A Question of Perpetuation

“Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself & in surpassing itself; if all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying, & human existence is indistinguishable from an absurd vegetation; a life justifies itself only if its effort to perpetuate itself is integrated into its surpassing & if this surpassing has no other limits than those which the subject assigns himself.”

-- Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), philosopher, social theorist, writer

Why do you think biological life aims to perpetuate itself?

Survival instinct. Even viruses mutate in order to stay alive. There is a theory, I’m not sure how factual, that viruses and bacteria utilize the “hive mind” and, in this way, they know when something is wrong, as a cure, and they begin to morph, mutate, change, in order to "up the chances" for survival. All life has this instinct to survive and to perpetuate itself.

Are we looking ahead at a full decade of chaos?

If socialism takes hold, at least a full decade. We will spend another decade repairing the damage they’ve done to our country and, hopefully, prosecuting the perpetrators.

Why do sunsets inspire you?

I’m not sure “inspire” is the right word. Sunsets make me happy. They make me smile. I love the beauty of a sunset. Every morning I give thanks for the gift from God of another beautiful day in paradise and, weather permitting, greet the day with a beautiful sunrise. When my day of making the most of the gift is over, I revel in the chance to usher out my efforts with the sight of a glorious sunset.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

-- Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), poet, writer, philosopher 

Would you continue trying after losing more than three times in a row?

I play Freecell and Majong. I have become tenacious. I will spend several hours playing and replaying a game, multiple times, in order to prove there is a solution. I have played several thousand expert level games of each and have yet to lose. You only lose if you surrender.

What word describes someone who is slow to anger?

How about, thoughtful? 

How can someone use their learned hopelessness to positively impact their lives?

So, I have to ask, why would someone learn hopelessness? First of all, I don’t think one can “learn” hopelessness without first being truly hopeless and, if you are truly hopeless, you aren’t learning it as much as living it. Hopelessness can impact your life if you learn it and let it positively consume you. On the other hand, you can use your knowledge of hopelessness to rise above it. Besides salvaging your own life, mentoring what you’ve learned in this journey can have a serious impact on others that might be moving down that road. But, hope is something we are never without. There is always hope, until there isn’t and, if there isn’t, it is already too late to worry about it.

“Before I go on with this short history, let me make a general observation– the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.  One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise. This philosophy fitted on to my early adult life, when I saw the improbable, the implausible, often the "impossible," come true.”

-- F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), writer, novelist

What will become of us? My wife is a devout Christian and I’m agnostic, yet she continues to believe I will find and accept Jesus.

She has hope. The curse of the “devout” Christian, faith, and hope. It should probably be the curse of all humankind. What will become of you? That is your choice. She will die and move on, and it sounds like she’d like you to move on with her. She loves you, and she must have a reason. The positive note, here, is that you aren’t an atheist. There is no hope for atheists. They live, they die, period. You, on the other hand, question faith. This is always a good thing. It will be interesting, on your death bed, to see if faith finally finds you.

What is necessary for life? Is the marginal benefit of a glass of water large or small?

Water, food, and oxygen. Clothing, shelter, and heat. The benefit of a single glass of water is, indeed, marginal. The benefit would be in giving you added time to find a constant supply of it.

How do you give someone space when all you want is to be close to them?

Ask yourself how it will feel to be without them. If you suffocate them, they’ll probably bolt. I’m this way, and my significant knows it. I like my space, and she knows when to give it to me. I am equally considerate. I hate it when people are “clingy” or can’t stop calling, or can’t stop insinuating themselves in every aspect of my life. If you want to be close to them, be honest with them, and then show them some consideration.

“The greatest gift you can give someone is the space to be his or herself, without the threat of you leaving.”

-- Unknown

How do I convince myself that there is no hope between me and him?

Go screw your lights out with a couple of different men. In the morning, if you don’t feel bad about what you did, there is no hope. Just saying.  But, really, if you're asking this question, there's already no hope and you realize this truth.  I'm not sure how you convince yourself of the obvious.

I’m 13 and just got my first girlfriend but don't know how to talk to her since she's my first. Can anyone help me?

Lead with that. Tell her you’re unsure of yourself. She might like the fact that you’re not only honest but vulnerable. Oh, and flowers always make up for a lack of conversation, and they might even start one. Always be respectful and polite. Yes, that means holding the door for her.

What do you think about this quote, "There is no failure, only a process which is leading us to become the greatest version of ourselves"?

Temporary failure is the best way we learn. We review what we did, we come back and try again with a different tact. True failure is when we learn nothing from the experience and simply give up. We are here to learn lessons that prepare us for the lives to come. We need to embrace the lessons we learn, rise above the barriers to success, and, yes, become the greatest versions of ourselves. Failure exists, however, for those who simply choose to give up. The “process” comes to a standstill until the lesson is learned and a different choice is made.

“There is no failure except in no longer trying.”

-- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915), writer, publisher, philosopher 

Has Barack Obama inspired more hope and optimism than any president in the United States history?

I’m not sure an “apology tour” inspires anything in the realm of hope or optimism.  After eight years he certainly did nothing to raise the standard for black Americans.

Where does "purpose and desire" belong to, the brain or the heart?

It would be romantic to think of somethings as being matters of the heart, unfortunately, all thinking begins in the brain. As a “helpless romantic,” however, I cannot help but give certain things to my heart.

What does this mean, "Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind of word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn around the life"?

Sounds like something Leo Buscaglia once said. If you’ve never had the opportunity to listen to him, some of his clips are still around the net.

It means we need to take a moment. We need to understand that our honest touch, smile, kind word, listening ear, compliment, or any other smallest act of caring, can mean so much to those in need. We overthink, or we don’t think, and while we give ourselves no credit, there is a gunshot. All we had to do was smile, offer a touch, listen, and another life might be saved.

Words of important Scientists That Can Guide Our Lives, click?

Albert Einstein had a closet full of one suit. Oh, hell no. Just because you been touted as an “important scientist” doesn’t mean you know dick about how to live life and be happy always, except, maybe, as an important scientist. I’d be more apt to pay attention to the words of an ancient Tibetan monk.

"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."

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

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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.