Questioning Friends, Death, Respect, Naughty, and Change

 

“The girl says "Oh uh-uh, wait a minute! Wait a minute! Just because I'm dressed this way does not make me a whore!" Which is true, Gentlemen, that is true. Just because they dress a certain way doesn't mean they are a certain way. Don't even forget it. But ladies, you must understand that is fucking confusing. It just is. Now that would be like me, Dave Chappelle, the comedian, walking down the street in a cop uniform. Somebody might run up on me saying, "Oh, thank God. Officer, help us! Come on. They're over here. Help us!" "Oh-hoh! Just because I'm dressed this way does not make me a police officer!" See what I mean? All right, ladies, fine. You are not a whore. But you are wearing a whore's uniform.”

-- Dave Chappelle

Is a 49-year-old man telling a young girl she looks like a whore in her school uniform bad?

Is the 49-year-old man a letch?

Do books and movies make people feel better when they are sad?

It depends on the book or the movie. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” certainly didn’t make me feel better. Neither did “The Hills Have Eyes.” And, any book written by Hillary Clinton… well, facts might be nice.

Why were most of the successful people good at studying?

They were as “smart” as they were intelligent. Having both makes them an anomaly.

Does learning a lot make you "smarter" or just more knowledgeable?

Both. If you’re it makes you smarter you are more knowledgeable, and vice versa. It might even make you more intelligent, to boot. Smarts and intelligence, are an anomaly.

Can I get some good friends here?

I sincerely hope so.

“Two kinds of people have many friends, one with bank balance and the other with boldness.”

-- Amit Kalantri

What does positive self-talk do?

It develops a positive attitude. I strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. This “positivity” is a choice I have made for my life, and I wake up every morning thanking God for the “gift” of another day in paradise to try and excel. The alternative simply sucks.

Why do we value the person in our past?

We learn much from relationships, good and bad. Knowledge is always a valuable commodity to be cherished.

Why does a grown-up man fear more than in his fearless young age days?

He understands death a lot more than when he was younger.

How do you explain the outpouring of religious enthusiasm in this era?

The world is going to hell in a handbasket. People want to hope for something better. Faith in the supreme power in the universe gives many people hope for the future. Faith tends to breed hope.

What is your opinion on learning vs. growing as a person? Why do you feel this way?

If you learn, you grow as a person. It is what it is.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

-- Dr. Seuss

Have you ever lost any respect for someone instantly?

Yes, in the military. I lost respect for my fellow trainers that would give up on people they were supposed to train. I would ultimately become the trainer for the “untrainable” and fix the issues other trainers didn’t want to take time for.

Why do we keep making the same mistakes with the same person?

A glutton for punishment?

How come I’m afraid to be white anymore?

Stop buying into the socialist “Critical Race Theory.” I’m Sicilian and Irish. Everyone needs to understand that ALL lives matter, not just one, and the past is to be remembered, not used as a tool to bilk money from folks who have done nothing wrong to give it to folks who have an equal chance to move upward. The Chinese, Italian, and Irish will pitch one hell of a fit. Laws guarantee equality. We are at that tipping point where we all may fall back instead of moving forward. Don’t be afraid to be anything. We are all human, we are all equal, and we are all due respect. Don’t let the new racists make you think otherwise. 

Why does it feel like my family only uses me to do stuff for them and to give them money, but when I ask for something, the answer is always no?

You are being used, and you’re allowing them to do it. Maybe you should stop.

What are some ways to deal with people who try to control others through guilt?

No one is free of sin. You can try to find their “Achilles heel” and use it to great effect, or you can simply ignore their ignorance and judgment. But, always remember, those who judge have much to hide.

“All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume.”

-- Noam Chomsky

How kinky/naughty are you?

Just enough not to get arrested… or caught.

What are some ways to deal with a person who is always complaining about his/her life being so difficult and unfair?

Their life is all about their own choices and decisions. If they made better ones, they wouldn’t have their own mistakes to bitch about. It is their life, and they can make of it what they want. Perhaps they want to be miserable. We all have the option to lead our own lives. Personally, I lead my life away from the complainer. Life is too short for drama.

What does a firefighter say to a child who thanks him/her for saving his life?

You are so welcome, and it was my great pleasure!

How can you develop a sense of purpose and meaning in your personal and professional life?

Be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Do this and your purpose and meaning will become clear. But, if it doesn’t, you will still be truly happy always and in all things, yadda, yadda, yadda. Just a thought. 

What does it mean when someone says they want your respect and don't ask for your love?

They don’t want your love, they want your respect. If love was more important they would have asked for it.

“Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be.”

-- Leo Tolstoy

What have you changed your mind about? Why?

Organized religion. It seems like they are all about control, more than about religion. I was raised a Catholic, but have forsaken the church in favor of my own humble belief. A belief, like so many others, that is based on little or no proof. But I have an undying faith that I am closer to being right than two thousand years of  religion.

Why does my ex-boyfriend who left me miss me anyway? He said from the beginning he doesn’t love me even though I’m dear to him.

Be very suspicious of smoke and mirrors.

Does anyone on here ever accept responsibility for their parts of a relationship?

I did. I forgave my ex-wife for her part, and then I forgave myself for my part. I accepted the apology I knew I wasn’t ever going to get from her, and then I chose to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. I still love her, I just know in my heart I can’t be with her. Accepting this, I have been truly happy for about 20 years, now.

What can we learn from billionaires?

Nothing that they’re willing to teach us.

How would you describe the most humble person you have ever met?

He was a quiet, African, Catholic priest, with a beautiful accent and a smile that lit up a room. He came to the medical center when I was the lead chaplain, for a blessing of the hands. To shake his hand was a feeling I don’t get often enough.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

-- Rick Warren

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 view 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