Questioning Intelligence, Karma, Change, Happiness, Hate, and Learning

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." 

-- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Do intelligent men exist?

Yes, but they are not as “smart” as they think they are. Intelligent, yes. But smart? Not so much.

Does the wise man do it just because he has to do it?

Pretty much.

When was the last time you realized that you have more power over others than you thought?

By my third year in the Air Force Intelligence Division. I had so much fun, I stayed on for 23 years. I have never lost the realization, but I don’t utilize it. It is dangerous to those you “think” you have power over. Better to leave things, like this, alone.

Do you know what it feels like to be betrayed?

Indeed. And, being betrayed, by the one you love, hurts the most.

Imagine there is an academic competition, and Person A has two Perfect Scores and was the Absolute Winner both times, and there is Person B, the Absolute Winner three times, and one of the times they had a Person Score, who's better?

Has Person A failed? The only way to grade this is if someone fails. “Perfect Score” makes them an “Absolute Winner” as far as they have gone. The only way to judge one over the other is if one fails. The “Person Score” should be given to both of them, otherwise, one competitor has an unfair advantage.

What does it say about leaders who only want praise for achievements no matter what, and how would you rate them?

Egotistical. 

"Egotism is the anesthetic which nature gives us to deaden the pain of being a fool."

-- Dr. Herbert Shofield

Do people get their karma for cheating in a relationship?

They get “bad” karma. The person who never cheats gets “good” karma. Bad karma will strike you down when you least expect it. Good karma is with you always, as long as you are good.

Is it a pleasure to meet you?

Many people seem to think so.

Why do I feel like I don't deserve to be loved?

Not deserving means you have done something that makes you feel this way. What have you done that makes you think you don’t deserve to be loved? Can you make up for whatever you did? If you can, then however painful it is you must do it.

Reader comment: I used to feel this, but now in an older age I realize I did, and do, deserve to be loved because I've tried my best, and that's pretty o.k. 

Should everyone like you?

No. I don’t want “serial killers” thinking they like me.

What's the wise man's perception of pride without attitude?

The wise man knows that he is what he is. There is no pride, and there is certainly no attitude. He learns, and he teaches what he knows. This is wisdom. Pride and attitude negates what wisdom has taught.  

How do you view the other person: nice or mean?

It depends on whether they are nice or mean.

“My father had taught me to be nice first, because you can always be mean later, but once you’ve been mean to someone, they won’t believe the nice anymore. So be nice, be nice, until it’s time to stop being nice, then destroy them.”

-- Laurell K. Hamilton 

What do you do with the people who don't want to change?

Leave them to their own devices. Life is too short to waste time on them.

What are some tips for teenagers who want to sneak out of their house for some freedom, but are unable to leave their room?

Don’t. Teenagers go missing all the time. When you celebrate your 18th birthday, knock yourself out. By then, maybe you’ll know how to take care of yourself. If not, you will be raped, dead, or missing. None of these are a good outcome.

What are some bad times to say what you're really thinking?

I’m there, so, I say what I think or hold my tongue. My tongue is hard to get hold of.

What's the wise man's perception of knowing what to say and what not to?

The wise man’s “perception” is driven by what he has learned during life. The truly wise man will keep his mouth shut if he isn’t certain of the outcome

Does the wise man do it for his friends?

Do what?

Does the wise man perceive that the world is a business?

The wise man perceives that “business” will come to him, or he will be too busy to care for himself. Wisdom, unless there is an injustice, is silent… the most part. If you need to speak your mind, you might also be thinking about defense. You may need it.

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."

-- Confucius

Why can't I man up and be happy?

You don’t need to “man up” to be happy. I am truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. It is a choice we all need to make for our life.

What right answer are you to say to a guy when he says he loves you, and you know you don't?

“I’m sorry, but you mistakenly think I like men.”

Are there any women in the world who love men or do they just love money?

I have been “poor” for most of my younger life, even in the Air Force. But, I had no problem dating women. Most of them were looking for a husband. Not for the love of money, because none of us were well off.

What was the hardest thing in your life to forgive? Did you move on? How?

Dishonesty. I moved on by divorcing her.

How does the concept of free will reconcile with the idea that life is about how people treat each other?

You follow the law of the land. If you don’t, you end up in jail. You treat each other right, or you don’t have many friends. It’s not a crime to not have any friends, it is your free will. But, it is a crime to hurt them.

How does the wise man deal with someone who is living immediately?

The wise man knows… as we all do, it is easier to deal with the living than with the dead.

"The wise person doesn't give the right answers, but poses the right questions."

-- Claude Levi-Strauss

Is it true that human beings have to hate?

No, it isn’t.

Why can't we just love one another and stop all the wars and evil and be humans instead of demons?

Balance. The universe demands balance. Night and day, good and bad, sour and sweet… balance. If we rid ourselves of evil, how will we ever recognize it, years later? Evil, in the world you describe, will make Hitler look like a girl scout. We need balance, so we can continue to recognize things for what they are.

What happens when we don't love ourselves?

We tend not to take care of ourselves. I seriously love me.

Could it be possible that your enemy doesn't hate you?

The enemy that doesn’t hate me, wants what I have. When the entire world is conquered, by a single country, society will begin to slip backward. What will they do then? Russia thought Ukraine would collapse in a week. How long has it been? World leaders need to stop starting wars and learn to work together.

Do people always find a reason to hate each other?

It is a little easier to find a reason to love... than to hate. Most people know this.

Why don’t we all be cruel and treat everyone like shit like the people at the bottom of society do?

Because we give a shit. We aren’t like the “bottom of society.” If the bottom of society would get their shit together, we’d all be in a better place. But, NO! The Democrats let in the dregs of everyone else’s society, the illegal aliens. The “illegals” are intent to rape, murder, and pillage our society, and we are paying them to do it. This is insanity.

“Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.”

-- Robert Orben

How can a person learn a lesson?

Study. If you fail, try again. That’s why they call it learning.

Why do some people choose to be a bad person?

Why do people become so evil?

I decided to answer both of these questions, at the same time. People choose to be bad because it is easier than being good. Why do they become evil? They don’t have the self-control to be good, so, evil is the next stop. Bad, evil, Hitler, and etc. They stack up like sacks of manure, one atop the other. 

How can we determine if our thoughts are from God or not, such as fear, worry, and anxiety?

Your thoughts are not from God. Fear, worry, anxiety, and more, are created by you.

Why do I hate living, why don’t I want to live?

Because there is no coming back from death. If you choose death, you may come back into your old body to make another choice. That sounds pretty stupid, but… so does death. 

How can a person make a goal and accomplish it?

Perseverance. You take the first step and continue until it is complete. It is called work.

 Do you like doing what makes you happy?

Indeed!

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

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