More Questions on Bullies, Courage, and Virtue

At what age did you finally find redemption?

I started working on redemption when I was about 50, but I don’t expect to find it until the end of this life or in one of the numerous lives yet to come.

In what situations might "bullying" debatably be a good thing?

It is never a “good” thing. In military intelligence, we learn all about the interrogation of the enemy. Interrogation can utilize “bullying” to accomplish the goal. It is excusable, but certainly not good. We’re giving unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar’s, but we have to be very certain we can excuse what and why we do it to God. We tread a fine ethical line to obtain information at the cost of our soul. I was always mindful that there is a special place in hell…

Are the virtues of wisdom and cowardice related? Is bravery coupled with foolishness?

Bravery is coupled with courage, and sometimes it is wise to retreat and live to fight another day. Cowardice is coupled with a fear that cannot be surmounted, and if you can’t get on top of the fear, there is no wisdom involved.

“The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.”

-- Elizabeth Taylor

Why do people notice all the bad things you do over all the good things?

That all stopped when my dad passed away. He was always trying to make me better than I was and totally missed the point of everything that I was. I can’t remember one time he told me how proud he was of all I had accomplished in life. On the bright side, I wasn’t trying to impress him, so it worked out okay for me.

What is your best guess as to what the "default state of existence" is?

In my humble opinion, “It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is again.”

How many forms of ethics are there, and which form do you consider to be the most relevant?

Ethics based on moral righteousness. You simply can’t go wrong sticking to them. I have a hard time doing it because I’m a self-proclaimed hypocrite who believes it’s so much better if you do as I say and not as I do.

1. He is happy. The word blessed in this particular passage is referring to the idea of being happy or content.

2. He does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. In other words, he is careful who he gets advice from.

3. He does not stand in the path of sinners. He's careful where he hangs out. You probably won't find this guy at the strip club or the casino.

4. He does not sit in the seat of scoffers. What is a scoffer? One who expresses scorn, derision, or contempt. It doesn't sound like a person any of us would want to have sitting at our dinner table, but some of us, not only have them at our tables, we are them! This man does not linger with these types of people.

5. His delight is in the law of the Lord. Wow! Did you catch that? His delight! What do you delight in? Your spouse, your children, your job, your pets, your chocolate? It doesn't say this man delighted in any of those things. He delights in God's word.

6. He meditates day and night in God's law. Wow, again! To meditate means to think on, ruminate on, much like a cow chews its cud. It just keeps coming back around over and over, to think on, day and night. I don't know about you, but I'm doing good if God's word comes to my mind once a day.

7. He is like a tree, firmly planted by streams of water. From this single sentence we can see that this man is rooted and he is provided for. The stream of water, which I would say could be compared to the Holy Spirit, is always nearby, for him to swim in, rest by and drink from. I also love that the word firmly is included to describe how this tree is planted. This tree is not about to be toppled by the first storm that comes along.

8. He bears fruit in its season. This man is useful to God. He allows God to use Him as He will to produce fruit in his life. This fruit can be harvested when it is the right season. This fruit is a direct result of his investment and delight in God's law.

9. His fruit and leaves will not wither. It doesn't mean this man won't age. It means that as long as he is delighting in God's law, he will always be a productive part of God's kingdom. Sure, he will have bad days, but it will be temporary and the result will bring him closer to His creator.

10. He prospers. It is good to be wise when we start talking about prosperity. Prosperity doesn't always mean financial gain. This man may prosper as a friend, or as a worker, or in his marriage, or other aspects of his family life. Or it may be that his relationship with the Savior is the only thing that prospers.

-- Borrowed from stylingrannymama.com

“What’s the point of having beliefs and values if we don't stand up for the former and live by the latter?”

-- Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Have you learned to change your personality (note: it is changing the personality, not just the emotion) in order to get to an end goal?

I’d like to say that, after 67 years of life, I will not change who I am. Unfortunately, there is the reality of supervision, management, and business. My mother always said my mouth would always get me in trouble and, for the most part, mom was spot on. The military taught me to mind my tongue, especially when supervising and managing. The business world taught me how to be political to reach the “end goal” we were after. I’ve learned to temper “you’re an idiot” with “have you considered this.” The change is not permanent as much as it is a strategic move to train, keep the peace, and fulfill the goal. The hypocrisy I balance is the old “don’t do as I do, do as I say” adage. The fact that they're an idiot is still forefront in my mind, however.

What helps to assess the consequences of our choices?

The fact that it’s a recurring choice. If this is a choice that must continuously be made, assessing the consequences will ensure a better choice is made the next time so the consequences are also better.

How much wisdom is circumstantial?

Wisdom is based on the experiences of the “wise” one. I think “good” wisdom would dictate that “what works for one may not work for another.” In this sense, wisdom can be seen as more circumstantial than fact, or, better said, it might be more situationally driven by the specific circumstances of the individual or group concerned.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

-- Confucious

What are the best ways to get good perspectives in life, and why?

Get a job and go to work. It will give you good perspectives of ethics, work, supervision, management, business ownership, money, debt, taxes, investing, happiness, frustration, loyalty, honesty, friendship, philosophy, etc., etc., etc.

How far would you be willing to go to make someone’s life hell over spite?

I was willing to do whatever it took for my ex-wife. But, then, I accepted the apology I knew she was never going to give. I forgave myself for my part in all of it and, most of all, I learned to forgive her for all she did, and didn’t, do. If you’re willing to make a person’s life a living hell, it says more about you than it ever will the person you try to destroy. Better you should forget it, move on down the road, and strive to be happy always.

Do people who have the greatest courage have the biggest fear?

They could, but courage by definition is the willingness to overcome your fear and do what needs to be done. You’re still going to be scared out of your mind, but you do it anyway. This is real courage. The brave don’t give danger a second thought, they just press forward. They, basically, have no fear. Personally, I rather follow the courageous into battle, than follow the brave.

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

-- William Faulkner

What is the value of the priceless?

The definition answers this pretty well: Having a value beyond any price.

However, when it comes to “priceless,” it isn’t necessarily what price we arbitrarily assign to it, but what ridiculous price someone is willing to pay in order to own it.

Is helping without a return a bad thing?

No, helping someone is a selfless act that more people need to exercise. Helping others and expecting something in return, however, isn’t really helping them as you are selling your services for a return of the favor. 

What is something that too many people take for granted?

Peace and stability. People live their lives in denial of an imminent nuclear threat from several quarters. They think everything is stable as we constantly walk that thin line between stability and chaos. Being born in 1953, I have lived under the nuclear threat most of my life. For almost 23 years in the military intelligence field, I dealt with nuclear deterrence on a daily basis. We maintained the illusion of peace and stability. Now, we have let socialism invade our own political system, and that illusion is, once again walking that thin line. People are once again, taking their freedom, their life, their “peace and stability” for granted. And for those socialists destabilizing our nation? They are also in denial of their ultimate fate:

“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 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 volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com