Questions of Truth, Value, and Character

 

“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

-- R.J. Palacio

 

There is only 1 thing inside every reality that is being and that thing is the truth. To ignore any truth is to ignore that 1 thing and that thing is the self-being caused to be everything that is true about one’s self in reality. True or false? 

(I didn't send my answer to this question.  I read the following bullshit proviso and decided the question was bait thrown out by the League of the Perpetually Offended:  "A correction or critique must come from the examples one gives of what one knows of the reality in question. Therefore in this space do not critique unless to demonstrate from one's perspective."  What?  I don't play this game, especially when said question or statement sucks grammatically.  My unsent answer follows.)

True. No… false. Is this a trick question? I’ll give you the first sentence as true, the rest of it I can live without.

If you could create one thing by pure willpower, what would it be?

Permanent world peace. 

How can humans predict our own future?

We can’t. But we can make the good choices that will probably lead us to the future we choose, providing we don’t elect geriatric politicians suffering from senile dementia who destroy our future and everything we stand for.

“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...

The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”

-- Carl Sagan

How do you accept yourself in a world striving for perfection?

By accepting there is no such thing as perfection, and then striving to be happy always.

Which petty thing changed the way humans live their lives?

The mirror. Pretty trivial when put next to manned space travel, but how much time do you find yourself spending in front of a mirror?

What would you say if I told you to get your little dick fat ass up and f****** come work out with me because you were no better than me? How would that make you feel?

Offended that you haven’t been provided with the verbal skills to say this without sounding like a selfish ass. I’d also be feeling a bit confused as to how you thought, in any world, you could dictate my choices to me. I doubt I would give you the satisfaction of a response. I’d probably just laugh and walk away.

“Everything and anything we communicate to others, communicates to them, how to see us and treat us.”

-- Miya Yamanouchi

What does a person need if he doesn't need to be good?

Money for a good lawyer.

What are your thoughts on anti-vaxxers being fired?

We are a nation of freedoms. They have the freedom to not get vaccinated. The employer has the freedom to hire people that do.

What sort of “risks” do successful people take?

The ones they can afford. Taking risks they can’t afford will not guarantee their continued success. Sustainability is not based on gambling with success.

"Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable if you'd just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting."

--Edward Whitacre, Jr.

How does it feel when your partner makes you feel like you are worthless?

It makes me feel like looking for a new partner.

Author's comment:  But after 8 p.m. you get tired:-) You think, oh what, everything is fine the way it is going. I need this person for some things in my life, it is easier then. Other relationships are the same. What could I want more? There is nothing else for me. I can be glad that anyone lives with me and can bear me. There is no such thing as true love.

My reply:  Bullshit. Your choice is making no choice. The status quo is fine because you refuse to think you might be worth more than you are. Maybe this is fine, since you admit to using him for some “things” in your life. I just can’t understand feeling “worthless” is a choice I’d want to make for my life.

You’ve given up, and you want someone to say that's okay when even you know that’s bullshit. The “bridge of revelation” you seek is that you’re worth more than this same-o, same-o life. Maybe you should start by confronting your partner and explaining how you really feel. The answer should clarify where you stand.

What do you expect from a genuine friend? What are some qualities you admire in a person? How do these types of friends help you in life?

A good sense of ethics. Their good ethics keep me paying attention to my own. Our ethical values define who we are to other people.

What inspires you to continue living despite personal trials and tribulations?

Because the alternative simply sucks. My trials and tribulations are due to poor choices and decisions on my part. Nobody else has control of my life. I haven’t handed the control of my life over to someone else, so it must be me. I have to go back and correct all the poor choices I’ve made in order to make my life better.

"Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are."

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

What shows the character of a person?

Their morally ethical behavior, or lack thereof.

I went to an amusement park with my girlfriend. I don’t like the rides, she does. We ended up doing none of the rides and now she is sad. What’s the right thing to do?

Find her a boyfriend, before she does.

What kind of energy do people need every day?

The kind of energy required to keep moving ever forward. The energy to persevere.

“The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”

-- Aristotle

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