Questioning Right, Priority, and Want

“The best thing about the bedroom was the bed. I liked to stay in bed for hours, even during the day with covers pulled up to my chin. It was good in there, nothing ever occurred in there, no people, nothing.”

-- Charles Bukowski

What are the most important moves you can make in your 20s to set you up for later life?

Do not incur any debt! Buy what you want with cash. If you need a vehicle, but a used one. Take the money you would have spent on debt and invest it in interest-bearing stocks. Keep shopping for better-paying jobs that you enjoy. Work hard and strive to be happy always.

What are the "real" self and "ideal" self?

The “real” self is who you really are. The “ideal” self is who you imagine yourself to be. I always wanted to be James Bond, 007. I learned to be very comfortable with who I really was during my career in military intelligence. Some folks are meant for danger, and some of us are meant to be lovers… on several levels. I wasn’t meant for danger.

I want to meet a lovely lady for sex. What should I do?

Depending on what you’re after, scrape together about $200.

“Bruised knees cramp my style. They scream cheap whore, when I am an expensive one.”

-- Asa Akira

Is Joe Biden a Boomer?

Born in 1942. He donated sad genetic material to “boomers.”

In the work or business world, what do you think of the following thought: "Your job is not to fix the leader, it's to add value. If the leader doesn't change, then change your attitude or the place where you work"?

For me, this question has issues. Your job is not to fix the leader, but the leader is expected to change. Why? It isn’t your job, nor your concern. Adding value, however, is probably about “supporting” the leader. If you can no longer support the leader, then I agree, you either have to change your attitude or the place you work.

I don't really want to go to a university, but if I don't, my parents will disown me. What do I do?

Life is all about choices. Do you choose to be your own person, or do you choose to let your parents make all of your life decisions for you? Have they chosen the person you will marry, yet? Think about it.

If you make the wrong choice, you can always go crawling back, hat in hand, to see if the university is still an option. Most parents would love the opportunity to gloat just before they lay down new conditions.

If you choose to go down your own path, make sure you’re committed to a life of making your own choices and decisions. Remember, your parents have disowned you, at least until their grandchild is born. I’m not one to use a grandchild as a bargaining chip, but…

The primary purpose of going to college isn't to get a great job. The primary purpose of college is to build a strong mind, which leads to greater self-awareness, capability, fulfillment, and service opportunities, which, incidentally, should lead to a better job.

-- Sean Covey

Does telling people things that are going on with you, to people who can't help you, solve anything or should you keep personal stuff to yourself for political reasons?

If they can’t help you, why bring all that drama into their lives? It isn’t about political reasons, it's about doing what’s right. They just don’t need you to bleed all over them, unless they’ve given you permission. God help them if they surrounded themselves with people who love to share their personal drama. All they’d ever hear is other people’s drama. Oh, how entertaining. Unless you’ve signed on as a person others can dump on, this gets very old, very fast. 

How can you explain this quote, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it."?

If you don’t like something, try looking at it from a different perspective. I didn’t like the taste of lamb, but I went to Turkey and loved the taste of goat. It wasn’t the lamb I didn’t like, it turned out to be the way it was prepared. I prepared lamb as the Turks prepared goat and learned to love it. I had to, not only change it through a different recipe, but I had to change the way I thought about it, not to focus on the lamb, but on the other flavors which complimented it.

How should I deal with stress about the future when I just want to pull the plug?

Why in God’s good name are you stressing over something that hasn’t even happened and, considering the odds, may not? If you want to stress, try stressing about now, this moment. This is the only moment you are absolutely sure you have. Better yet, try choosing to be happy always, especially in this current moment. Yesterday is gone, learn from it. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but, if there is to be a tomorrow, make good choices today so tomorrow will be better. In this way, you don’t really need to stress.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”

-- Amit Ray

At what age do you think someone should stop raving/good time to retire from it?

21. Never too early to grow up.

Is it your birthright to know who your real parents are?

Yes. And if you can find them, it is your right to contact them. But, they made a choice, probably a hard choice. You can try to contact them, but it is not your birthright to make their life hell. After all, you could have been aborted. They made a choice. Help make their choice the right one.

Can I let people, that both have a negative opinion about me and don't care about themselves, down?

I’m going to answer this as, “Can I let people down who have a negative opinion about me, and don’t care about themselves?”  It sounds better.

