Questioning Death, Quotes, Learning, Taboos, and Control

 

“But there is a fundamental difference between reading and being read to. When one reads actively, whether using the eyes or a finger, one is free to skip ahead or back, to reread, to ponder or daydream in the middle of a sentence―one reads in one's own time. Being read to, listening to an audiobook, is a more passive experience, subject to the vagaries of another's voice and largely unfolding in the narrator's own time.”

-- Oliver Sacks

How do I listen to 2-hour audio, without falling asleep or losing concentration?

Break every 15 minutes, get some fresh air, and review the recent segment’s info.

What is/are your ambition(s) in life?

To live beyond 90 years of age and still enjoy the occasional bourbon, cigar, and mahogany.

What should I do while listening to subliminal messaging?

Chant, in your mind, “I am my own person. I am my own person. I am my own person…”

What is something that you wish you could share with others?

How to choose true happiness for your life. Choose to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Oops! There it is… Yet, we find this so difficult. It is a simple choice. When you think about it, the alternative simply sucks, so… why choose that? 

What's it like being dead?

You’ll only get an “answer” from someone who has died. Death has tried to take me to the “big sleep” several times. Someone has my back.

“The best thing about being dead is that you don’t know about it. It’s like being stupid – it’s only painful for others.”

--Ricky Gervais

What is your favorite quote of all time? Why?

“It is what it is until it isn’t, and then, it is what it is... again.” — Me

Because it holds much truth.

What is the value you are unwilling to compromise?

Ethical conduct. I bend the hell out of it, but I try not to compromise it. A tough fix for someone in an Intelligence career. Being “unwilling to compromise” does not negate compromising. One has to understand the “nature” of the beast and make a tentative peace with it. 

How can someone stop analyzing their life and start living it?

If you’re truly living life, you will have little time to be analyzing anything but the mistakes.

In this world, is it more difficult to find the truth or to face the truth?

Facing the truth is easy. Finding the truth has become very hard. Truth has been obfuscated by politics and media. It is, almost, unrecognizable, even to the righteous. Even our Federal Bureau of Investigation, paragons of virtue, have started down the slippery slope of political influence.  

If a genie granted you one wish that had to do with knowledge, what would it be?

Answer to the question, “Why?”

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

How should I enjoy learning and not take exam scores to heart (good and bad)? I really like learning but I feel like I take my scores to heart and it really impacts me. How do I change my mindset to learning for life and not for an exam grade?

Exam scores are needed to move forward in the learning institution. You had better take them to heart or you’ll not graduate. The confusing part of this, if I understand you, is that you enjoy learning, but you don’t get good exam scores. It sounds like you learn the subject but the test locks your mind up. You might touch base with a counselor at the institution and see if an oral exam would be an option. If the exam grade is not important to you, let the instructor know this, and that you don’t take tests well. Honesty might just win the day for you, but you will know where you stand at any rate.

If you could have one thing you don't currently have, what would it be?

Unforgiving sex of a lifetime. 

How can I have a safe marital life after 60? I mean enjoyment.

Hope you married a loving, attentive, and non-violent man, the right man, and make sure he takes his Viagra. You’ll be safe, and you’ll “enjoy” life.

What are some things that psychologists know, but most people don't?

Cause and effect.

Why are we more motivated to prove someone wrong on the internet than to study for tomorrow’s exam?

“We” have our priorities out of whack. Proving someone wrong… I’m sorry… stroking our ego, is so much less important than the exams we need to take and get good grades on. Stroke your ego when you have free time to waste. Or, just let the dumbass go on thinking they’re right. Then being wrong shouldn’t make any difference to people who really shouldn’t care. Study for the exam.

“You would suffer for many things in life and misplaced priority is one of them.”

-- Bamigboye Olurotimi

What are the various taboos we came across in our life?

Death, and a lack of good ethics, meaningless sex notwithstanding, of course.

Does not wanting to celebrate certain holidays make me a bad mother?

Not if you explain your cogent reasoning to the child, and when they grow into an adult, don’t judge them if they choose to celebrate what you choose not to. If you really don’t have a good and cogent reason, you should be more concerned with that.

How can I say "shut the f#%k up" in a more polite way?

“Please be quiet.” Or, if you’re in the South, “Well, bless your little heart! Please close your pie hole.”

What can I do to believe in myself? Since I think I won't reach success like the people I think about; a few YouTubers with millions of subs and celebrities in a lot of work. Especially, when I don't believe my talent or art will get me far.

Then, choose true success, which many of these people probably don’t understand. Make the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Making this choice makes true happiness sustainable until you change your choice, which would be a bit insane. Once you are truly happy, you can start working on your life’s path. The difference will be, regardless of where your path now takes you, you will be always happy. The alternative to this… simply sucks. 

