Answers and Opinions

“When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch.”

-- Bette Davis (1908-1989), actress

If you can only pick one of these for life, what would you choose? Would you rather be understood or understand? And why?

Whether I’m understood or not is not my problem but, rather, the problem of those wishing to understand. In this reasoning, therefore, my problem is ensuring I understand those wishing to be understood.

Why does time change everything and anything so much?

That was the intent. Time really doesn’t exist. Time is a human construct designed to give structure to our plane of existence. We put a lot of stock in time, to the point of stress. We feel we need time, we need to make time, and there is never enough time. We declare deadlines for certain times and praise winners who accomplish tasks faster than other’s times.

I have been a party to most of this as it is an accepted part of civilization. However, I have also discovered that we rely too much on time. I have found it is better to pay much more attention to being happy always. If you’re happy and good at what you do, this concept of time will take care of itself.

How can I pursue excellence, and what makes it different from perfection?

First, you can pursue excellence by constantly trying to be better at what you do. Second, you must understand that nothing we do is perfect, it will always be improved upon at some point, so to pursue an unattainable goal, like perfection, is of less importance than pursuing excellence. 

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), writer, poet, aristocrat, aviator

Does your age define your wisdom?

Generally, people become wiser as they get older. There are a lot of people this is not true for, however, people in Congress would fit this category. Wisdom is about making the right choices and decisions, and about knowing when not to. It is about morality and ethics.

You can be very young and have great wisdom beyond your age; you can be very old and be dense as a brick. Older age does not necessarily define our wisdom but old age evidences a long life in which we should have learned it.

After this comment was "upvoted" by the person who asked the question, the following comments from readers came my way:

Commenter #1: The congress is wise they are just corrupt.

My Reply: Corruption is not wisdom.

Commenter #1: Sure it is its corrupt wisdom and with democrats its the foundation of their party. Wisdom isnt good or bad it's learning from experience.

Commenter #2: Indeed. Depending on the person, one's own advantages and morals can be weighted differently. If experience is added, the dominant strategy for a person can be to neglect morality - if it was present at all.

My Reply: By definition, wisdom must have the quality of “good judgment” or it is not wisdom. Therefore, the wisdom that is corrupt is no longer wisdom, it is an unsound thought, or action, based on poor judgment.

“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.”

-- Douglas Adams, author, humorist

If you had to create an army out of people with one certain non-combat profession, which profession would you choose, and how would you take over the world?

Psychology. If you control the minds of the people you control the world.

What is the most unbelievable fact?

Women find me handsome and interesting. I just don’t see it. 

Is there an idea that has changed your whole view of this world and your mindset?

My answer is not that difficult to explain, yet it seems difficult for most people to grasp. Be happy always!

I have spent my life around drama, my own, and that of others. I finally fell back on what I learned in psychology, about taking care of yourself, first. I got shed of all the unnecessary drama in my life, letting in only that which I can have a positive influence over. I learned to forgive myself for trespasses and to forgive those who trespass. The result of all this was the idea to be happy always.

Each and every day I wake up and strive to keep this mindset alive. I try to mentor others to find the same happiness in their own lives. The world is a receptacle for too much human drama driven by greed, ego, and control. Look around you and see how many centers for happiness exist. Not many, and certainly not enough.

We seem to live for drama, but I have a better idea: Get shed of all the drama in your life and learn to be happy always. It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is.

Make it happy.

“Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions."

-- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), theoretical physicist

Is raising a child moral?

This is not the original question, and it is not the original spirit of the question, either. The question was, “Is having children moral? Why or why not?” This differs from asking if raising a child is moral. I’ll address the ill-advised switch, first. Raising a child, whether yours by birth, adoption, etc., is only moral if the child is raised with good morals and ethics.

As to the original question, if your responsibility is raising a child then it should be considered a moral responsibility. If it is anything else, the child is being mentally abused. Children are our gift from God and should be raised with good morals and ethics. I loathe quoting the Bible but, according to scripture, Psalm 127:3 states, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Children are the responsibility of all men and women of good character, to ensure they receive a proper moral and ethical upbringing so, in the future, they reflect well on us and, more importantly, on God. 

Do you accept people’s choices to complain?

If it is an occasional choice made over something important, then I accept it. Voice your complaint and then take swift action to correct the issue. If you don’t bring it up to someone that can correct it, if it is something over which you have little or no control, then shut up about it. Nobody wants to listen to constant complaints. It becomes old, then it becomes immature, then it becomes boring and nobody cares anymore.

For instance, the U.S. Congress has spent four long years complaining instead of doing the job they were sent to Washington to do. It has become old, immature, boring, and nobody really cares anymore. They’ve blown millions of our tax dollars whining about election results. Now major cities are burning down around us. How about we try doing the country’s business and put aside partisan politics for a long while? How about acting like mature lawmakers before you’re asked to leave the sandbox and go home? Whining is infectious.

Just saying.

How do we balance the important aspects of our life?

First, I separate the wheat from the chaff. What is truly important from what really isn’t. Sometimes we give much importance to nothing more than dramas that have no place in our life, to begin with. These dramas are what tend to throw life out of balance.  Second, I prioritize the important aspects and work them one at a time, beginning with the most important, or time-sensitive.

“People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn't stop you from having your own opinion.”

-- Anne Frank (1929-1945), diarist, Holocaust victim

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 the 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.