sideways on your head or not taking the stickers and tags off before wearing it is.  You are not Minnie Pearl, and people are not laughing at you.  Who?  Yeah, I know; look her up if you're too young to remember her.

Having said this, kids will be kids, and they will experiment and try to find their own place in the world.  They should find their own place, though, and not think it appropriate to hijack someone else's poor idea.  But, when you enter adulthood you should strive to be viewed and respected as an adult.  I've seen men well into their 40's still sagging, still wearing their cap sideways, and looking more ridiculous than ever.  The ones I've seen are, typically, skinny white men who are loathed to excuse bad taste due to a non-existent fat butt.  This is, simply, their chosen path.  

Life is all about choices and consequences.  It is all about making the right choices in order to get the desired consequences.  Sometimes you find there is no good choice, and you find your sizable back up against a wall.  Physically, your clothes just don't fit.  People who recognize there is an issue shouldn't judge you.  When you purposefully wear something that makes you look ridiculous, people also recognize there is an issue.  Should they pass judgment?  Of course not, but they will.  Just the slightest shake of their head, but an unspoken judgment nonetheless.

Chris Tion's conclusion is spot-on: "There are plenty of things you could complain about that the subset of the majority do but they're too busy trying to dominate what minorities are doing. I wish they would just let us live."  People have the God-given right to pursue happiness, no matter how stupid a particular pursuit makes them look, how much their chosen "fashion statement" prevents them from getting ahead.  If they haven't asked your opinion, feel free not to offer it.

And, as for my own opinion?  I have mass scar tissue on my tongue from biting it so often.  When I do voice an opinion, I'm constantly reminded to "be sweet."  Being sweet can, sometimes, taste like vinegar.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.