I usually forget everything even though I eat well and take care of my health. But for six or seven years I have had this problem that I forget every time. Is it a natural defect? Or moral inferiority?

If we knew the problem that you forget every time, it would probably help. If the problem is that you forget, what do you forget? Not enough information to go on.

“Let the past be content with itself, for man needs forgetfulness as well as memory”

-- James Stephens

What is a true but miserable fact to know?

I will never be an “Adonis” and have women throw themselves at my feet. Well, not in this lifetime, anyway.

Where do you come from, and what are your intentions?

The “other side,” via my mother’s womb, and I have always intended mischief.

How can I deal with other people controlling my life and making my decisions for me?

Why deal with it, just don’t let them. It is your life, not theirs. If they make a bad decision it is still on you for allowing them to make decisions for you. If they control you and, thereby, kill you, it is on you, not them. Your inability to take control of your life is your choice and, in reality, not theirs.

Are you aware of the power you have over other people, and how do you use that wisely?

Hard not to be aware of what you were trained for, and because it strikes me as unethical, I prefer not to use it.

What is the most immature thing that society needs to get over with, now?

Trying to stick it to Donald Trump. Our country wasted 4 years and millions of dollars, and the infantile politicians just can’t find their way back to the “people’s business.” It is really just sad.

“Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature.”

-- Tom Robbins

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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

Honor Thy Pedophile and Thy Mother? (Updated from 10/28/2016)

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

-- Exodus 20:12

"Honor your father and your mother," as a rule of thumb, this sounds pretty reasonable.  As the fifth of God's 10 laws for man to live by, the "Ten Commandments," it especially seems pretty reasonable.  LifeHopeandTruth.com states, "God gave the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai, accompanied by smoke, earthquakes, and the blast of a trumpet to emphasize the importance of these laws.  Moses recorded God’s words in Exodus 20 and recounted the event again in Deuteronomy 5."  

Well, that doesn't read right.  Actually, Moses didn't write any of this.  Scholars ascribe Exodus to the Babylonian exile period which occurred a good 500 years after Moses received the stone tablets from God.  So much for truth, but you can't believe anything you read on the internet - right?  Bon jour! 

However, faith demands we believe that the 10 Commandments were, in fact, handed down on two stone tablets.  One might assume God, being perfect, used stone so the commandments would last forever.  There was no reason for them not to, as they were succinct and not open to changes or interpretation unless you're a complete idiot, close-minded or a member of the clergy, and for the most part, I'm not certain there is a difference between these three.  God gave us ten simple commandments and we gave God back a couple of thousand pages worth of scripture trying to explain the simplicity of what God really meant to say in His "commandments", which only proved that mankind is truly dumber than concrete.  We are evidence of the whole eating the forbidden fruit from the tree issue.

"But one thing honoring does NOT mean is that you have no choice but to tolerate their abuse. Honoring does not mean that you never confront, or set limits on someone's behavior. Honoring does not mean you have to give up all hope of ever being treated nicely and sacrifice your own health and well-being for an abuser's sadistic enjoyment."

-- Rev. Renee Pittelli

So how does one justify honoring parents, if the parents in question have committed sins against a child that God has commanded to honor them?  This entire post came about after I requested my readers to send me ideas to write about.  The following message arrived from a very dear friend and a long-time reader of my posts:

“I'm tolerant and accepting, but I will not forsake my beliefs in order to be tolerant and accepting. For instance, strengthening my faith in a world full of abuses against mankind and, at the rate society is going, will we see the return of Jesus Christ in our lifetime? If so, I'm not ready. 

I do not know how to reconcile Commandment 5, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." Because of another human's actions and character, I can't reconcile a commandment of God. Do I still have the chance to ascend into heaven? Can I be a person of integrity, honesty, sincerity, loyalty, and still fall short of God's grace? What if, because of the abuses I suffered early in life, my behavior in my 20s has already sealed my fate? Maybe that's why I don't see/feel God's promises in my life today? I already screwed the pooch?

Last week at mass, the church had "voting guides" available to inform the practicing Catholics how to vote in accordance with their [Catholic] doctrine (i.e. abortion, heterosexual marriage, etc.). How do you be tolerant and accepting and still have a strong faith with a conscience? The Monsignor specifically spoke to honoring your parents; you KNOW that can't happen for me. How in the world am I to ever reconcile that one?

I just wonder if God will overlook the fact that I was sacrificed by my mother, to a pedophile and left for my soul to rot (until I got old enough to rescue it, that is), when He considers my afterlife?”

