Questioning Texts, Agendas, Pride, Values, and Failures

"I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shan't quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal.

How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.

Yours truly

Jack the Ripper"

What is the difference between being motivated by an emotion and being controlled by an emotion?

My emotions motivate me to kill my enemies, but good “common sense” tells me to control my emotions and find a way to live in peace. The difference, for me, is good “common” sense. The bigger problem is that “common” sense isn’t that common anymore, or that good. Serial killers let their emotions control their actions.

What is the key psychological difference between billionaires and regular people?

Billionaires want, while regular people need. Billionaires want to shop at exclusive clothing stores. Regular people need to shop at Walmart.

The world has reached 8 billion people, and now I'm paranoid: How will we survive in a world with so many people, poverty and hunger will increase? My dream is to have children, what should I do? Give up my dream?

Really? 8 billion was your magic number? 7 billion, not so much, but eight? The fact of the matter is, those with the means will survive, those in poverty and hunger, probably will not.  Live your dream and have many children.  They will be fine.

2 million “illegal aliens” will cross the U.S. border, just in 2022. How long has our “border” not served its purpose? More than eight years, I would guess. These illegal aliens haven’t fought to make their country better, they just left. Now they’re here, and will they fight to make this country better? Their previous history would evidence a big “NO” to that. Heads up, Canada!

If they don’t give a damn about fighting for their own country, why would we expect them to fight for a country they broke the laws of in order to enter illegally? Well, we are paying them to break our laws, so they have that, I suppose.

The bigger question is? If the drug cartels have been declared international terrorists, and if the criminal terrorist cartels control our borders and Mexico, when do we invade Mexico to secure our border, liberate the Mexican people, and irradicate the terrorist cartels?

The League of the Perpetually Offended will be offended by this post, but, well, what else is new?

Is having kids as bad as they say?

Yes! And we are blessed for having the opportunity.

What's it like to get texts? Does it mean others care about you?

No, it means other people could give a rat’s ass about me. I don’t text, and when I do, I struggle. The print is too small and I’m all thumbs. Do they really care? Obviously not, considering all the texts I get.

“What’s not so great is that all this technology is destroying our social skills. Not only have we given up on writing letters to each other, we barely even talk to each other. People have become so accustomed to texting that they’re actually startled when the phone rings. It’s like we suddenly all have Batphones. If it rings, there must be danger.

Now we answer, “What happened? Is someone tied up in the old sawmill?”

“No, it’s Becky. I just called to say hi.”

“Well, you scared me half to death. You can’t just pick up the phone and try to talk to me like that. Don’t the tips of your fingers work?”

-- Ellen DeGeneres

Why are people so oblivious to the agendas being pushed on the masses?

The weak-minded were parented by the weak-minded. They have no clue about the agendas being pushed because they were never taught to beware. They are good candidates for socialist indoctrination… if they already aren’t. 

YouTuber George Bruno says if you think you can do better that's all it takes for you to do better, but who thinks that just because you think you can do better does not mean you can do better because you may lack intellect and skills?

If you “think” you can do better, is not the same as “doing” better. You can think about it for years, but, if you don’t take the first step, your journey will never start. 

Do we need morals in order to live a loving, peaceful life?

No, you need good and ethical morals to lead a truly loving and peaceful life. I recommend to everyone, they should develop a “good personal code of moral ethics” that they will be able to stand by through thick and thin. Their personal code of ethical conduct will define who they are to all those around them. People will know what to expect of them in any situation. 

How has social media changed your relationships?

I can reach more people with my blog, and get the feedback needed to keep it interesting. 

Why don’t some talented people succeed?

No desire, no real clue on how to “succeed,” or no sense of perseverance. You need the desire to do more with your talent. You need to know how to do more and “succeed” with your talent. And, finally, you need the strength to persevere, especially in the face of insurmountable odds, in order to “succeed.”

But, real “success” in life is to make the simple choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. If you aren't truly happy doing your talent when you aren’t a “success” how do you expect to be truly happy when you attain the goal? 

“Everyone has talent. What's rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads.”

-- Erica Jong

Who in your life were you proud of taking accountability for their actions?

