Questioning Teachers, Cheats, Truth, and Ethics

 

“Do not indoctrinate your children. Teach them how to think for themselves, how to evaluate evidence, and how to disagree with you.”

-- Richard Dawkins

Why is teaching the hardest of all jobs around?

It is difficult to indoctrinate people into the socialist mindset, but children should be easier to convince. It would be a surprise if there was any time to actually teach the core subjects like reading, history, math, writing, you know, useful stuff for life.

In some instances, is it sometimes okay to judge someone before you get to know them?

Car salesmen, used and new, make no difference. Hell, salespeople in general, especially if they work on a commission. You can’t help but judge them, they’re there to make a sale. Whether you can afford what they’re selling or not is unimportant. I have a bad habit of going in and simply asking what the bottom line is on the car. I don’t want gab, I just want a price. I actually had a guy tell me he can’t do that. I told him, "We have nothing more to discuss then. I thought you were selling cars."

Is it normal to spend hours journaling?

If the subjects require hours, it can be normal.

My boyfriend thinks money is more important than quality time. I disagree and he puts me down every time I do. Should we go separate ways?

There is an obvious difference in your “worldview” so I’d get shed of him so you can enjoy summer with someone who respects you and whom you have more in common with.

I caught my boyfriend having sex with another girl, and it was a drunk mistake. should I forgive them? What should I do?

Drunk or sober, if he can have sex he knows right from wrong.

“If getting drunk was how people forgot they were mortal, then hangovers were how they remembered.”

-- Matt Haig

How do I know if my boyfriend isn't cheating on me?

Has he given you a reason not to trust him, or are you stoking your paranoia?

What's a good way to improve your public speaking?

Practice, practice, practice, and then practice again. If you have access to a briefing room or an auditorium this is a good venue to practice in. Speak loud enough that people hear you in the back, and repeat questions because no one knows how to speak clearly and loudly enough. If you are speaking to the public, you are in charge, so act like you are. Practice not being tentative. If you don’t know an answer, have them see you after the talk and get their number so you can call them with an answer. Use 3x5 cards for notes and use the notes to stay on track. And, if I didn’t mention it, practice, practice, practice. I did this for almost 23 years in the military while briefing aircrews and commanders.

My 12-year-old son really likes this girl. He doesn't know if the girl likes him back, he asked me what should I do?

Honesty goes a long way. He needs to let her know. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

What advice would you give to a person who has low self-esteem because they were bullied at school?

The bullies probably had lower self-esteem than they gave you, and this is key: They gave it to you, and you accepted it. Why? Some dumbass offers you low self-esteem, say no thanks, you keep it. It was given to you so you have the freedom of choice to keep it or get rid of it. Personally, I’d make the choice to not recognize it anymore and get on with life.

How do you turn nothing into something?

You need a catalyst, like a job, hard work, and the like.

“It is easier to believe that there was nothing before there was something than that there was something before there was nothing.”

-- Julian Huxley

My boyfriend of 4 years told me I’m not worth it and blocked me so quickly when I ended things. How can he move on so fast after 4 years?

Some people have the ability to turn off the emotions they show, probably because they weren’t all that real, to begin with. Better to move on and find a real man that actually means what he says in life. The one you had simply wasn’t worth your continued effort.

My friend and I both got fat. Should I say anything about it?

Wait until you lose weight.

Why does humiliation hurt so much?

Why did you allow yourself to be humiliated? People can’t humiliate us unless we let them. Maybe that’s why it hurts, you were unable to prevent it.

How long should a partner go without talking to you?

That depends on two things. How badly you pissed them off, and their level of maturity. Both are kind of interconnected.

How do I forgive myself for losing my self-respect with a girl who purposely treated me very badly and emotionally manipulated me/gaslighted me constantly? I'm very empathetic. She hurt me very badly and told me to my face "It's hard to give a shit."

You didn’t lose self-respect to someone who has no clue what self-respect is. If she did, you'd be in trouble. You treated her well and she used you. Live and learn. There might come a time when you find a woman that is so much more than she ever was, and this is when your "manipulator" might just come back to rekindle her relationship. When this happens, you look her in the eyes, smile, and tell her “It’s really hard to give a shit.” Then, wink and walk away. Karma is a bitch.

“Some say karma is a bitch. It all comes back to you, eventually. If this world can be boiled down to two truths. It would be the second law of thermodynamics (entropy) and the law of action and reaction (karma).”

-- Abhaidev

Is it better to hurt someone with the truth?

Yes, because they’ll know they can always trust you to be truthful, even if it isn’t pleasant.

Why do I feel like every guy I’m together with is going to use me?

Don’t let them and see what happens. If they continue to see you, they have a good heart. If they bolt, you’re better off without them. Quality will just like being with you.

I am 41 years old. What should I do?

Oh, my God! Not 41! Oh, the horror of it. I’m almost 70. You’ll get over it.

If Kamala Harris wasn't so useless, would the US be a better place to live?

It’s more about Joe than Chuckles.

He says he can’t see far into the future but enjoys my company. For our second date, he thought were having sex because I invited him to watch a movie, and came prepared but we just ended up cuddling since that wasn’t it. Do you think he’s using me?

Invite him over, again, and see if he comes prepared. If he doesn’t, he probably isn’t.

"I want someone who is willing to pick me up. dust me off, kiss me, forgive me and willing to be there no matter what"

-- Unknown

What are some ethical issues in an organization?

Honesty, kindness, and equal treatment. There are many ethical business rules, all of which are in place for a reason. You might want to research them, and also lookup personal ethics.

What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced, and how’d it turn out in the end, or is it ongoing?

Creating a one-man Intelligence shop for the Air Force in Sigonella, Sicily. I just got it set up when Desert Sheild/Storm was dropped in my lap. It was a stressful few months, and it was the only time in my career they could give me public credit for what I did. Every other project over my 23-year career was classified.

Do you realize how strong you are for making it through the first 24 months of post-COVID-19?

Nope. Just another two years in paradise, and an extra bunch of chances to excel. Still managing to be truly happy always and in all things.

Why can’t people be honest with how fat I am? I used to be 245 pounds, everyone said I'm skinny or I’m a perfect weight, if it wasn’t for the couple of people that were honest with me, I’d still be fat and depressed. Honesty matters even if it hurts.

Most people have to look “ethics” up in the dictionary, and adopting a personal code of ethics seems beyond their ability.

Now you don’t have to apologize to the person that started it. A person does not have to apologize to someone, especially if that someone started it first. That’s life. A person does not have to apologize to you if you started it first?

Okay, so I have four statements, here. Even the “question” at the end was a statement. But, I have to disagree. I always apologize to the person who started it. I am so terribly sorry that they put themselves through what they did, just to prove me right. And, for some reason, that just pisses them off even more.  I accepted the apology from my wife of 25 years, even though she never gave it.

“Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.”

-- Robert Brault

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