Long, but to the point.  Scripture needs to be interpreted and, perhaps, a few of the Commandments.  What is our definition of a "parent"?  I found a good description in Wikipedia under Parent:  "Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship."

So, being a father and mother, a parent, goes beyond the "biological relationship."  When it comes to "honoring" someone for parenting, it could apply to whomever the child sees was responsible for "promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood."  I think God understood this when handing down the law, worded in the parlance of the day, so it could be understood by the least of us.  Sadly, especially for many children in today's world, no one deserves this honor.

My friend's message to me was full of more than just this question of honor, or misplaced honor. She voices concerns about integrity, honesty, sincerity, loyalty, failure, conscience, salvation, and God's grace.  The message addresses questions most of us have concerning our personal faith, not to be confused with our "religion" which is simply a word to describe the cults, the business, controlling leadership, and those separate sects which we think offer us the best shot at attaining the "Kingdom of God" since we seem incapable of attaining it on our own.  

Our faith is what we are left with when all of this other crap is stripped away.  It is what we fall back on when it's all we have left, and it's almost always all we have left.  If we don't have Faith to fall back on, it becomes painfully evident that we never truly had faith.  

What we all don't seem to grasp is the concept of "personal" faith.  The only way to God is through the Son, and the only way through the Son is through your own faith!  Not through the faith, belief, and toil of others.  God wants to hear from you, not some clergy representing you; some surrogates you think can absolve you of any breach of protocol.  God needs to hear your faith, from your mouth.

My answer to the greater question in my dear friend's message is simple, though she usually accuses me of speaking in riddles.  If you are concerned enough to ask, then you have already reconciled.  If you are questioning your path, then you are already on your journey.  If you truly have faith, then all you need do is turn around - you are already at the gates.  Life and happiness are not all that difficult.  All you have to do is make the conscious choice to live life and be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

"God is not telling us to honor abusers, who don’t deserve to be honored. It helps to remind ourselves that God does not do nonsensical, irrational, or contradictory things. He NEVER rewards evil, and he NEVER says anything to us that would make it easier for evil to thrive, or for abusers to get away with their cruelty. It doesn’t make sense that our God, who is All Good, would tell us to encourage and reward evil. If it doesn’t make sense and we do not feel at peace in our spirit about it, then it is not from God. We need to delve a little deeper into his Word and pray for a better understanding."

-- Rev. Renee Pittelli

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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

Questioning Topics, Things, Facts, Evil, and Secrets

“I discovered that what most people call creepy, scary, and spooky, I call comfy, cozy, and home.”

-- Zak Bagans

Why do I think hope, future, and health will be next year's key important topics?

Because, the next year we'll need to vote for a real President concerned with all three, not some geriatric puppet being used to destroy our country in favor of a socialist government in which “hope, future, and health” will mean nothing.

Were individuals or the number of individuals born in 1916 alive back in late 2014 about as common as individuals born in 1924 alive as of today in 2022 and individuals born in 1922 back in 2020?

What???

If life is not fair, and morals are subjective, why is it wrong to misuse psychology for personal gain?

Life is what it is, we shift blame onto life for being “unfair” because we make it so through bad choices and decisions. As far as “personal gain” is concerned, greed is never a good thing, and misusing something to satisfy greed is also not right. The entire statement seems like a limp excuse to do wrong for personal gain.

Am I wasting time on [this site] or not, because I didn't earn anything from it in the last few months?

What are you trying to “earn” from it? It makes more sense if you were trying to learn something from it.

What are some creepy things that happened in the past?

I had my hand behind my head while lying on the couch reading a book. Something put its hand in mine and then let go. A few nights later, the same arm behind my head, I felt an index finger and thumb lightly press my wrist. I thanked them for letting me know they were in the house. I just continued reading. Between these, and chasing down a shadow figure in the room above the garage on my mom’s house next door, I think there was a home here before my dad built these. Hurricanes probably took them out and might have killed the residents.

“In the middle of nowhere, along a quiet stretch of road, the diner dreamt of the hungry dead. And of two men.”

-- A. Lee Martinez

How do I explain everything, anything, all things, something, and whatever for what it is, as it is, as it was, as it will be, like it is, how it is, the way it is, in all ways and every way 100% clear, proper, well, and perfect?

Become God.

Is the meaning of life important to you?

It is important. Meaning in life gives us reasons to live. I am given a “gift” each morning, of another day in paradise that I can use to try to excel in my life. I have chosen to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. True happiness represents true and sustainable success in life. Everything else is simply a goal that we can attain.

More important, however, is life itself. Without life, the meaning of it would be a moot point. I revel in life, the good, and the bad, because, well, the alternative simply sucks.

