Questioning the Good, the Bad, and... the Whores?

 

“She was decidedly attractive, he saw, but in an ill-natured, ungracious way. Because of his connection with Fitzgerald, Carstairs & Scott, Johnnie had an extensive knowledge of the external appearance and different modes of behavior of a great variety of attractive women: they came up to the office in shoals, with their nails dipped in blood and their faces covered with pale cocoa. And some were charming and simple beneath their masks, and some were complex and arrogant. This girl belonged to the latter type, the type which would ignore or stare surlily at him if he spoke to them, until they learned that the actual money came through him, when their manner sweetened wonderfully. This girl wore her attractiveness not as a girl should, simply, consciously, as a happy crown of pleasure, but rather as a murderous utensil with which she might wound indiscriminately right and left, and which she would only employ to please when it suited her purpose. They were like bad-tempered street-walkers, without walking the street.”

-- Patrick Hamilton

Do you only accept the way things are? Why?

Because I can’t accept what isn’t? We can work to make what is into something else that we can readily accept, but it is hard to accept what doesn’t exist. I am forced to accept reality until I change it to a more acceptable reality. It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is again.

In what ways can we demonstrate our love and dedication to freedom?

As retired military, I demonstrate my love of country and dedication to freedom daily. I fly the flag and salute it proudly, show reverence for the National Anthem, and wear my USAF retiree cap everywhere. I donate money to subvert socialism in our country, I frequent the VFW for breakfast when I can, and am at our local cigar bar, where my military comrades hang out, 3 or 4 times a week, to discuss world affairs, weapons, and tactics. We also discuss the State of the Union and world issues we should be involved in as a nation.

When there is nothing left at the end, does a person still have value?

The true value each of us leaves behind has to do with what we give selflessly or ourselves to others, not with any material goods we accumulate.

Is it easier to save more money when you already have some saved than if you are living paycheck to paycheck?

I’d find it hard to believe anyone can save money while living paycheck to paycheck. Having a “part-time” job on the d\side for the purpose of saving would be more logical and less stressful. It is easier to save money when you make a conscious effort to save money. You have to fully vest yourself into saving or you will fail.

What is negative?

Anything opposite of a positive.

"Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution."

-- Unknown

Anything you’re good at contributes to happiness! What does this quote mean?

It means you should probably be good at something in order to find happiness, which is bullshit unless the “something” you’re good at is happiness. Make the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of wealth or the lack thereof, and you will find great wealth beyond the monetary sense.

How do you define facilitation?

Helping something come to fruition.

Many of us were taught the adage that "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all." In what circumstances should this saying never be followed?

Probably when someone is playing at being too simple or argumentative to understand they’re missing the point, especially when they’re being reprimanded. I always love it when I leave an office with that look on my face that says, “Was I just chewed out?” I think I was, but it was such a “backdoor” ass-chewing, I’m not really sure. But, the message still got across. It is rare to find those who can make you feel good about being chewed out. I learned it after many years of management and supervision, but it’s still easier to rip them a new one. The point gets across much quicker, but you lose a bit of respect if it’s done wrong.

What do you think about people who don’t use curse words? Have you ever noticed that about a person, if so, what do you think of them?

They have marvelous respect, control, and knowledge of their native language.

If you only thought about it briefly or you only considered doing something briefly, did you really want to do it in the first place, or was it just a thought nothing more?

A thought is only a thought until you choose to take action. Your question relates to a choice you make to do something or not. If you choose to do something you should really want to do it, or what's the point? You should always know why you do something, just in case the “something” goes awry and people start asking questions you might not want to answer. Knowing why should always be good CYA material.

“A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is visible labor and there is invisible labor.”

-- Victor Hugo

What is the most inspiring aspect of arts?

The artist’s own ability to inspire others by what they do. In my humble opinion, as an artist, If you’re an artist that fails to inspire other people to be artists or, at the very least, to appreciate art, you have failed as an artist.  If you write, but your writing fails to make people think, even for entertainment, what is the point of writing?

Why can’t I find anything that makes me happy?

Have you explored your “package” to see if it’s there?

What do you think about the so-called "Life Comes At You Fast" proverb? And how do people think it relates to our lives?

You can’t stop it. You can slow it down, at times, so you can enjoy the moment but, even then, it’s always coming at you. Change is the only true constant in the universe and life changes constantly. We should be taught, as we grow into adulthood, to understand this fact, so we are better prepared for whatever change comes our way, because it is coming, and it might be coming fast.  It is what it is until it isn't, and then it is what it is again.

