Questioning Fear, People, Marriage, Love, That, and Deserving

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

-- Plato

Can we all agree that every man's fear in life is getting rejected by a woman?

No. If they’re gay, they can fear getting rejected by a man.

Can love exist without the concept of right and wrong?

True love? I’m sure that many people truly love the wrong person. There is a mental aberration that allows one to love the bane of their existence. Love can exist, regardless of right or wrong.

What is your opinion on divorced men who marry their ex-wife's best friend?

They probably had an affair with them first.

Why is true love always lost?

If “true love” is always lost… then it wasn’t true love. True love stays with you, for your lifetime, even if you aren’t together.

Is a person good if he makes other people feel good?

Not necessarily.

Why do people believe that we are all equal?

People are created all equal. Their position in society can make them hold a higher or lower position. But, in reality, they die or live the same as everybody else. We are not immune from anything that can kill us, like old age. People are created all equal, physically, whether they admit it or not. Their status is the only that changes them.

“If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”

-- William Shakespeare

What is me, you, woman, man, and human?

People.

Are people stupid and don't think for themselves?

You are asking the question by thinking for yourself. So, all people are not stupid and don’t think for themselves.

Who wrote the Bible and the Qur'an?

Men.

Why must Muslim women only marry Muslim men?

According to history, Muhammad married two Jewish women. If this is true, I’m not sure who started this rumor.

Why did the UAE comedian Khalid Al Ameri divorce his first wife and marry another woman? I thought that Muslims were allowed to keep four wives.

They are allowed to keep the wives they like. She must have pissed him off.

Is having an extramarital affair good or bad?

It depends on if you enjoy it, or not. Morally, however, it isn’t good. If you need to find a woman or a man, outside of your marriage, then your marriage is suffering. If you feel the need to have an affair, do the right thing and get a divorce first.

“No matter how much I tried to justify the affair, the fact remained that I was a deceitful person. One moment I was making out with a man and an hour later I was in bed with another man. Who had I become? What had I lost in life that led me to do this? Did I not have a perfect life? Was I not happy? Of course, I was happy. I knew I was happy and content. Had I become greedy? I was in a maze and I could not find a way out.”

-- Jagdish Joghee

Does marriage cease enjoyment?

It depends on what you expect from the marriage. If you are the best of friends, and if both of you are happy to be married for the rest of your life. Marriage is not supposed to cease enjoyment. You have married the love of your life. Work, children, through sickness, and health, your lives have been given to each other. What is not to be happy, and joyful over?

My wife and I are best friends. Is there any problem with that?

Absolutely not! Married couples should always be the best of friends.

I hurt my girlfriend. What can I say to her that feels good?

Be honest. Apologize for what you did to her. Nothing will make her feel good, but heartfelt honesty can help heal the wounds. Never, ever, hurt her again, or your honesty is worthless.

What do sex dreams mean?

You’re not getting what you want. 

My son-in-law beat my daughter. What should I do? I want to handle it myself.

If she doesn’t want to leave his sorry ass, you can address the incident with him and tell him that the next time there will be no talking. Leave it at that. Personally, I’d dare him to do it again, please. But, that’s me, wanting a workout.

What should I do when I’m speechless to my wife?

Say, “I’m speechless.” She might smile. Or...

“I was so amazed at your stupidity that words failed me.”

-- Natsuki Takaya

What is it like to fall in love with the wrong person?

It is a mistake you can rectify by leaving them.

What can you do if your husband doesn't respect your opinions?

Divorce him.

What could be the meaning behind a husband telling his wife that she doesn't make him happy anymore?

“I want a divorce.”

What should I do when my husband blames me for everything?

Divorce him.

My husband and I went to a bar last night and he let a guy hit on me for over 5 minutes without stepping in. Does this mean his isn't proud to call me his wife?

I would be concerned about his motives. 

What should I do to get love, care, and respect from my husband?

You should have thought about that before you married him. Now it’s a bit late to save your marriage, especially if you’re submissive. You can firmly confront him and hope he doesn’t hit you. (He doesn’t love, care, or respect you, remember?)

“Even if you cannot change all the people around you, you can change the people you choose to be around. Life is too short to waste your time on people who don’t respect, appreciate, and value you. Spend your life with people who make you smile, laugh, and feel loved.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

Can every sentence be ended with the word "that"?

No.

Would you consider someone 20 to be young and probably still naive?

Yes, unless they have joined the military service. They will still be young, but the military will take care of the naïveté.

A smart person asks tons of questions out loud or within their mind. If that’s the case, then what is a dumb person?

A person who doesn’t understand the answer.

Why do we have to deal with ungrateful jerks, stupid people, and criminals, or is that just how life goes sometimes?

Unless it’s your job you have the choice not to deal with them. If life sends them your way, sidestep the path and find another route. These people will try to derail your success.

Is the quote, “The United States of America is not united nor is it states, nor is it American,” true?

No.

How can you handle a husband who always believes he is right and disregards your emotions?

Tell him you want a divorce. He wasn’t right about your love, and he will disregard your emotional outburst about the divorce… until you take him to court. A “husband” is half of a team. Husbands tend to forget that tiny tidbit.

“Unfortunately, a wife’s usual approach is to complain and criticize, in order to motivate her husband to become more loving. This usually proves about as successful as trying to sell brass knuckles to Mother Teresa.”

-- Emerson Eggerichs

What is the best way to respond to a partner saying, "You don't deserve me"?

“You are so right. I deserve better.”

What are some philosophical ways to become a better person and to be smarter?

Become humble in all you do. Help those who need assistance. Listen to everything you hear and form an opinion. Ask questions. Your question, here, is a good start.

What makes a man blame his wife for everything bad or wrong?

A lack of manhood. Taking responsibility is paramount to being a man.

How many times do you allow lying?

Lying is counterproductive to everything. If you put a number on how many times you can lie, you are making lies appropriate. Never allow lying, especially when it comes to politics. It is the reason our country is in the sorry shape Joe Biden put us in. 

Why do all right-wing truth spaces lie to everyone?

We’re trying to catch up with all the left-wing bullshit. Unfortunately, we’re lagging.

How do I break the habit of playing dumb?

Why would you want to do that? In the Intelligence field, we go out of our way to make people think we’re a bit off. Playing dumb is not the same thing as being dumb. Playing dumb can pay “good dividends,” if you keep your eyes and ears open.

“Sometimes playing stupid opens your eyes to the truth.”

-- Anthony Liccione

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