Questioning Courage, Liberals, Success, Questions, Complements, and Buddhism

 

“It’s impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed – such as the mother, father, and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz – and not think of my own children,” said Blinken.

“This was just one of Hamas’s countless acts of terror – in a litany of brutality and inhumanity that, yes, brings to mind the worst of ISIS. Babies slaughtered. Bodies desecrated.

“Young people burned alive. Women raped. Parents executed in front of their children, children in front of their parents,” Blinken said.

-- The Times of Israel

Who's more courageous, the average Palestinian or the average "Israeli"?

Are we separating the Palestinians from Hamas? Hamas has shown themselves to be cowardly, murderous, thugs that behead babies and rape and murder women. Certainly, the average Palestinian does not condone this behavior.

What is the biggest thing you've done for free, out of genuine kindness?

I bought a buttload of turkeys for Thanksgiving for our local soup kitchen. I do this every Thanksgiving.

What is your task in 2024?

To live until 2025.

How would it make you feel if a lawyer on Quora told you, "You should be proud of yourself" to get back into school? Then another Quora user lies saying you said was wrong about our legal system in the same question I was to be proud of?

Why does it have to be a lawyer? The fact that you’re getting back into school is commendable, and anyone who can recognize that fact speaks the truth to be listened to. Ignore ignorance.

Are my morals making me too nice for a relationship?

If the relationship is immoral, then yes.

Why is it that the more you have the less you are grateful?

Because the more you have is a reminder that having things doesn’t make you truly happy. If you are truly happy with your retirement pay, and you are left with a windfall of money from a death in the family, you might think all the money would make you happy. Money creates problems on its own. Taxes and such. One might end up pining for the good old days when they only had retirement to worry about.

“Strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.”

-- F.A. Villari

Why do people support the Liberals?

Good question.

Why is spreading rumors bullying?

Because you’re spreading rumors that may not be true, instead of squelching them. If people believe the rumors, true or not, the target may feel bullied by the rumor. Spreading rumors simply isn’t a very nice thing to do, like bullying.

What are some signs that someone is secretly in love with you?

If they’re secretly in love with you, they won’t leave any signs. It is a secret.

Should I cut off a friend who's passive-aggressive to only me and nobody else?

Only to you and nobody else? And, you consider this person a friend? I cut them off. They are lucky I haven’t peeled their face off with a plastic knife. Okay, that may be a bit extreme. But people around us need to know I don’t put up with this kind of shit. 

How long is a jiffy?

Pretty damn quick.

I am married but can't stop noticing beautiful women. Does this mean I don't completely love my wife?

No, it means you appreciate beautiful women. I am also guilty of noticing women who have taken care of themselves. I see no reason to apologize for it, as the apology would be a lie, and most women I know will attest to this. It is who I am, and at 70 years of age, I am not going to change.

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

-- Franz Kafka

If you are not into your job, should you quit to give someone who is a better fit a chance at success?

If you are not into your job, you are not happy. Quitting will give someone else a better chance at success, but you will have a better chance at being truly happy, as well.

Why do some Quora answerers get too philosophical and pedantic while turning the question around to attack the asker?

Welcome to the League of the Perpetually Offended.

Is it common for the bullied to become bullies?

Having been bullied I recognized the bully as mean, stupid, and dangerous. It’s not a combination I chose for myself. The solution was to become everything the bully wasn’t. Not a hard job. Becoming intellectually superior allowed me to embarrass him in front of his friends. I got my ass kicked, but he started leaving me alone.

Can love be classified as a basic human need, and how does it contribute to overall psychological well-being?

Affection is a “fundamental” need, and, fundamentally, it does contribute to our overall psychological well-being.

Why does everyone care and not care about me simultaneously?
Why does everyone on Earth uplift and keep me down simultaneously?

Well, I see you asked two similar questions. I will attempt to answer them.

Everybody is not the same. This is the short answer. Some people care and others could either not give a shit, or not care about you. “Balance” is part of the short answer. There must be balance in the universe, so some people care about you while others don’t. What do you do? You ignore the morons that don’t care and pay more attention to those who do. But, you must be mindful. Some people you think don’t care about you, might be pushing you to be a better person. These people care, but they have issues showing it.

Can anyone be trusted nowadays with sincere understanding?

“Sincere” understanding can be claimed by many, and understood by only a few. It is up to you to ferret out those few to trust. Good luck!

“I am an extremely sincere individual. I am sincere, to a fault. One of the many things that I have come to realize, to learn, is that sincerity must be reserved and given only to those who deserve it. And one must save one's emotions, channeling them only to the people who are worthy of it. One must not throw one's pearls to the pigs.”

-- C. JoyBell C.

