Questions of Who, What, Why, and How

 

"Scientifically, love is a chemical reaction in your brain toward someone else.  Your pupils dilate, breathing catches, and your heart beats faster as your mind goes into overdrive."

-- Jennifer Megan Varnadore

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Note to my readers:  9,600 people have viewed my answers over the past week. I'm still averaging enough to push for 500,000 views for a twelve-month period.  If I reach 1,000,000 views, maybe someone will buy me that cup of coffee.  One can only hope.

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What makes you the best you in one sentence?

I am a humble person, so answering this is counterproductive to who and why I am. I am, and if that makes me the “best” in the eyes of others, it is their opinion.

I love you?

Lucky me? 

Based off of my own personal experiences, I believe that some people are huge mistakes, some people are worthless, and life is meaningless. Am I wrong for thinking this?

You are passing judgment, and looking for someone to pass judgment on you. Judging others is wrong, even if you’re right. As far as you being wrong, only you can judge yourself. Be careful, though, as you’ll be judging yourself on honesty, as well.

What is your top 10 list for whose lives really matter?

The first 10 to reach the lifeboat. Women and children first, however. Let’s try to keep this ethical.

Why is it hard for me to feel for others, despite all my efforts to do so?

You are not truly sympathetic? This is probably because you have trouble empathizing with others, as well.

Try this: Children are trapped in a burning building. The fire department will never make it in time. No one else is around. Do you watch the children burn or do you try to save them? If you choose to save them, ask yourself why you feel the need to save others you don’t even know?

Author's comment:  Of course, I would do something to help those children, I don’t know if I would demonstrate emotive expression, but I would feel the need to help because I don’t want to see someone die!

Is it because it’s the right thing to do, or do I feel compelled for some other reason? Do I not want the backlash of being labeled as a coward? Do I feel like I’ll be rewarded? Is it just my brain simulating concern?

I keep telling myself to “care,” I hope genuinely care, I’ll probably never know.

My reply:  Well, you just told me you care, you feel the need to help. It’s too late for you to cop out on this. You are what you are. Now, you have to live with the knowledge, which is easier than not knowing. God bless you, son!

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

-- John 15:13

Do negative people's manipulations and controls bother you?

Not me, personally. I don’t buy into much. It pisses me off when they try to manipulate and control people I know, however.

Love is friendship set on fire. — Jeremy Taylor. What do you make of this statement?

I know what he was after, but fire is destructive. Love is more like friendship put into overdrive.

Why do people look better in mirrors than in photos? In what ways can this affect one’s self-esteem?

When you look in a mirror, your reflected right side is still on your right side. In a photograph, the picture you see of your right side is now on your left, as it should be if you were standing in front of you. A photo is the actual you. What we see in the mirror is us in reverse, and what we see in a photo is as though we turned to look at ourselves.

My self-esteem has nothing to do with photos or reflections, it has to do with how I see who I really am, on the inside, and, to a lesser extent, how other people see who I really am, as well.

Do I owe people? Because when I was poor, depressed, angry, can't socialize, craving for success, only a few people help me better.

You asked the question, so, in doing so, you have also answered it.

What is the purpose of life? What is your motivation for waking up from your bed and living?

The purpose of life is to learn, The motivation for life is to live. Not waking up is counterproductive to both.

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.”

-- Pearl S. Buck

These are the qualities I highly value: knowledge, understanding, and responsibility. Would you give any criticism?

Love and happiness, come to mind. What good are the others if you are not truly happy and have no true love to share them with? Life would seem empty.

Can you think of any person who is highly knowledgeable with deep understanding and high responsibility?

I thought I did, several times. Each time I became disenchanted for one reason or another. Highly knowledgeable and high responsibility was no problem, it was the “deep understanding” where they fell short. Hell, I’ve always had high responsibility even though I’m in no way highly knowledgeable. But my modicum of understanding was still so much deeper than theirs. 

What is the satisfying part of immigration?

Obviously when a country simply throws open its border to everyone; criminals, terrorists, Covid-19, drug smugglers, gang members. It does a person proud to watch the country they fought for, turn to shit. 

What hypocrisy is the most disturbing to you?

People who were born and believe in abortion without medical cause. Must be nice to have parents who let you live.

Author's Comment:  Aw, someone got a nerve plucked.

My reply:  One of my few raw ones.

Author's reply: You know, they have professionals for things like that.

My reply: Indeed. (The author upvoted my answer.) 

What personal attribute is about sticking to your moral principles?

Loyalty to one’s personal code of ethics.

"All universal moral principles are idle fancies"

-- Marquis de Sade

Is it more important to be rich or peaceful? Can we be both?

Peaceful. Find happiness, in happiness find peace, in peace attain your goal. If you become rich, never forget what you’re capable of and never forget to continue being truly happy and at peace. Wealth is nothing if you have no happiness or peace, and it isn’t how wealthy you are, it’s what you selflessly do with your wealth that will sustain you.

What can we learn about trying to control people? (Bullying)

Don’t. 

Can you be a child of God if you are requesting God to render sin to your dead spirit which is asking God to not be in your worldview?

We are all children of God, some of us have just strayed from the path, some farther than others, to the point of being lost.

How do I achieve my dream of becoming a pro in soccer? Do I have to be lucky?

You have to be very good at what you do and impress the scouts.

How do I live my life now without fear of getting old?

Shit happens, and there is little we can do to stop it, especially aging. I’m approaching 70. I feel like I’m 50, and then I wake up and the morning aches and pains of my misspent youth set in for a bit. I don’t fear getting old as much as fear dying badly.

Look at it this way, if you have faith, you’ll be at least one life ahead of those without. This isn’t the end of our existence, just the end of this life. There are many more lives to be lived, and that thought should scare the hell out of you.

“You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”

-- George Bernard Shaw

Who is better, men or women? Why?

Women. Because.

Is self-love the greatest medicine?

If you can’t take care of yourself how do you expect to take care of others? By the same token, if you can’t love yourself how do you expect anybody to think you could ever love them? This is another Flight safety briefing: “Put on your oxygen mask first, before assisting the passenger next to you.” 

What does it mean when my girlfriend touches my leg and starts to touch my crotch?

Gee, I don’t know. Maybe she wants you?

What is the will to be happy?

A conscious choice to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of wealth or poverty.

Have you accidentally touched the genitals of the opposite sex?

No, I actually mean to do it. I think it’s important to be taken seriously.

“Whenever you want to know what’s wrong or missing in your inner relationship with the Divine, stop, breathe deeply, and observe how is your relationship with the opposite sex.”

-- Nityananda Das

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