Yes! Absolutely! They don’t care about you or themselves, so what’s the issue? They’re miserable people who could give a shit less about you or themselves. But, is letting them down going to be letting yourself down, as well? This isn’t really about them, they could give a shit. But, you? Is this letting yourself down just to make a point?

Never let anyone make you do something that hurts you just because you need to get back at them. Better yourself, despite what they think, and let karma do the rest. Rise above it all.

“Don't destroy yourself by allowing negative people add gibberish and debris to your character, reputation, and aspirations. Keep all dreams alive but discreet, so that those with unhealthy tongues won't have any other option than to infest themselves with their own diseases.”

-- Michael Bassey Johnson

If someone lies to another but doesn't get the response that they want is it the other person's fault for giving the wrong response or the Liars fault for not be forthcoming and telling them the truth?

The fault is with the one having expectations. The liar. The receiver is innocent. The only thing that could be guilty of is calling the liar down for what they are.

Can I be more encouraging than I am right this moment?

Yes! See how easy that was?

How can life be beautiful, if there is suffering?

There must be balance, or how would you know beauty? I watch the news in Afghanistan, and then I go to my “happy place” and remember all the beauty in the world. If you can’t accept that there must be balance, you will always be looking for perfection, which doesn’t exist. The most we can hope for is the best we can be, which is sadly absent for most.

“Time is not the great teacher. Experience is. A man may live a whole life, but if he never leaves his home to experience that life, he dies knowing nothing. A mere child who has suffered and lived can be the wiser of the two.”

-- Lynsay Sands

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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

Questioning Acceptance, Decisions, and Ethics

 

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”

-- Lao Tzu

Is it worse to question authority or blindly accept it?

If “authority” has drawn down on you, better to drop the knife and kiss the pavement than to question their authority. There is a time and place for everything.

If you had all the money you needed to accomplish your goals and dreams, what would you spend it on?

A center for peace, spirituality, meditation, understanding, and tolerance. I’d have plenty of gardens, fountains, and ponds, and little side gardens for relative solitude. There would be a small stage for presentations, and a small coffee shop with tea, drinks, and pastries.

Is it bad if I want to ruin someone’s life?

Gee, ya think? Just wanting to defies most people’s personal sense of moral ethics. My ex-wife went out of her way to ruin mine, and she almost succeeded. Wanting to do something is not the same as doing it, though just considering doing this is as bad as considering rape. One would think there is a special place in hell for just considering such things.

Whatever they’ve done to make you want this, maybe you should let the past go, move on with life, and strive to be happy always. Karma will catch up to them, sooner or later, and whatever they’ve done will be reckoned with.

“Don't destroy yourself by allowing negative people add gibberish and debris to your character, reputation, and aspirations. Keep all dreams alive but discreet, so that those with unhealthy tongues won't have any other option than to infest themselves with their own diseases.”

-- Michael Bassey Johnson

There is a fork in the road for me and I’m going to make a decision. I want to come back to this post in a year for reference. In the meantime, any positive advice about life in general?

Take the fork. If it doesn’t work out, come back to where you went off the path and continue forward. Life is about making choices and correcting them when we go afield. Have fun and good luck!

What do I need to do or gave to be completely independent?

Be comfortable in your own decisions and choices, so you rely on no one but yourself. Make your own money. Stay out of debt, so you belong to no one. Have a personal code of moral ethics that you will have no problem standing up for. It will define, for others, who you are as an independent person. Go out of your way to help others and be the light for what you stand for. Your credo is, “I don’t need you, but I choose to be with you.”

Have you known that miserable people refuse to learn anything new or different?

They have made the choice to be miserable. What they refuse to do is to make another choice to not be. They will blame their life to this point, the people in their life, or just themselves. They focus on everything miserable, yet they can’t see a light, there is no happiness in their way of thinking, and nothing will change their thought process. They are self-perpetuating misery. It is as though they feel they have the God-given right to be miserable unto death. Maybe they do have the right. I really don’t have an answer for them, other than they need to find some reason to make another choice for their life.

“The reason many people in our society are miserable, sick, and highly stressed is because of an unhealthy attachment to things they have no control over.”

-- Steve Maraboli

How can I know if what I have done is the right thing to be done? In other words, how can I make the right decisions?

The only way you’ll ever know is to jump. Make the best-informed, most ethical decision you can, and then see where it goes. With enough experience, most of them will turn out okay. Never corrupt your moral sense of ethics by making a decision for the wrong reasons.

Does happiness come from financial freedom?