When in your life did someone’s pride inspire you?

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ronald Reagan.

What did you change about yourself for your partner so they would not leave you?

I made the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. I made the choice because I wasn’t willing to let anyone use me, to destroy my life, ever again, for a quarter of a century. The love I invested in that failed relationship taught me to choose my partners more wisely.  Life, in this existence, is just too short. 

Should it be illegal to care and not care about anything?

Only in a communist or socialist country, otherwise, we have the freedom to choose not to.

“Everything good in life is either immoral, illegal, or fattening.”

-- Nicole Richie

How do I come to terms with the absolute fact that I’m dumber than other people?

It is an absolute fact that I am also dumber than other people. I think most people can say this when we compare ourselves to people with more intelligence. We are, in fact, dumber than some other people. I could come to terms with it by saying I should have studied harder, but what a cop-out would that be? I can’t fly a plane, but I have no real desire to learn how. I’d probably wet myself. I don’t know you, but, the truth be told, I see you this way: Your question is grammatically correct. The spelling is okay. The question is to the point. Most other people on this site can’t claim any of this, but you “think” you’re dumber than they are? I think you might want to “think” again.

When someone says, "Don't waste my time," is it okay to tell that person, "No one has put a gun to your head to waste your time"?

Why are you wasting their time with a smartass comeback? Doing exactly what you were asked not to do, would be a good reason to ignore you.

In today's ultra-competitive society, do people expect others to be perfect without making any mistakes at all in life? If you make a mistake, should you be permanently blacklisted?

Expectations of “perfection” is asking for the impossible. No one is perfect. As far as mistakes, mistakes and failures are the best way we learn. If someone hasn’t failed or made a mistake, they’re lying. People who have learned by making mistakes and failing have learned more than those who haven’t. Who do you hire, the ones who have learned, or the ones who haven’t had the opportunity to learn? Personally, I’d go with employees who strive for excellence by learning from their mistakes and those of others. 

Why do people have such different opinions about the Bible?

It was written by men at a time when everyone had a hidden agenda. Is it the WORD of God, or the “WORD” inspired by God? We have to ask, then, which “agenda” was being inspired? 

Can the philosophies of amorality prompt evil people to take those ideas to justify immoral passion even if it wasn’t the original intent of the philosopher who wrote it? If so, why does this happen?

Yes. It happens because they are evil people who enjoy “immoral passion” in life. Truth be known, however, you don’t have to be evil to enjoy a bit of “immoral passion” in life. You just have to be a little bit bad.

“Men are more moral than they think and far more immoral than they can imagine.”

-- Sigmund Freud

Have you ever met an evil person who lives with a cat?

Several, but I was never quite sure which one was really evil.

What are the consequences of living a life without ethics or morals?

Having the crap beat out of you. Death by someone else’s hand. Jail time. Lackluster friends without ethics or morals. STDs. Children out of wedlock. Any one of these, or all of these, or many others, like a lengthy stay in hell. Basically, being constantly visited by bad karma.

Are 20-year-olds adults?

Not many, not anymore. 

Who or what controls our lives?

Who, or what, you allow to control it. I want to live in the United States, so I choose to abide by the “rule of law” that governs the United States. What “rule of law”?

I vote because I want my voice to count, but which foreign country is monitoring our polling places to ensure we aren’t cheating? China? Others vote because they want inflation to run unchecked, borders to be torn down, and illegal aliens to get more benefits than our own citizens. We allow all of this, or we’d rise up and demand accountability.

What is your greatest fantasy?

I can’t tell you, or they would know.

“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape? ...If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien

What are some motivations for people to make and save more money?

If she’s worth it.

Do you believe that every individual possesses a dark side on the inside at one point or another?

Yes, but it’s either on one side or the other, or it would be a “dark point.” So, which is it?

I don't understand how to get closer to people. I copy how other people act to make friends, but I'm always ignored and don't have the same effect as others. Why?

You hang with the wrong people. I make the assumption that “Lilly” means your female. Are you trying to get closer to other females, or men? Men tend not to ignore women. 

I’m approaching 70 years of age, and I hang out at a cigar bar. All of us, men and women, married or single, black, white, brown, or whatever, we shake hands and hug as a greeting and a farewell. We understand how to get “closer” and be good friends with each other. It sounds like you need to move to the South. Mississippi is a whole different secret.

Is it okay to become a real-life superhero who fights obese people?

Really? Shape shaming? What are you going to be called, Dietman?

What's a secret you're taking to the grave?

Oh my, yes! But, if I told you, it would no longer be a secret, would it?

