Questioning Passion, Work, Life, Study, and Truth

 

“The receptivity of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan.”

-- Adolf Hitler

What kind of world would it be if everyone was very innocent at heart and not as 'wise' as we are today?

If we're healthy workers, we’d be speaking German as subservient slaves to nazis and an insane dictator named Adolf Hitler.

Why would anyone want to become a dictator?

Absolute power is like a narcotic, no matter how short-lived, it is craved.

How do people who don't mind being alone deal with being alone?

They don’t have to “deal” with it, because they don’t mind it. I love my “me” time. The only thing I have to deal with are interruptions. The best day for me is a quiet stream up in the mountains, a fishing pole, and some sandwich fixings. I’ll be up there until the fish stop biting or it gets too cold. I meditate and relax. I design things in my mind and work through occasional issues. Being alone for those of us who don’t mind it, is not a big deal.

Is it possible to be passionate about a hobby?

Indeed! 

Can you overcome fear without facing it head-on?

Not really. No matter how hard you work on it, sooner or later you’ll have to face the fear and see if you’ve beat it. Otherwise, you’ll never know for sure.

“The real thing that keeps men and women apart, is fear. Women blame men and men blame women, but the culprit is fear, women are afraid of one thing, men are afraid of a different thing; the fears of women have to do with losing while the fears of men have to do with not being good enough for something. One is loss, and the other is insecurity. Men are innately more insecure than women and women are innately more needful of companionship than men. It's good for both men and women to be able to recognize and identify these fears not only within themselves, but within each other, and then men and women will see that they really do need to help each other. It's not a game, it's not a competition, the two sexes need one another.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

How can I tell if people think I'm intelligent without asking them directly?

Why do you care? If you think you are, this is all that matters. Personally, I like people who are smarter than they are intelligent. I find more in common with them. 

Is it true that hard work never fails?

No, hard work fails all the time. You critique why you went wrong, learn from it, and press on. Just because you work hard on something is no guarantee the “souffle” won’t fall flat.

Who said the quote, "I am surrounded by idiots"?

Probably earlier than Julius Caesar. It’s been around as long as people have been surrounded by idiots. Interstellar aliens probably have their own version of the saying. Wherever you find idiots you’ll, more than likely, find this saying.

What is the best way to reject an employee?

A ‘pink slip” says it all.

How can you deal with a person who always wins?

No one always wins, and if they say they do, they’re lying. Play poker with them, or, better yet, take them to the roulette table. Bon chance!

"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else."

-- Vince Lombardi

 Is any one person’s life worth more than another? Why or why not?

No. Every life is precious, even the so obviously stupid among us. What makes life expendable is when that life desires to destroy another for selfish reasons. They have abused the gift of “precious” life. Better luck to them in the next.

If I try to bribe my teacher, could I get in trouble?

If they report you, yes. How about just studying hard? You know, learning?

How is it that an idea of ​​a certain person in society can radically change mass beliefs and make them believe in something else, even the opposite of the previous one? How does this person have the power to influence these people?

Christ had charisma and the ability to communicate a message many were ready to hear, and, like Buddha and Muhammad, he also changed a great part of the world.

Author's comment:  Why do people like to be led? What do they need or lack?

My reply:  I don’t think it’s a matter of being led, as much as it is seeking answers. We have always looked to philosophers and people of faith for answers that elude us. As many of us age, we find the answers have been with us always, we simply have to open our eyes, and our minds, to see and understand.

I don't have life skills at 33 years old. How can I develop?

You are 33 years old, and you are still alive. What other “life skills” are you after?

How do I understand and appreciate the society that shapes my social behavior in 250 words?

Read the first 250 words of the 1337 that comprise the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Start at, “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” and, if you really want to appreciate it, continue reading when you reach 250. Then, read the preamble. That should do it. Post it in a frame on your wall and read it daily, until you understand and appreciate why one faction works to destroy it, while another faction works to protect it along with the Constitution.

“He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.”

-- Thomas Jefferson

If you have a BFF (for 10 years) and they like studying in clean, organized spaces and you're more comfortable with messy creative spaces, should you compromise and clean the room for them despite knowing that it'd be uncomfy for you?

As your BFF. They’ll be able to answer this much more honestly than we can.

As a leader, should I compensate for my members' shortcomings?

If your members have "shortcomings," you need to compensate by training them to overcome their shortcomings or replacing them with more capable members you can rely on to win the day.

How can you tell if someone has serious anger issues or if they're just moody?

It’s pretty easy to tell. If they grab you by the throat and put you up against a wall, they aren’t just “moody,” they have serious anger issues.

Why is building "hope" a key aspect of healing trauma?

“Hope” gives one something to look forward to. Without hope, what’s the point of healing?

Is it generally better to believe in our own decision than others?

That would depend on a couple of factors: Your ability to consider all the variables, and your record of being right. If you can consider all the variables and ask questions of people in the know, your chances of being right are enough to believe your own decision over those who take their best guess. As much as you can, take the gamble out of the equation.

“On an important decision, one rarely has 100% of the information needed for a good decision no matter how much one spends or how long one waits. And, if one waits too long, he has a different problem and has to start all over. This is the terrible dilemma of the hesitant decision maker.”

-- Robert K. Greenleaf

Why do so many immature people fear rebuttal?

Because they’re immature. As we mature, that fear of rebuttal becomes conversation and opinion that might open our minds to other possibilities. The “fear” becomes nothing more than an opportunity to learn something new or to verify that we were right all along.

Does egoless imagination exist, or is the ego always involved in imagination?

I’d think, yes, if you imagine yourself to be happily submissive, I would think, in this scenario, the ego is not really considered as anything more than a “submissive” or non-ego.

Do you think when you hear people say we talk and feel or reach our higher self intuitively? Could it be that we are just reaching feelings or getting intuition from our future self back to our past self?

No. The “future self” does not exist any more than the “higher” self. There is just the “self” we need to contend with. We are reaching feelings and intuition from the information we have stored in some files we might not even know we have. We get our intuition by living and understanding life to the fullest. I consider good intuition to be on par with wisdom. But, that’s just me.

What is your opinion on people trying to make you happy?

Too late! Already there. They can try to make me happier, but I can pretty much do that myself. Strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

Should I stop debating and stop trying to find the truth when people attack me personally for opposing them?

Debate is a healthy tool for seeking the truth. If you are being attacked, however, the attackers are not interested in the truth. They are what I call the League of the Perpetually Offended, and there is nothing you can say that won’t offend them more than you already have, so don’t. It is effort wasted. Better to seek the truth with those who agree to disagree on their path to knowledge. This is how we learn.

“You don't start searching for truth until something goes terribly wrong and you realize that you need it. There's no going back after that.”

-- Tarryn Fisher

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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com