No. Happiness comes from within. It is a conscious choice each of us must make for our life, to be happy always, regardless of financial health

Without a message, there's no point in communication?

Indeed! Communication is “the imparting or exchanging of information or news.” Information and news deliver only one thing - a message.

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else ... Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.”

-- Hermann Hesse

How old were you before you realized that it totally sucks to be a man?

However old I was when I saw two absolutely gorgeous women making love to each other. I became a closet lesbian.

I had a weird dream. What do you think?

I’ve had weird dreams my entire life. I wouldn’t worry about it. Other than talking to myself and playing with knives, I’m fine.

In life, is your cup half-full or half-empty? What made you come to your conclusion and what do you think your answer says about your way of thinking?

Half-full. I so very rarely lose more than I gain in life, therefore, my cup continues to fill. Wake every morning and thank God for the gift of another day in paradise and another chance to excel in this life. Life is, after all, what we make of it. Make your choices wisely.

“Whether your cup is half-full or half-empty, remind yourself there are others without one.”

-- Matshona Dhliwayo

Can you give only two personal beliefs about money and family as a student?

Stay out of debt and thank the family members who support your endeavors. Continue to do this as you move from student to productive member of society, and strive to be happy always.

How frequently are you involved in situations where ethics are an appropriate action?

Everyday. If we pay close attention, our personal, moral, “code of ethics” is called upon constantly when we make many daily choices and decisions.

What happens when you get something that you don’t deserve?

I usually ask who gave it to me, why, especially when I know of more deserving people. If they ask me who, I tell them, and I tell them why. This usually takes them aback as they are used to people just taking the accolade or award. The problem with most management is they are far removed from the reality in the trenches.

“If the nature of deserving was tit for tat, who would believe or want what they really deserved?”

-- VaeEshia Ratcliff-Davis

 

 And... the short answers:

What do you think a government should provide to its citizens?

Safety, freedom, and the Rule of Law.

What do you think a government should provide to its citizens?

Safety, freedom, and the Rule of Law.

Why don't we try harder today to learn to live with each other so that tomorrow we can all get better?

Greed.

What's the journey between commitment and completing?

Doing.

What is your favorite three-word inspirational quote?

Be happy always!

How do you make your perfect partner find you?

I didn’t have to do anything. She chased me.

What should you discover in life?

True happiness.

What do people do in their life which is a massive waste of time?

Sleep.

What should be the main goal for a 4-year university study?

A Bachelor’s Degree. 

“We put our children through their paces in school not so that they will learn something, or master something, or meet any standards. No. We give them tools so that they can experience the joy, the passion, of creating. All we are doing is saying, “Here, if you know this, there is more you can make; there is another path you can map; there is another song you can compose.” School—from pre-K to postdoc programs—exists so that we can all build more from within ourselves and with our colleagues.”

-- Marc Aronson

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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

Questioning Perfection, Motives, and Love

"Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection"

-- Kim Collins

If I have failed or quit 4-5 higher education programs due to perfectionism leading to procrastination and fear of failure, also social anxiety, and learned helplessness, how could I make it right this time around starting a new program?

Have you tried accredited online programs?  By the way, a "perfectionist" would never have failed or quit.  A "perfectionist" would also not procrastinate.  What a "perfectionist might do, however, is fear failure, have social anxiety, and feel helpless.  In my humble view, this is why they would never quit.  Quitting is a declaration they are not perfect.

Why do we question the motives of people we disagree with rather than simply rebutting them?

I’ve always found people’s motives to be, pretty much, upfront. But, then, I was trained to read people, and what they write, for mission debriefing purposes. I like to frequent bars, usually alone, so I can watch people. I like to see who’s watching who, and with what intent. The parade of humanity rarely disappoints.

What are the top 10 things a woman should say in a relationship?

Thank you. I have birth control. I love you very much. You complete me. I’m so lucky to have found you. My treat. That’s much too expensive. That looks great! I bought this little nothing to wear at the party. I have multiple orgasms. 

Pretty much everything the man should say.

“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”

-- Sam Keen

What would be the easiest way for an average person to improve their personal life and be more successful?

Marry into money.

How would you describe your current personal situation?

Happier than a pig in poop.

Will wrong people never love you the right way?

Probably the number one reason they’re the wrong people.

"It's better to spend years finding the right person than to spend your whole life with the wrong person."

-- Anonymous

As a wife, how would you feel if your husband had a female best friend? Do you think that's not healthy for your marriage?