“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”

-- Benjamin Franklin

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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

Questioning Stupid, Blame, Change, Lies, and Goals

 

“Are you referring to the fact that you can't walk across a flat, stable surface without finding something to trip over?”

-- Stephenie Meyer

Does being clumsy mean you're stupid?

No, clumsy means you’re not paying attention, probably because your mind is on other, more important, things. Stupid, on the other hand, means you haven’t taken the time to learn much.

Would generous rich people help me selflessly?

That would depend on if you were selfishly hunting them down.

Where did you spend the most time in your life?

In Washington state. I spent 12 years of my military career there, and then I spent another 17 years working at a civilian job there. 

Is it okay to act in a selfish manner in a society where everyone is for themselves and others will not help you in times of need? After all, if no one cares about you shouldn't you do what is only in your best interest?

Why not be as selfish as everyone else, when putting your best foot forward might show everyone there is a better way? You could be the impetus for change. No, selfishness is so much better than doing what’s right. After all, it’s just society dictating who we’re supposed to be, right?

What is the secret that can make a person a failure if he shares it?

Their formula for “Love Potion No. 9” would break them.

“One can only share so much. There are secrets we must keep”

-- Richard L. Ratliff

Why do many people blame the victims instead of the bad people?

You have to ask the liberal Democrats this.

Do you have a problem with authority?

Yes, but “authority” exists for a purpose, so I accept that, in order to live in a structured society, one must bend to authority.

In a society where everyone is for themselves, is being selfish and rude considered a virtue?

It might be “considered” a virtue, but it really isn’t.

I really want to do ballet but I already have a really busy schedule with other things I love and my parents won’t let me. How can I lose the passion for it so I can stop thinking about it?

Don’t. If you really want ballet, then you might have to wait until you can do it. It might be realistic for you to un-busy your schedule to allow time for it. You might also have to share to cost. This might be one reason your parents balk at it.

What is the foundation for knowing and understanding a problem?

Curiosity.

“The assumption of an absolute determinism is the essential foundation of every scientific inquiry.”

-- Max Planck

Does change make you uncomfortable? …like adapting to new things.

Not a bit. 23 years in military service prepares you for a life of adapting to constant change, and, truth be known, “change” is actually the only true constant in the universe.

Reader comment: Change is evolution and all that implies. Without change, we become irrelevant to the world.

My reply: Indeed.

How does society enable me to become a better person?

In a “free” society, you are encouraged to become a better person. There are many outlets where you can selflessly give of yourself to make the lives of others better. Volunteerism is utilized by many who wish to better themselves. There are also many “self-help” books that guide you toward a better self. A “free” society allows you to make the “free” choice to be more than you are.

Why does anyone that’s found a bag of 100-dollar bills decide to burn them 1 at a time?

Not right in the head?

How can someone self-educate to become a politician without a degree?

I don’t believe there is any rule on the books that requires a “higher” education to run for public office. Just look at the morons in government now, evidence that you don’t need intelligence to serve, just idiots at the ballot box. Hell, we have a President that doesn’t even know where he is most of the time.

What are some psychological experiments that are doubted today because they were too ethical?

How can an experiment be too ethical? I can see it being not ethical enough, but not too ethical.

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”

-- C.S. Lewis

Is there a difference between make-believe and lying?

Not if you’re making believe so you can lie to someone.

How do I become successful in life when I’ve had a very sheltered life growing up, and how do I make more friends without being shy to talk to new people?

Success in life is simply making the choice to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Everything else is simply attaining goals, and you have to work toward those. As far as friends, those “mature” minded people, who truly want to be your friend, will recognize you are shy and come to you.

What is something you think should be normalized and why?

Sex. If you’re both of age, what you do in the privacy of your home is up to you and your partner. 

What steps can I take to learn something other than my major while I am a college student?

Take an elective. I may not be able to exercise my freedom of thought and speech, but I’m pretty sure they still let you choose electives, right? Or, does the socialist education system do that for you as well?

How do you fight to keep an idea when others think it is stupid?

How stupid are the others? It might not be much of a fight.

“The willingness to be a champion for stupid ideas is the key to greater creativity, innovation, fulfillment, inspiration, motivation, and success.”

-- Richie Norton

Why would someone have a phobia of "countryballs"?

Great question. Does someone? I mean, they’re kind of cute.

How do you prioritize your time and responsibilities?

You rank your time and responsibilities by importance or time sensitivity. You do the most important, or time-sensitive, first. It makes sense that the most time-sensitive needs to be done first, but an important responsibility may override that and be seen as the most time-sensitive.

How does one come to own something?

Someone gives it to you, you find it, or you purchase it.

Do people who are on their way to achieving their goals also set new/bigger goals and still succeed at both of them?