What is the question you had for me to want to give you in order to ask?

What the…

What are your reflections on 2023 and resolutions for 2024, and how do you plan to keep them?

I survived through the year. I will endeavor to survive through the new year. If I do, I will endeavor to survive through the next year. This is all we can do, the “basic” resolution while trying to attain the other goals we think we need to accomplish.

What on Earth isn't a human sexual relationship?

Animal husbandry. Oh, wait…

How does social influence impact decision-making within the context of friendship, as explored in social psychology?

For the “weak-minded” social influence impacts more than “decision-making within the context of friendship.” Oh, I’m sorry, “as explored in social psychology.” The only “social influence” a normal person needs to pay attention to is the “rule of law” that the society they belong to decides on. The niceties of “polite society” are the options they must decide to follow. I look at “social influence” as a form of socialist indoctrination, that has no place in a free society. 

I am too lazy to make a proper trolling question. What can I do?

Trolling is a stupid waste of time. How about trying to become mature before your time? Sounds like you’re on the right track.

If a friend unfollowed only you on purpose, is that a sign of passive aggressiveness?

If a “friend” unfollowed me, they must have a reason that I don't need to know. I have no filter, and all the people around me know this.  I don’t have “friends” that act that way, for one thing. If they have a problem, it sucks to be them. I’ve had a couple of people who have had issues with my posts, and I have issues with their political tilt. I have never brought it up, because it has no bearing. They insisted on pushing and, again, it sucks to be them. When someone calls a person “passive-aggressive” they might as well call them an asshole. I don’t make time for them. Either be passive or aggressive, because being both makes you an asshole in my book, and you don’t certainly don’t want to be one around me. Just saying.

"These people resist demands by indirect tactics. They will not take responsibility for their own choices; instead, they turn around and blame someone else for making them do it. Or they will agree to do things that they don’t really want to do, and then gripe about the person behind her back."

-- Henry Cloud

Are faith and intellect each other's opponents or do they complement each other in certain cases?

Since faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof, it can complement intellect as having faith in non-validated beliefs.

Can sons of bitches grow up to be fairly decent people? My mother was a witch. Does it have to affect me?

Most of the assholes I knew in high school turned out to be good people later in life. It can affect you only if you let it. I beat a bully almost to death with a tree branch. I made the decision not to be a victim. Did the bullying affect me? Absolutely. It made me stronger. I started to stand up for other people being bullied. It drove me to take psychology as a major in college, and that led me to a 23-year career in military Intelligence and a 17-year career as a Corporate Liaison with a world-renowned Institutional Review Board. I can thank the “sons of bitches” for all of this. 

Does believing in God make anything better than having faith?

Faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Is believing, or not believing, in God any different? Both atheists and theists have faith in their beliefs, even though they have no incontrovertible proof. 

Why are Mormons stupid and still smarter than atheists?

You make a judgment call addressing Mormon intellect and atheists that is not entirely valid. Most Mormons are not stupid, just as a few atheists are smarter than average people.

Do some people enjoy being angry and getting into fights?

Yep.

What is your opinion on Buddhism? Do you believe there are any flaws in its philosophy and practice?

Nope. I have 25 books related to Buddhism, and I have worked through a few “insignificant” flaws. It is more of a philosophy and practice of life, than anything else.

“If there is any religion that could respond to the needs of modern science, it would be Buddhism.”

-- Albert Einstein

 What are the pros and cons of an atheist becoming Buddhist?

The “pros” will be, that they will have to believe in many gods. The “cons” will be, that they will have to believe in many gods. This is mind-blowing.  

Why do women complain even though their lives are easier than men's?

Who put forth this bullshit? I’d like to live in this alternative universe. I had to keep house for a month until my wife got back on her feet. I couldn’t wait to get back to my real job. Keeping a good house, dealing with kids, shopping, cooking, and wishing there was some “down” time would make the strongest man become a whimpering babe. Women have my admiration for what they do in homemaking. 

Is it important to have an open mind if you don't want to change your beliefs and opinions?

Having an “open mind” means being open to changing your beliefs and opinions if the proof is incontrovertible.

If killing 1 person is homicide and killing a lot of people is genocide. What do you say when you kill every last human being on earth? Polycide?

If homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human beings, then “mass homicide” might be an acceptable term. I would think that “extinction” would be a better fit, however. 

Why are flukes even possible if the world is perfect?

But, the world isn’t perfect, hence, flukes.

Why are atheists always wrong?

Theists are probably wrong as much. There is not much difference in their lives, except for an acceptance of a God figure, and neither side has any incontrovertible proof to offer as proof to this belief.

“Always" is a good word to believe in.”

-- Susan Abulhawa

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. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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 while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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