Questions of Wealth, Awareness, Ethics, and Change

 

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

-- Lao Tzu

Is authenticity a value?

Yes! Authenticity is honesty, and honesty is an ethical value.

What does it mean to phase something out?

New things never work the way we think they should. It takes some getting used to. The company I worked for learned the lesson of bringing something new online and then slowly “phase” the old system out, a bit at a time until we were all ready to switch over to the new system. This concept helped with accepting change and smooth transitions.

What if humans never hoard everything?

Donations of personal “crap” would rise significantly in the charitable resale shops.

Does success depend on material value?

No. Success depends on true happiness. Attaining a goal depends on how hard you work. Material value depends on demand.

Do you feel like you're smart?

I’m not the most intelligent person, but I am pretty smart.

“Nobody is smarter than you are. And what if they are? What good is their understanding doing you?”

-- Terence McKenna

Why is honesty important in decision-making?

Who are you lying to? You, or someone else? Once you fall down on moral ethics, it becomes a slippery slope. You will risk defining yourself as dishonest to those around you, and yourself.

How can you prove that you are honest and trustworthy through your decision-making?

The bigger question is, why should I have to? I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody by doing the right thing. The right thing should be obvious, as should making it happen. Any “proof” of selfless honesty and trustworthiness will be borne out in due time. Do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because it proves anything.

Does abundance quantify a genuinely fruitful life?

Does hoarding make life fruitful? Maybe to the hoarder. I think this is really up to the individual. For me, being genuinely happy makes life fruitful. It all depends on what you place value on.

 Can you please define victim blaming?

When you blame the victim for being pushed in front of a subway train and excuse the man, the victimizer who pushed her, because he has mental issues. I’m not sure how the media manages to think she threw herself out there with a random hand on her back, but this is what “victim-blaming” is to me. More to the point would be a woman being blamed for her rape because she wore provocative clothes. The man didn’t mean to do it, but the clothes forced him to do it, so it’s all her fault.

Reader comment:  Well, she should have pulled out her lay person’s manual for psychiatry and taken responsibility for everyone else, and treated him right there on the spot. It’s her fault because she is part of the elite that he was homeless and didn’t have mental health care in the first place.

My reply:  Ah! But she spent all her money on the one provocative dress she has, so she could go out with friends. Unfortunately, she is guilty of not being able to afford to buy the manual. A bad choice on her part? (The reader was kidding, of course, and was kind enough to "upvote" my reply.)

What is the difference between ethics and morals? Is ethics relative?

Try these on, for size:

“Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. While they are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different: ethics refer to rules provided by an external source, e.g., codes of conduct in workplaces or principles in religions. Morals refer to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong.”

-- Diffen, “Ethics vs Morals”

“To put it simply, ethics represents the moral code that guides a person’s choices and behaviors throughout their life. The idea of a moral code extends beyond the individual to include what is determined to be right, and wrong, for a community or society at large.”

-- Psychology Today, “Ethics and Morality”

How do I develop true awareness? What are the benefits of it?

Developing “true” awareness to tantamount to awareness perfection, and nothing is perfect. The most you can hope for is to be as aware as you can be. The benefits are knowing what is going on around you and, hopefully, what is coming at you. What we feel has much to do with this.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you feel like someone is watching you, they probably are. If it looks dangerous, don’t do it until you train. If it tastes off, don’t eat it, or wait until others do. These are all the types of sayings to base “awareness” on, and there are many more out there.

How to become aware is not as important as being aware. When you drive, do you know where all the cars and pedestrians are located around you? Do you anticipate danger ahead of you so you can avoid it before it happens? Are you aware of the danger coming up behind you, for the same reason? If you’re stupid enough to make love to someone while their spouse is at work, be aware of how the front door lock mechanism sounds, and where the exit points are. When entering an establishment, do you know who has a weapon and who does not, or who is “aware” and who is not?

Which continents is Russia on, and how many?

Europe and Asia, or Eurasia as we used to call it when I was with intelligence. But, it still sits on two continents of the seven continent model.

Why did good luck end?

We are usually responsible for making our own “luck” in life. If good luck happens without us, it is incumbent upon us to make the most of it and try to make it sustainable. If you win a lot of money, do you spend it all or invest it so your luck becomes a sustainable investment that continues to pay dividends? Why did good luck end? Maybe it wasn’t utilized to make it sustainable.

When should a moral good outweigh an economic good for society?

Yes. A society without morals is riding down a slippery slope. If an economic decision is truly good, it should be morally good, as well.

Can I be dumb and rich?

Have you looked at the U.S. Congress? The Senate? The President? The Vice-President? Nuff said.

"Poor people have more fun than rich people, they say; and I notice it's the rich people who keep saying it."

-- Jack Paar

What do you need to feel safe in your life?

A couple of powerful handguns and some fighting knives.  Living in the deep south doesn't hurt, either.

Would you rather have been born 200 years ago?

Not as a commoner. No soap? No shampoo? No deodorant? No modern toiletries at all? No washing machine? No. Hell no. Something about breath smelling like a corpse, clothes smelling like an unwashed body, and the body smelling like an unwashed asshole, just puts me off. And, that’s just the women.  The 1960s were bad enough. 

How will you reply if you are asked if school is a scam? Looking from the success story of the wealthiest people around.

Will you show me the curriculum?

You want to look from the wealthiest, but did the wealthiest go to private schools or public? Let’s not mix apples and oranges.

Why would people want to live in a 55 plus community?

Quiet maturity, no children, surrounded by other adults who also know how to follow the community rules.

Why does it feel like everything is changing?

Because everything is. Change is the only true constant in the universe.

"After my parents passed away recently, I wished to visit my childhood home and physically connect to my past. Arriving on-site, I discovered that my home does not exist anymore since that space was renovated. Not only is the house a new construction now, but also the back yard—where I used to collect fresh eggs laid by our chicken—was also destroyed, and the peaceful ambiance of my childhood was replaced by traffic noise from trucks on the adjacent road.

Through this frustrating experience, I came to realize that we can never return to where we were because everything changes. We are destined to always be refugees of the past without a permanent home. As with riding a bicycle, we must push forward and not reminisce about the past in order to retain our balance."

-- Abraham Loeb

Does capitalism require a level of disparity in order for others to maintain the level of prosperity?

In anything, even economics, there must be balance.

Are there any geniuses who think they're idiots?

I’m sure there are, but even if there aren’t we can probably name a few who fit the bill, especially in Hollywood and Washington D.C., for example.

Is it wise to speak less than you know?

You have the God-given right to shut up.

Pay attention. Listen more than you speak, and only speak when you’re spoken to, have always been good rules when planning to get ahead in the business world or the military. It isn’t bad advice for the public sector, either. 

What happens when you delay instant gratification?

Well, for one, it isn’t instant, it becomes “delayed” gratification. Was this a trick question, or did I miss the point? If I missed the point, no big surprise.

"I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer."  — Jim Carey. What are your thoughts on this statement?

Jim Carey was a closet philosopher, probably because he lived this. Money and fame are no substitute for true happiness.

"It is the wretchedness of being rich that you have to live with rich people."

-- Logan P. Smith

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