They can. It usually happens when they find out that there is a goal beyond the one they’re working toward, but they have to attain the first goal in order to proceed toward the second. It would be like studying for a medical degree and then deciding on a medical “specialty” degree. You still have to get a basic medical degree first.

 Are you still helping people masturbate?

That’s none of your business.

“Knowing how you like to be touched and being able to communicate that kindly to a partner is a major component of a satisfying sex life. But how do you know what makes your body sing if you haven’t spent some time finding out? Solo sex (masturbation) is a natural way to understand what your particular body likes and how it likes to be aroused.”

-- Elle Chase

“The USA is turning into a nation filled with insane masturbators.”

-- Steven Magee

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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

Racism - Not My Monkey (Updated from 9/28/2016)

"I will be spreading this new saying as I think it simplifies the entire point of keeping other people's stress out of your own life and off of your path. With everything going on in the world today that is of so much more importance than the trivial bullshit involved in the circus we visit upon ourselves, maybe we should all recognize, early on, there is nothing entertaining here and learn to leave the "big top" when we see the monkey has set the tent ablaze."

-- "Not My Circus, Not My Monkey"

I will be upfront and honest with my readers, as I always try to be.  Tonight, I have some help from Mr. Evan Williams.  Bourbon, working hard to keep me on the narrow, if not necessarily straight.  This has been one of those posts which I have labored over, once in 2016 and, again, at the end of 2022.  I have written and rewritten it, and will probably continue to rewrite it days after I post it... again. Like abortion and child abuse, racism is a topic that hurts my heart, my faith, and my patriotism.  America is everything to me. 

Those that know me also know I have no compunction dying for her, America, or killing to protect her. There comes a time when you have to make a choice of whether to be a patriot or not.  Whether, as a soldier, to die protecting a President which you have little or no respect for, simply because you took an oath to protect them.  Or, you can choose to commit treason to your country, your oath, and your self-respect by letting the poor sap drown in a pool of their own blood and brain matter.  Unfortunately, for our Presidents, an oath is only a guideline for fair-weather patriots.  True patriots don't have the luxury of sticking our finger in the air to gauge the political weather every five minutes - that's the job of Congress.  

Patriots care about the Constitution and the people of the United States. Patriots assume those people elected by the ignorant rabble are also law-abiding patriots worthy of our protection, and that the orders they give us are morally, ethically, and legally worthy of bringing to fruition; anything else is simply anarchy.  We live with the knowledge that, if things go awry, we will leave no man behind.  Or, at least, we used to believe this.  It would seem better advice nowadays, when the chips are down, to bend over and kiss your brave patriotic ass goodbye.  There will be no expectation of rescue; no cavalry charging over the hill to rescue Americans in harm's way.  Afghanistan taught us much. We learned about the pussies in the military, the pussies in charge of the military, and the pussies in charge of pussies in charge of them.  Cowardice knows no bounds.

True patriots don't look for an excuse to milk the system.  We are the citizens that would think thrice about a lawsuit, unemployment, and certainly not welfare.  Hey, shit happens, get over it, pick yourself up, and move forward.  Just because you can do a thing, it does not necessarily follow that you must do that thing.  True patriots don't buy into the bullshit.  We are what we are, what we have always been, first to fight, first to die.  Coming back in pieces is what we volunteer to do, and hope we don't.  We don't see color in our band of brothers because we're too busy watching each other's backs.  On the field of battle, one becomes acutely aware all blood is red.  Any other color is not a player for the patriot, so show a little respect.  Those "patriots" who don't believe this, maybe should learn to speak Farsi or Chinese and prepare to reap their reward.

Racism in America?  I'll be the first to admit, I probably don't see it because I don't look for it.  I don't look for it because I wasn't brought up with it.  In the U.S. Air Force, it wasn't tolerated.  It isn't a monkey I want digging its claws in my ass and climbing up my back, limiting my friendship pool.  I don't hold with it, I do not practice it.  I have always supported productive laws, programs, and other recourse to defeat it, and I think the minorities that feel offended should make use of those legal tools to mitigate any perceived wrongdoing.  

Having said all this, however, Americans are still being inundated by the media and a political party fomenting racial divisiveness in our country even though we elected a black President.  Our Congress has a Black Congressional Caucus, which seems a bit racist as there is no White Congressional Caucus, and, isn't Congress supposed to represent all Americans?  I guess that would presuppose Congress actually does its job.  The fact they don't would seem to be evidence that, regardless of color or political tilt, all of Congress is corrupt.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) would seem to exist for the express purpose of stirring the racial pot instead of serving up healthy portions of brotherly love, and solving the inner city plight which has gotten worse since the creation of the NAACP back in 1909.  Perhaps I'm confused, but I assumed they were created for the advancement of all colored people, not just a chosen few.  Peace, brotherly love, and equality don't fill the NAACP coffers, however.  If the success of the NAACP, or any governmental programs, is evidenced by all the constant rioting in the North where everyone wants to equate their issues of joblessness, welfare, and lack of education, with Mississippi and a reason for violence, I'd say they have been a dismal failure.  MLK marched on Selma, not on Jackson.  Mississippi always gets bad press. 

