Questions, Answers, Decisions, and Choices

“We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.”

-- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956), journalist, culture critic

If there are no obstacles and failures, where did success come from?

By definition, success is “the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Obstacles and/or failures may or may not have bearing on success. Success is the accomplishment of something regardless of any obstacle or failure… if any.

What are the lessons for a good life?

Learn ethical behavior. Ethical behavior is a moral code that gives us a sense of self-respect, can earn us the respect of others, and can leave us with a daily sense of knowing we have fought the good fight and have done right by those around us. Ethical behavior is one way to find happiness always.

What small thing do you do that saves a lot of money?

I don’t carry any debt. One of the worse things you can do is carry a debt month to month, making minimum payments. You will never get out of debt. I pay my credit card off each month, and I usually use my debit card so the money comes directly out of my checking account. I cannot imagine have several credit cards all maxed out and paying the interest on all of them. I know people like this that pay several hundred dollars a month in interest. Think of what you can do with all that money. Buy a good used car and see what your insurance payment is compared to a new car. What are the payments on a new car? Stay out of debt. Nuff said.

“Every time you borrow money, you're robbing your future self.”

-- Nathan W. Morris, author, financial coach

What was the first thing you did casually and not seriously, but it turns out that in the future it has had a tremendous impact on you?

I had meaningless sex with my future wife. I was too young, she was seriously too young, and it pretty much explains the next 20 years of hell.

What is the deeper meaning or personal significance that this goal has for you?

Not to be too critical concerning questions, but… were you intending to tell us what “this goal” is? I can’t tell you what personal significance it has if I don’t know what it is. Just saying.

Were you taught how to develop a savings and investment plan as a child?

Actually, I learned this in high school, along with how to write a check justify the checking balance, and how to invest in stocks and track the market. I picked AMC, American Motors, as my stock. My stock-picking became better, throughout life, as AMC tanked at the end of that semester in 1966. AMC recorded a loss for the year of $12,648,000 before Tax Credits and deferred Tax Assets. I lost my “virtual” fortune on it, but I did pass the class.

Why are there always circumstances?

Life is all about making choices and decisions and, because of these, there are always going to be circumstances. Make good choices and you have a better chance of having better circumstances. Make poor choices and life can really suck. When you understand why there are always circumstances you can start to make better choices always.

“I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime.”

-- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004), psychiatrist, near-death studies, author

What can we learn from the past?

How to make better choices for the future. Life is full of lessons we are supposed to have learned, been learning, or should be learning. Instead of tearing down statues and trying to forget history, we should be putting up new plaques with better explanations of what and who these people were from our past. If we forget our history we are doomed to repeat it. Instead of padding “history” books with politically correct and historically inaccurate information, we should be recording the facts, not someone tainted version of them. For instance, liberal colleges push the “systemic racism” issue when there is, in fact, no systemic racism. There is still racism, but we have come so very far with equality and equal rights that, that to say there is still systemic racism does an injustice to those who have fought the good fight to eradicate it. Learn from history and stop being part of the problem. Having intelligent, meaningful, and constructive conversations goes much further than listening to anarchists, listening groups with racist titles saying they are not racists, and burning down neighborhoods to protest something we all agree was a bad act.

What is the most positive change in society that has happened in the past or is happening now?

The recognition that everyone is equal, that everyone has the same chance to better their circumstances through hard work, regardless of color, religion, or national origin. This is the most positive change. Unfortunately, this ideal is being healed hostage by those who think they deserve more than hard work will provide. Equality is being trumped by social welfare. Saying you want equality and, then, not be willing to work hard as part of society to attain it, is counterproductive. It actually feeds the negative mindset we are trying to destroy by providing the naysayers with the proof they need that nothing changes.

How do you decide what’s really worthy of your time?

Does it interest me? Am I capable of dealing with the issue? Is it important to me, my friends, or my family? Is it a safety issue that might affect others? Is it an issue that might cost others money if it isn’t remedied? There are probably more, but this is the gist. Basically, besides any personal interest for me, I ask myself, “What is the morally ethical thing to do?”

How will you know if you’ve attained your desired outcome?

It is my desired outcome, after all. Who better than I, to know if I’ve attained it? Whether I’ve met all the criteria I set for accomplishing my goal, what is most important is that I did, in fact, attain my desired outcome. If you take on a project for yourself and have no clue what your desired outcome is, this is what I’d call poor planning. 

“It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions.”

-- Jim Rohn (1930-2009), entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker

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.