Questioning Propriety, Begging, Love, and Evidence

 

“Imagine you’re a fish, swimming in a pond. You can move forward and back, side to side, but never up out of the water. If someone were standing beside the pond, watching you, you’d have no idea they were there. To you, that little pond is an entire universe. Now imagine that someone reaches down and lifts you out of the pond. You see that what you thought was the entire world is only a small pool. You see other ponds. Trees. The sky above. You realize you’re a part of a much larger and more mysterious reality than you had ever dreamed of.”

-- Blake Crouch

On your own understanding, what are the ways that you can do to improve business practices guided by the philosophies, beliefs, and Filipino values system?

So, of my own understanding, driven by the philosophies, beliefs, and Filipino value system? Well, that would be the philosophies, beliefs, and Filipino value system, not my own understanding of improving business practices.

It is kind of a universal rule that business can be truly improved through good ethical business practices. Now, if you want to throw in some Filipino philosophies, beliefs, and values, it might be a good idea if you’re dealing with that culture. But, good ethical business practice is pretty standard or the business would not survive.

What should you never do when you are single?

Be an unwed parent. It’s hard enough with two parents.

A guy is sending flirty texts to my girlfriend and I felt uncomfortable. Should I ask him to stop? She wasn't responding with the same energy.

She should be asking him to stop, or you might consider finding a new girlfriend that’s concerned about propriety.

How could Trump have been a better president?

Cancel his Twitter account.

Why do so many people have trouble accepting that intelligence is largely inherited?

Because illiterate single parents give birth to brain surgeons. Everyone has the ability to excel, to be smarter, and some have the ability to go that extra mile and be more intelligent. To be smart as well as intelligent is a tough nut to crack, but it does happen.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

-- Albert Einstein

How can I love myself when no one else does?

You really need to love yourself before anyone else does. If you don’t truly love yourself, how will you know if the love someone else shows you is really true? Help yourself first, and then go help others. Love yourself first, and then go love others. Move before you crawl, crawl before you walk, walk before you run, run… and enjoy the journey.

Have "mean" people had trust issues with you?

This falls under the “I Really Don’t Care” heading. I don’t have the time for mean people, and their opinion of me is the last thing I think about. I’m about as trustworthy as it gets.

Have you ever regretted letting someone be comfortable with you? Why?

My ex-wife. I let her get close to me and comfortable. You really need to know someone before marriage. She admitted using me for 25 years of our marriage, and then she took half of my retirement, the house, car, and the kids. I regretted investing 25 years of my life into a relationship she had doomed from the beginning. Karma caught up with her, as I thought it would.

Is it possible to ask some questions from you?

I have no questions burning to be answered.

What is the best thing your parents said about you?

My mouth would get me in a lot of trouble. It was the best thing they said, and it was the truest. Dad used to call me “constant comment” for as long as I can remember. I have been honest when it would have been best to be silent. I had the God-given right to keep my mouth shut, but the circumstances required a smartass retort. It was no surprise I became a pastor. There is no such thing as a stupid question, but I have heard plenty of ridiculous answers and called them down for it. Yep, Mom and dad were so right about my mouth.

“The trouble with most of us is that we'd rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”

-- Norman Vincent Peale

Why are people such little bitches?

Lol… Good question.

Why would a guy beg for sex? He begs like he can’t live without it.

I don’t know. Begging just seems so “first resort” to me. I mean, if begging actually worked, I would have done it long ago.

What is a good handshake between two fat people?

Is it different than a good handshake between two thin people?

Why do Democrats think they are superior in knowledge?

“Think” is the operative word here. You assume they think. Hell, Biden doesn't even know where he is half the time. Is there any wonder why his handlers won’t let him answer questions? They can’t usurp parental rights in children’s education. They can’t run the government without massive debt, price hikes, and financial ruin. Superior in knowledge? Yep, the Democrat leadership gets filthy rich while the country goes into the crapper. In a sad way, that is fricking brilliant.

What do you do if people take your love for granted?

Find people who don’t.

“Even the most intense feelings cease when neglected and taken for granted.”

-- Anupama Garg

When should you stop talking to a guy?

When he starts sounding like an asshole.

What do I say to a wife who wants a divorce?

Granted!

Is it possible to argue for things like multiverses existing in absence of empirical evidence for such concepts?

I love this “absence of empirical evidence” in questions. So, in other words, there’s no proof to support it… yet. When evidence is found, and it usually is, there is much denial, unto death, by the naysayers. The whole reason we argue for things like “multiverses” is that strong questioning leads to strong examination and, if necessary, strong experimentation, to produce proof for the concept.

So many things that had no empirical proof are now factual. Who knew? Well, someone, God bless them, thought it was worth arguing for.

What does it mean when a guy says “talk to me”?

Tell me what you know. What’s on your mind. Prove me wrong.

What should you know in life?

True happiness. Life without it doesn’t make much sense.

“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”

-- Lao Tse

Why don't Americans consider it a clash of interests for a White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, to become a commentator for MSNBC?

Oh, I think we do, but that won’t stop them from doing what they want, right or wrong. It is in their culture.

What happens when you humiliate someone?

Karma.

What happens when you humiliate a child?

Karma. And, it makes you look very small.

What does humiliation teach?

For the perpetrator? Eventually, karma. Karma, karma, karma!

My friends used to poke fun at me for being fat, but now they’re fat and they don’t do it anymore. Why?

Karma is a bitch.

“Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can't get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don't care who you are. What goes around comes around. That's how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.”

-- Jessica Brody

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