Mississippi's problems stem from the North thinking that we're racists, which is the excuse the North uses for telling everyone not to do business in this state.  The north is so good at this propaganda they actually convince intelligent people to buy into their "new" history.  Hey, the victors of war write the lies of history and dictate survival to the losers, especially in today's liberal education system.  No shit?  Burning cities to the ground has always been a battle tactic of the North (re: Atlanta), so why should it surprise them when neighborhoods are torched?  Most hard-working, God-fearing, Mississippians would probably like to tell the North to clean their own house before throwing stones at theirs.  Seen any rioting down in Mississippi that equates to the North?  Pick up a real history book, for once, and see when the last one was, and good luck.  That is if you can pull your collective heads out of your ass long enough to smell the bullshit you're being spoon-fed.

The North will, sooner or later, probably succeed in re-infecting the South with the newest iteration of racist violence, perpetrated by blacks instead of whites, but until that happens, if you want to escape the Northern violence,  "Y'all come to visit."  We'd love to have you. 

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

My mother is Mississippi born and bred.  She left the South until they cleaned up their racially divisive act, and raised me so I would not have to experience the evil of it.  She has returned to her southern roots and, to all outward appearances, it seems to have made a 180-degree turn.  Does racism exist in America?  Unfortunately, yes.  I see it every time I watch the news concerning the rioting up north.  I see it each time a cowardly assassin shoots a policeman in the back... up north.  I see it every time I go to a friend's Facebook page to read the racist comments left by the majority of their black "friends" which are tempered only by the minority of loving Christians of color in the group.  The fact that several of my friends are also black has bearing on this only in that, what racism I've encountered in Mississippi, the "in my face" racism, has been perpetrated upon me by a minority of black Mississippians.  I'm sure there are also whites in the same evil boat since evil is one trait that does not discriminate.

While what little, obvious racism I have experienced was while cruising Facebook, one has to realize sites like Facebook offer a platform for cowards to say what they might not say to your face.  What concerns me most, is when I discover friends, the ones I thought I knew, seemingly buying into the bullshit spouted by their own friends and readers by condoning the racist behavior instead of stepping up for more of a Christian attitude.  How very sad, for all of us, if this is true of my friends, and how very sad for Christianity when it becomes so clearly evident we have failed the sons and daughters of God. 

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now, I mentioned the only "in my face" racism I've encountered, but there is plenty of unspoken racism behind the looks one gets.  Equally as sad, for me at least, are these looks of veiled dislike I get from some people of color, as though being white is an immediate reason to hate me.  You can see it in their eyes and hear it in the forced greeting if a greeting is even returned.  It's the look that says, "You're white."  It is the look that helps you identify with the victims of racism because you are immediately a victim.  I experience it when I would enter a hospital room to minister and realize my Christianity is the wrong color; there is a silent politeness that says, "Get out."  It would seem that Christian bigotry is color-blind since Christians of both races practice it.  Christians, or hypocrites? One wonders.

"Violence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him."

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

For the country, as a whole, this hatred seems to be, unfortunately, summed up in three words today - Black Lives Matter.  No other lives matter, only black lives.  We hear interviews with folks, black and white, saying politics has set equality in the United States back fifty years.  I would offer political figures are only a catalyst to inflame rioters and protesters, those people "perpetually offended" and disenchanted with a government that has done little to better the circumstances of minority communities.  The fact that the people in these communities may have done little or nothing to better their own circumstances seems moot.  These are northern violent protestors, rioters, criminals, and race baiters that have set the country's sense of equality back fifty years.  Political administrations have done nothing but condone this behavior, by silence, by excuse, or Vice President who claims to be black while being worthless as tits on a bull.  MLK would be incensed.

One would hope Southern sensibilities would rise above buying into such bullshit, but it would seem ignorance and hatred are cruel taskmasters.  They have been given the uncontrolled platform of social media from which to spew the anarchy of racial divisiveness throughout our country and the world. 

