Questioning Lies, Friends, Morality, and Truth

“Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.”

-- Saint Augustine

What is the future like if you don't choose marriage instead of being single forever?

Are you living with a significant other, just not married? Is having children not part of being single? I think we really need more information before predicting any future outcome.

What are your expected outcomes when starting up a new restaurant or business?

That it does very well. If you don’t expect positive outcomes, what is the point of going through all the effort?

Why would someone lie about being abducted?

An attention whore?

What’s that time you regret?

The time my ex-wife took from me when my need was to be a father to my children. Her needs were not mine and I regret not fighting her for custody.

I dislike emotions. I wish I could think logically instead of emotionally. I hate feeling guilt, empathy, romantic attraction, and sexual attraction. Why do I hate being human?

Maybe, you should “prick” yourself, and see if you bleed.  You might be an alien.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

-- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (Act III, scene I)

Would my ex be open to going to therapy with me for the sake of our child?

It would be more expedient if you asked her.

Why doesn't my ex want me to see other girls if she doesn't want to be with me?

She’s your ex. Why do you give a shit? Tell her to go screw herself. You, on the other hand, have better plans. Go see other girls! A lot of other girls! Much prettier girls! If she doesn’t want you to be happy, work on really pissing her off. As a matter of fact, my girlfriend recommends you send her a dildo in the shape and size of your penis. (I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.)  Good luck, my friend!

Why do I get so mad when my friends exclude me from everything and never talk to me?

Why are you calling them your “friends”? They obviously don’t meet the definition of friends, so don’t get mad, go get real friends.

What's the difference between "I'm never gonna give you up" and "I'm never gonna give up on you"?

I’m never going to give you up. I’ll never let them take you.  I love you.

I’m never going to give up on you. I know you can do this.  I'll wait for you.

Can you improve at something but still suck?

Many times. Some things we just weren’t meant to master.

"Which is why you chose to wear that delightful ensemble from the skank-wear collection at Hoes-n-Thangs?"

-- Christopher Moore

Is it correct to say “thank you, everyone”?

If you’re addressing everyone, yes. Special mention, however, needs to be stated specifically in a group setting, or individually, after group.

My daughter said she wanted to have a baby at 11 years old. Is that a good idea?

Were you ready to be a parent at 11? Having asked this question, I’d say probably not. More importantly, as a grandfather, I’d ask her why she said this, and who she’s been with. It might be hunting season.

What is the place of morality in the life of a man?

It really doesn’t have a “place” per se. We have it, we’re not sure where we store it… most of the time. Men will often state, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Yeah, I know, this is bullshit, but it confuses and confounds until we can find our misplaced morality. Does this make sense?

How do I handle a college freshman who feels entitled to literally everything, is hateful and belligerent, but neglects her coursework, refuses to do assignments, and says she will not get a job in the summer?

In other words, a liberal. (Ohhhh, am I gonna burn in hell for this one…)

Why do I feel better when my ex is going to the hospital and feel calmer?

Before I made peace with my feelings toward her, I felt the same way when my ex went into the hospital. Everything was finally going to be okay, again. Then she came out. I either couldn’t get a break, or karma was slapping the hell out of me.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

-- Wayne W. Dyer

What moment did you feel uplifted?

When the elevator slipped, but only for a moment.  Almost wet my pants.

What truth will you never accept?

If it is a unquestionably, validated truth, what would be the purpose of denial? Saving face? That ship sailed when the truth was validated as unquestionable.

Why am I never happy even when I do things that make me happy?

What? Then the things you do, never make you happy. They can’t be things that make you happy if you’re never happy when you do them. No matter how I state this, I can’t make your statement true.

“Why am I not happy even when I do things that are supposed to make me happy?” I can buy into this. Maybe you’ve grown up. Maybe there is another happiness out there that you haven’t discovered yet. It isn’t that you’re never happy, you just aren’t happy doing the same old things.

Keep looking.

What do I do when they say “talking about it won’t help” when they’re clearly upset?

Say, “How about ice cream? No? Well, when you’re ready, the offer is always open.”

What things have you desperately wanted to tell someone about, but it's far too much information to be able to?

It wasn’t far too much information, it was just way too classified and sent to the wrong place. We received a call, minutes after I read it, not to read it and to shred it immediately. Alrighty, then. Into the shredder, along with my memory.

“Whoever came up with the idea of labeling classified documents with larger-than-life red stenciling that advertises—or at least hints at—the contents, was a schmuck, I think. You might as well put a tag that says OPEN ME! on it. If it were up to me, I'd hide all secrets in back copies of Reader's Digest.”

-- Christina Dalcher

What are the things that make you feel better?

Chocolate chip ice cream, chocolate icebox cake, cioppino, and “exotic” sex, just to name a few.

Does the Road of excess really lead to the palace of wisdom?

If you eat to excess and gain too much weight, you understand the wisdom of moderation.

If you drink to excess and get busted, see pink elephants, or suffer through delirium tremens, you understand the wisdom of sobriety.

If you work hard to become wealthy only to find that all your money can’t buy true sustainable happiness, you understand the wisdom of selfless giving.

If excess plastic surgery makes a face fall off, you understand the wisdom of loving who you are.

And so on, and so on, and so on…

The road of excess does lead to the palace of wisdom, but whether you enter is a still choice you must make.

How far would a person go who has nothing to lose?

That depends. If their life means nothing to them, then they’ll risk their life. If life is the only thing they have left of value, they’ll risk everything but.

How do I become happy even if I know that I am a loser?

Change your mindset, change your life. Start by not referring to yourself as a loser. You acknowledge that which you want to be, so don’t. Choose winner.

Do you wake up to the “gift” of another day? Ever ask why a “loser” keeps getting the same gift? Maybe you should stop throwing it back in the face of the Giver. Choose life.

Happiness is not something you become. It is inside you always. It is a choice you must make for your life, to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of what lessons life throws at you. Choose happiness.

Failure is simply another opportunity to learn. Many of us fail constantly, and we learn constantly, as well. It isn’t that you fail, it’s what you do with the failure that has meaning. Choose student.

Life is all about making the right choices. It seems you haven’t. Maybe this is the moment you do? Choose the right choice.

My boyfriend just broke up with me but wants to continue to have sex. What should I do?

Take his hand, place it on his “package,” and say, “Have fun!”

"Kids always find a way to have fun!"

-- Mehmet Murat ildan

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