That would all depend on how you feel about ménage à trois.

What's the deal with lawmakers always trying to lower the age of consent?

The most obvious answer is usually the right one.

As a man, have you ever looked at your wife or girlfriend and thought that even though you didn't get your dream girl, you're happy you at least got a consolation prize for trying?

Hell, yes! I’ve been so unlucky in love. I snatched my girlfriend up because she chased me. We’ve been together about 17 years, now.

"Such simple and steady acts of kindness are the essence of love, the substance of life. All of us need love; all of us want love. Everything else is a consolation prize. What matters is love."

--Lloyd D. Newell

What do I do? My longtime girlfriend decided she doesn't want kids, but I do. I want to have them after 10 years, should I hope she changes her mind?

If you want them that badly, don’t bank on the chance she’ll change.  You'll hate to find out she just doesn't want them with you.

If you discovered the following statement, What would You think or feel? "I will bow low and deep, for I have my head in the clouds and must bring you up to me. "

I would think it might be something from the writings of Enoch. Maybe the “angels” explaining that they will have to come all the way to earth in order for him to visit the “clouds” with them. Though I don’t recall reading this.

Author comment:  Thank you, I appreciate your reply.  I have no recall of “writings of Enoch”, thanks for that tip. A fellow [site] poster and I worked on another version, just the bit in the “_”… “I will bow low and deep, to meet you in the eye as a respectful equal.”

This works better in western culture where eye contact is encouraged, but may not work as well with other cultures who do not follow the eye contact respect ritual.

My reply:  Leave the “eye” out of the statement. “I will bow low and deep to meet you as a respectful equal.” The meaning is the same. 

Would people love me more if I was prettier?

I don’t think so, but, then, I’m not that shallow. There is a vast difference between love and lust.

My girlfriend had an emergency appendectomy that left a scar from here to there, destroying her stomach muscles. She could no longer wear bikinis or tight, fashionable clothes. I caught her looking at herself in the mirror after a shower. She was distraught. I asked her who she was wanting to be so attractive for. She gave me the look. I told her that, if it was for me, don’t waste the time. I already love her.

Scars are just “proof of life” and have little to do with who you are. Neither does beauty, which is only skin deep. I’ve made love to beautiful women. I’ve made love to “Plain Jane.” I’ll take Jane any day and twice on Sundays. It was “meaningless sex” meets “Hot Damn!”

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

What's your hope for today?

I had to chuckle at this question. I always strive to be happy, even in the face of adversity. While backing up at the gas station, this morning, I scraped by one of their red-painted concrete safety poles. I clenched my teeth as it happened, but there was not much to do about it, by then, so I continued to the market. Before going in to shop I went around to survey any damage. Jeeze! I had red paint scraped all over the corner of the passenger-side bumper. I was happy to find that a non-abrasive scrubber took most of it off and just left a few little scrape marks. This I can live with.

So, my hope for today? Even with my dumb mistake at the gas station, I laugh it off and still hope to be happy always.

Even though we hold widely differing views, are there any concerns or ideas you think we may have in common?

Finding commonality with “widely differing views” would be like throwing darts from 50 feet and hoping to hit the board, much less a bullseye. But, I will take one throw and say the probability of “widely differing views” is one concept we can agree on.

"Actually" or "to be honest"? Which one is a favorite and would you like to use when disagreeing with someone's opinion?

Neither. Just say, “I disagree with you.”

“Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”

-- Franz Kafka

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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

Questioning Money, Freedom, and Success

 

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”

-- Epictetus

How would you define the relationship between money and power?

The “power” that "money" buys is tenuous, at best. Real power cannot be bought. The real power lies in the hearts and minds of the people who give it freely to the poorest of leaders in order to support an idea they would be willing to die for. This is real power. The only thing money does is grease the wheels of success, providing any greed can be held at bay. And this is the rub, the inevitable greed that corrupts the wielder of power. It, more times than not, unfortunately, allows a leader to be bought…for money.

When are you the freest, and your truest self?

When I write. Others may try to bait me, corrupt my sense of ethics, but my writing owes nothing to anyone but myself. My writing is truly who I am and, right or wrong, it reflects the best I can be, which, unfortunately at times, is found wanting.

Do you think a limited government will lead to greater human freedom?