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

To most Americans, I think these violent rioters and protesters have done their cause no favor by listening to and acting on, liberal hate-speak.  Everyone loves to throw out the "Dr. Martin Luther King card" as a reason for protesting injustice, and well they should.  But you cannot use Dr. King as an excuse to prove how stupid you are for rioting and destroying property; for burning down your house around your ears.  This is not what Dr. King was about, and one would think black leadership in America would be aware of this and have spent their time hammering this point home, which they haven't. Al Sharpton is an embarrassment.   

"Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace...  Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bigotry in America?  It is an unfortunate reality for all of humanity.  Equality in this country has come far but is still being learned.  It is not something that can be dictated by the government.  Race, gender, and religion will enflame our emotions for some years to come as we work our way through the emotional, political, and media-magnified bullshit, in order to find a real sense of family.  We must also wait for old memories to die or, at least, fade into liberal non-history.

But, history will always be an excuse, a reason for some perceived wrong in the present, an excuse for violent retribution against the innocent.  What we must not do is fall into the trap set by those who would have us rewrite our history.  History is how we learn from the past.  We must not allow politicians and the media to continue using all of us as a tool for accomplishing one political party's agenda of governmental control over our society.  The only way we, as a people can accomplish our goal of equality, is to show personal tolerance, understanding, and eventual acceptance of each other.  We must have personal respect for rules of law, and we must agree to allow those rules to function with juries of our peers and to respect the final judgment of those juries - right or wrong.  

We need fully funded, trained, police forces, and government peopled with a percentage of minorities equal to the communities they serve.  We need to stand shoulder to shoulder in fellowship, not spouting the divisive hatred we hear from rabble-rousers in our midst.  We need to be intelligent enough to look beyond these self-serving hatemongers and see something better for our future.  We need to step up and take responsibility for the future of all of us, not just the "perpetually offended" few who will never be satisfied with any strides we take forward as a country; those for whom nothing will ever be enough. 

"A riot is the language of the unheard...  The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, but it must be followed by a sense of futility."

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I will most certainly pay for this post, as usual, with derisive comments I will receive from my favorite group, the League of the Perpetually Offended.  It will come if history is any indicator, mostly from "caucasian" readers, younger than myself, who have never read the writings of Dr. King, or if they did, have not understood a thing they read.  It is as if they feel guilt for crimes they did not commit or were not victims of.  They have allowed the "perpetually offended" to let this monkey loose on their back and, like ignorant cowards too afraid to stand up for themselves, they accept the imagined guilt without questioning the source or validity of the accusations.

As a person devoid of color, I have no point of reference.  Because of this, I'm honest enough to admit I have probably missed much of Dr. King's sweet, tolerant reasonableness despite all that his people have endured, simply because I did not endure it.  By the same token, I think many younger blacks in our country suffer from this same ignorance of his philosophy.  You can read the evidence of this ignorance all over Facebook in their unforgiving comments about their hatred and desire to kill all whites, a payback for slavery that they never endured, and the slavery most whites, of this era, never condoned.

These people are all, generally, good people, white and black, good people of faith, caught up in the damning emotions, comments, and actions of someone else's stupidity and politically motivated agendas.  They find themselves acting against all better judgment, no better than the fools who govern them, and these political agendas, instead of the Constitution.  They forget to be Americans, patriots, and people of faith, and their faith forgets, as usual, what it professes to believe - that we are all brothers and sisters, the children of God.

I will pay for this post with a vehemence that would make one think I was personally responsible for their hatred.  I have grown a thick skin, however, especially when it comes from an onslaught of abject ignorance.

"Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial... Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." 

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is not my circus, it most certainly is not my monkey, and it saddens me that we have learned nothing from watching the "circus" year after year, as the "Big Top" burns when it comes to town.  We keep paying more and more for a ticket as the entertainment value continues to fall flat when the monkey torches the tent and we're left to toast marshmallows over the flames of misspent emotions.  I vote we stop inviting this offensive circus to town and spend our hard-earned money on a planned cookout instead.  We can all sit around in fellowship and sing, "Kum bay ya, my Lord, kum bay ya; come by here, my Lord, come by here," and hope our effort doesn't fall on deaf ears.

This is not my circus. But, maybe it's time for all of us to step up and own the "big top" as a circus of our own making.  Maybe it's time we castrate that damned, racist, monkey and burn it on the intelligent pyre of equality and brotherhood, the flame of God's love for all mankind.  Maybe it's time for a "family" cookout.

I'll have a thought, how about red beans and rice, and a cold beer.  And, let's not forget a hearty helping of greens and pot liquor.  Let us hope the monkey is fat, tender, and slow-roasted.  They're known to be a bit tough and stringy, but... I understand they taste like chicken.  Um, um, good!

“Ignorance and prejudice are the handmaidens of propaganda. Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity. Racism can, will, and must be defeated.”

-- Kofi Annan

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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