Questioning Mimicry, Old Age, Karma, Control, and Greed

 

“Listen, then repeat. Listen, then repeat. That was all it took to pretend well. What was a person’s self but carefully articulated mimicry?”

-- Rivers Solomon

Why are humans forced to be mimics? They all seem to be stuck in these societies and these different factions that do nothing more but solely create humans to be mimics of each other unable to truly think for themselves. Why is that?

I recommend the intelligence field. You mimic nobody unless it's an assignment. If you aren’t psychologically “normal,” there goes your clearance. We were so not psychologically normal. We mimicked "perfection" for the clearance investigations, then went back to being anything but. And, if we couldn’t think for ourselves, you didn’t move forward. You had to think for yourself, and out-of-the-box.

How do I have more opportunities in life?

You have the opportunities you search for or develop. If you want more, work harder.

What is an example of a situation where someone tries to take away your control?

When you’re the NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) and a “butter bar” Second Lieutenant thinks he’s all that and countermands everything you’ve set up, I’d invite him to visit the OIC (Officer In Charge) with me. When the OIC is finished with him, I’d go back to my office and the “butter bar” can watch me and learn two valuable lessons: Why we always get excellent ratings, and why he is going to rely on his experienced NCOs to make his career.

Do you have any annoying habits or personality traits? Why do they bother you?

Plenty, but I’m not the one they annoy. Sucks being them.

What is the importance of critical thinking in gaining a better understanding of the world around us?

You want a better understanding, not the same understanding. "Critical thinking" will develop that, or, you can lope along wondering why… you’re loping along. This is a good reason why “intelligent” people tend to surround themselves with “smart” people. Smart people ask a lot of questions, so we have a better understanding.  Just saying.

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

-- Richard Dawkins

What is the relationship between understanding and critical thinking?

The understanding is that there is a problem. Critical thinking will ferret out the reason and focus on a solution to remedy the problem.

Why do people say "getting old ain't for sissies"? What makes it so hard to be an elderly person in our society today?

Who says it has anything to do with society? I, for one, love the senior discounts. For me, getting old is about feeling all the aches and pains of my misspent youth.

My motorcycle accident, in high school, makes my thigh go numb at times, and the muscles I tore, in both knees, make them ache. I don’t even want to get into what low-pressure systems in the weather make them feel like. My back goes out, debilitating cramps in muscles I didn't even know I had, and my hands are fighting off arthritis. Grocery shopping takes twice as long, kind of like sex… when it makes an appearance. Luckily, continence has stuck with me. No wetting myself. How embarrassing would that be?

This is being elderly, in any society, yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Hurting all over ain't for sissies, it’s for the elderly who knows what to do with it - Bourbon. That’s the ticket. Lots of tasty bourbons… and a cigar.

How can we prevent ourselves from becoming bad people?

Don’t do bad things. Hey, this is pretty easy.

How do I deal with losing the trust and respect of others/myself due to not being smart, being clumsy, and constantly failing?

Let’s take this by the issues. Dealing with losing trust and respect. From whom? Do you trust and respect yourself? If you’re honest, then you can trust yourself. And, if you trust yourself, there is great room for respect. Many people, regardless of what they claim, don’t really trust themselves. So, if you are honest and trustworthy, you are probably ethical. If you are ethical, simply by reason of honesty and trust, then you can respect yourself for what many people lack - ethics.

So, we’re back to, “whom?” Who says you’re clumsy? Are you? Not because they say you are, but do you think you are? If so, clumsy is simply not paying attention. So, try to focus on what your doing, and do it slower.

Now, as to “constantly failing.” So, which “piece of shit picture of perfection” has never failed? If they say they haven’t, they lie, so they aren’t trustworthy. I fail all the time. The difference is, I understand what failure truly is.

Failure and mistakes are life presenting us with opportunities to learn. That’s it. Making mistakes and failing has been given a bad rap. It isn’t that you made a mistake or failed, it is what you do with the mistake or failure that sets you apart. Critique why you failed or made mistakes. When you know why you’ll know how to correct the mistakes or failures and can be ready for the next time they come around. You have learned. This is something the people who judge you have no real concept of, learning from mistakes.