When I was a supervisor and manager in the Air Force, I would always take accountability for my actions and the actions of my subordinates. I was very proud of them for not leaving me out there to hang in the wind. Almost always, they would take accountability with me.

It isn’t that you fail or make a mistake, it’s what you do with the failure or mistake that makes a difference. Critique why it happened, correct it if possible, but learn from it so you are ready if it ever happens again. 

What happens when there is a lack of tolerance?

Hatred, and/or chaos, and/or a lack of understanding, acceptance, and/or individuality.

Why can we be so cruel to ourselves?

Most of us have never been trained to love ourselves, always. I’m my own worst critic, but I still love myself for all I do which is good. My critique simply helps me keep myself on the straight and narrow path in life, striving to be happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances.

What is your weight goal for November?

Unattainable.

I can be generous, caring, and nurturing, but I can also be jealous or controlling. Does that make me a bad person?

Yes. Unfortunately, jealous and controlling natures are not really good for us, or anyone around us. Better for everyone if we focus on being generous, caring, and nurturing, and sit on our jealous and controlling aspects.

Why do some bad humans regret their past bad deeds when they are older?

As I approach 70 years of life, I find time to reflect on my past. For the most part, I’ve been a really good guy. There are some things I might have done differently, had I possessed the wisdom of age instead of the exuberance of youth. Age gives most of us the wisdom and ability to critique ourselves, along with the honesty to own and, if needed, to regret, our actions.

“The feelings that hurt most, the emotions that sting most, are those that are absurd - The longing for impossible things, precisely because they are impossible; nostalgia for what never was; the desire for what could have been; regret over not being someone else; dissatisfaction with the world’s existence. All these half-tones of the soul’s consciousness create in us a painful landscape, an eternal sunset of what we are.”

-- Fernando Pessoa

How can you stand up for your values without becoming confrontational?

Yes, just don’t get into an argument. Your values are your values, and other people don’t have to accept them, nor do you have to defend who you are. You are the values you project, so project them in an unconfrontational manner.

Has anybody ever slapped the living shit out of you?

Yes, a couple of times, then I almost killed him while beating the shit out of him with a tree branch.

How do you completely destroy someone you hate?

You don’t. Hate is insidious and, often, uncontrollable. You never know when innocent people might get caught up in your emotion. Better to stay in control and let karma handle just the asshole. You need to put as much distance as you can between the two of you and get on with striving for a truly happy and productive life.

What can happen if we take unnecessary risks?

Injury or death, to you or someone else. Better not to risk it. 

 What is motivational behavior?

When you have five seconds to get as far as you can from the bomb, your “motivational behavior” makes you run because your life depends on making it to a safe distance.

“If God had known the future, he could not have declared what he had created as all beautiful. The rapist, terrorist, and the terrible; how beautiful is the Ripper? Perhaps this God is not all-knowing.”

-- Mecha Constantine

What is the best way to find happiness in a tribe?

Happiness is an emotion we carry with us always. Whether we choose to exercise it is totally up to us. We make the choice. I choose to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. As such, the true happiness I feel is sustainable for as long as I choose to be happy always. So, by definition, I suppose I’ll be happy unto death. Lucky me!

Can you be jealous of something you don't have?

Of course. Why would I be jealous of something I do have? It makes no sense.

How can we overcome our failures?

Failure is a lesson, and, as such, you are required to learn from it. It isn’t that you failed, we all fail. It is what you do with the failure that counts. Unless you learn from it you are doomed to repeat it. So, overcoming failure is all about learning from the mistake that caused it; the “why” behind it. If you don’t learn the lessons life presents, you will constantly have the opportunity in your face until you do. I would hate to relive this life simply because I chose not to learn the lessons.

If a bad person fights against another bad person, is that bad person the good person because he fought against the bad?

Two turds fighting it out. If one turd wins, he isn’t a turd? Nope. Still a turd. He’s just a turd that’s a better fighter.

What would happen if schools got rid of all competition?

Nothing, other than a “Pass” or “Fail” grading system. Classes would continue and, as always, only those who wish to learn will. Others, the ones who choose not to learn, can compete for jobs that they have no real knowledge to claim. Coal mining comes to mind. The students who actually learn will move on to a better life. Imagine that? Socialism at work.

“The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”

-- Willie Nelson

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