Does ‘nillionaire’ actually mean a poor person?

“Nil” is another way of saying none, so “nillionaire” would mean you are not a millionaire. You are something less.

Why do people get so mad over misplaced stuff?

They aren’t mad over the “misplaced stuff” as much as they are mad at themselves for misplacing it. Approaching 70, I am constantly pissed off at myself for having something in my hand one moment, and not knowing where it is in the next moment. I’m even more pissed off when I find I’ve put them where they belong. Memory is a terrible thing.

“Things are never lost to you; you are lost to them. If ever in need of a Thing that has lost you, simply stop hiding from it.”

-- Shannon Hale

Has life given you lemons? What did you do with them?

Life dealt me a 25-year marriage that went south. I picked myself up off the ground, gathered all the lemons, and found the true happiness of life’s “sugar” to make delicious lemonade.

It is hard to find the sugar of life, the “sweetness” of life, if you are miserable. So, I made a conscious choice to be happy. Then, I made another choice to be truly happy. Then, when I was truly happy, I found I was happy always and in all things.

I forgave myself for my part in staying married to her for so long, and I forgave her for using me. Then, I accepted the apology from her that I know I was never going to get. Life, after 25 years of hell, was good again. All I had to do with the lemons was to squeeze out the juice, add the sugar, and make lemonade. All I had to do was make the right choices to find true happiness.

Reader comment:  I mixed them with onions, added hot sauce, and cried my eyes out. After that, I felt fine, until the ambulance arrived. Now that I’m out of the ER, I’m only eating sour grapes.

Once I get out of the hospital, I’m staying on a strict diet of hemlock. Of course, it may not be right for everyone, but since it worked for Socrates, why not give it a try? My friend Jesus thinks so, too — we had supper last night, and he confided in me that it would be his last meal for a while. I sure hope he doesn’t starve to death, just ’cause he’s in a squeeze.

So if I were you, I’d nail all those lemons to the wall, and get those juices flowing!

My comment on the "Reader":  Everyone wants to be a comedian... I love it! 

Is it a female's destiny to be a slave? I think that it is okay. 

I think the majority of women would, not so politely, disagree. 

When is it not okay to show you’re upset?

In front of children. To the “little bits” you become an ogre, “a legendary monster usually depicted as a large, hideous, man-like being that eats ordinary human beings, especially infants and children.” It is hard to shake that image once they get it in their rapidly forming little brains.

Are whores worth fighting for?

Even women in the “oldest profession” deserve respect. Jesus refused to judge, so we might follow that example. 

I was an unfortunate witness to a catfight in Manzanillo, Mexico, while I was there for a couple of years. It became humorously evident that neither of the ladies had undergarments on.  The loser ended up losing not only the fight but her one-piece dress.  Knowing that I lived just up the hill, I gave her the shirt off my back, for which she was appreciative, and which I would never see again.  It was a good shirt, but men need to show respect for all women.

What are the ways to win more when we are not at our best?

Always be prepared for failure! Being prepared is thinking ahead. It’s like having an insurance policy, so when the business burns down you are covered for the rebuilding and any loss of income that it might incur. Have competent, trained people that can take over if you’re sick or hurt. As in business, it also goes for one’s personal life.

“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.”

-- Albert A. Bartlett

Why did some presidents do bad things?

Still. They are still doing bad things… and to their own people.

Who is someone you would hate to fight?

Anyone. Forced into it, however, my first instinct would be to go lightly or walk away. When I'm forced into it and start to lose, though, my second instinct would “kick in” and I’d look at how I can cripple or kill them. No. Better to walk away from stupidity until stupidity demands the second instinct becomes the first and, even then, ethical behavior demands thought on how to calm the violence.

What is the most positive thing you love about animals?

Problem-solving. I love watching their brains work through a problem.

How do really successful people have time to be board members on different companies and foundations?

Really successful people know how to delegate responsibilities to those responsible people below them. The better the people, the less time they have to worry about day-to-day operations and the more time they have to get paid to be board members. 

Why does my wife continue to cheat and lie but she keeps me around?

Does she work, or do you support her?

“Cheating in a relationship is a sign of self-regulation failure. When it happens once, it is a mistake. When it happens twice, it is unfortunate. But when it happens thrice or more, it is a pattern indicating primitive, uncivilized inhuman behavior.”

-- Abhijit Naskar

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