So, by my count, and I count pretty damned good, you have trust and respect because you have ethics. Being clumsy is simply not taking your time and thinking things through. And, finally, no one is perfect. We all make mistakes and fail, it is how we learn, and learning is the entire point of life. My girlfriend, smarter than me, reminds us that, if at first, you fail, try, try, again. Good advice.

What are the consequences of having no core values?

Long jail sentences.

“If an opportunity is not aligned with what matters most to you (your core values), let it pass. The opportunities that don't make your soul sing, or that you can't be excited about, just end up taking space where a better opportunity could be. Don't settle for something fine―wait for something great!”

-- Leanne Jacobs

  If you could relive any day of your life, what would it be?

The day I got married to the wrong woman. I wasted 25 years of my life trying to love her when all she was doing was using me as an escape.

Is comedic intelligence a thing?

Robin Williams had it. It is truly a gift.

If democracy isn’t at risk, why are Democrats?

I assume you’re asking, why aren’t democrats? Democracy requires multiple political parties in order to have a good, vibrant, and robust exchange of ideas. The “Democrats” at risk are the “liberal socialists” that have tried to subjugate our country, our children, our freedoms, and our Constitution. The “old school” Democrats, the Dems I remember from my younger years, are finally standing up against the insanity. I would hope that if the Republicans ever get infested with these radical socialist lice, the Democrats will also fight the good fight to save our way of life.

What do you think about people who take advantage of others- is it always wrong, or can it sometimes be justified?

Two wrongs don’t make it right, at any time. If you think you can justify it, watch out for karma.

How do I forgive and move on from people that went against me, failed, and now receiving KARMA?

The knowledge that they’re getting their comeupins, is a reason to move on. If karma has helped them to see the error of their ways, then forgiveness is a great option, if for no other reason than to keep karma from your own door.

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

-- Oscar Wilde

Was the covid used to control people?

Politically, it was a gift to those seeking to control and indoctrinate. Children and the elderly suffered the most. Fortunately, even the “old school” Democratic base saw through the bullshit and balked, albeit almost too late.

What made you decide to forgive someone?

Because feeling hate, for the first time in my life, was killing me. I had to accept the apology that I knew she would never offer, and forgive, not only her but myself, as well.

Why do people hold onto certain values or principles despite them not always being advantageous to them?

Not always, but, perhaps, more times than not? And, maybe not always advantageous, but not really harmful, either. It is hard to be always certain, but we file away those values and principles that seem to work. If they don’t, most of us can critique why we went wrong and try to make it right. No harm, no foul, but not enough reason to dump the value or principle… yet.

I have many friends but I am not satisfied with anyone. What should I do?

Find more friends, until you are satisfied. 

Should people stop calling things overrated and let people like what they like?

Sure, why not? They’ll still be overrated, and we’ll still know it, we just won’t be labeling them. So, what’s the point? People like what they like, whether you label them or not. If I allow people to stop me from liking something, I’d have to look inside myself and ask how weak-minded I am.

“You and I both know being conventional is overrated.”

-- Rebekah Crane

How can we change our behavior if we don't know why we do it?

Seek help. Ask others, those you respect, why they think you do it.

Is it greedy to want wealth?

“Want” is the operative word for greedy. But, will you be truly happy? If you are truly happy without wealth, whether you have it or not means very little. But, if and when you have it, you will already be truly happy, so the wealth will add very little to your world except security and comfort if you can hold onto it. If you can’t, you will still be truly happy for having the experience. It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is… again.

Shall we leave right now?

Where are we going?

Why does trying too hard to make someone like you often backfire?

If they like you, so be it. Suffocating them with your desire for them to like you might make them think you have issues. Better to let the friendship grow at its own pace. Let them come to you, is a thought. You’ll be pretty sure they like you if they come to you.

Why do people often take others for granted?

The “others” are too weak-minded to balk at it. If you allow being used, shallow people will assume it’s okay to use you.

“The only person that deserves a special place in your life is someone that never made you feel like you were an option in theirs.”

-- Shannon L. Alder

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. 

I fervently 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