It isn’t the size of government, it is the amount of control they think they can exercise over personal freedoms. The government needs to pay attention to the “Rule of Law” the people have put into place. The government needs to remember, at all times, who they work for. Governments can’t just ignore the Rule of Law, nor can they simply rewrite it at their whim. We have the ability to remove the government and replace it. It is what revolution was created for. To quote Thomas Jefferson:

“And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”

What are the five insights into how constructive journalism pays off?

I’ll give you my five: People receive factual information, from ethical reporters, which builds a foundation of truth that allows us to make informed decisions to ensure freedom of thought continues in our society. Unfortunately, in the United States, we haven’t seen factual and constructive journalism in quite a while. Our “journalism” seems to have aligned itself with socialism, which is counterintuitive considering socialism is no friend of facts or the truth.

Why is it important to question everything? What reason is there to do this, especially now?

Considering the current political administration, the reasons are too numerous to list, especially after losing our southern border and our cowardly withdrawal from Afghanistan, and our arming of terrorists with state-of-the-art weaponry they will feel free to use against us. All one has to do is listen and watch with critical intent, to see all the reasons.

How do you increase and decrease the value of moral damages?

How extensive was the damage?

“As beasts are beneath human restraints, gods are above them... It would be foolish and untruthful to deny the appeal of exalted, godlike intoxication... We have seen the paradox that these godlike exalted moments often correspond to times when the men who have survived them say that they have acted like beasts... Above all, a sense of merely human virtue, a sense of being valued and of valuing anything seems to have fled their lives... However, all of our virtues come from not being gods. Generosity is meaningless to a god, who never suffers shortage or want. Courage is meaningless to a god, who is immortal and can never suffer permanent injury. The godlike berserk state can destroy the capacity for virtue. Whether the berserker is beneath humanity as an animal, above it as a god, or both, he is cut off from all human community when he is in this state.”

-- Jonathan Shay

What does success in the classroom mean to you? How would you define it?

Success is how an individual views it. I almost didn’t graduate high school, but, the fact that I did, I viewed it as a success. It also was the impetus to make me redefine “success” in my life. In my first two years of college, majoring in psychology, I carried a 3.2 GPA. The psychology knowledge was a prime factor in my getting a position in the intelligence field. My military career led me to another long career in the civilian sector. So, success is how one defines it for themselves.

Is it time to abandon expectations of life returning to pre-COVID-19 norms?

That ship sailed some time back. This will continue to be political in our lives for years to come.

What do you think about the statement, “the greatest burdens we carry are the thoughts in our head”?

The quote is actually, "The heaviest burdens we carry, are the thoughts in our head."  But, that is minutia, and the quote, unfortunately, is attributed to no one.  Also unfortunate, is that most of the time, the thoughts in our heads are due to the reality around us which is making it harder and harder to keep good thoughts. I constantly strive to be happy always, despite what I hear and read in the news. It is a “burden” I struggle with daily.

“Stay away from lazy parasites, who perch on you just to satisfy their needs, they do not come to alleviate your burdens, hence, their mission is to distract, detract and extract, and make you live in abject poverty.”

-- Michael Bassey Johnson

Do you believe that if you initially do something for love, the money will come anyway?

What? No. If I do something for love, initially or not, it is done selflessly or it really isn’t for love. Why in God’s name would money enter into a selfless act of love?

To what extent is it true that the opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, but conformity, as Rollo May asserts?

I would say that Rollo May is mostly wrong. I conform when the argument is sound and it makes perfect sense to do so. I also have the courage to balk when I’m told to conform and the argument to do so sucks. The opposite of courage is cowardice, whether you run from what is the right thing to do, or you do nothing in the face of danger, negativity, or something wrong. Now, having said this, if you conform to something that is ethically and morally wrong, you would be a coward for not taking a stand when you should.

" The future of the last is in the future. The future of the present is in the past. The future of the future is in the present."?

Wha... what? The past is done, so learn from it. The present is now, so use what you learned from the past to prepare for the future. The future is what we make of it now, so let us begin.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning."

-- Albert Einstein

Why did you or someone you know retire at the top of their game?

I had to retire, so I suppose I was as close to the top of my game as I was going to get, since the game was called due to illness.

My dad had a stroke and I retired, for the third time, to take care of him and mom. He would have two more strokes over the coming few years, and another while we were at the hospital for the third. That last stroke left him with a feeding tube, unable to drink or talk. He was a Sicilian that was full of life, now a prisoner in his own body and mind. A week later I asked the powers that be for kindness. They took him a week later. Now, I take care of my mother, whose memory is not all that sharp anymore.

We need to redefine “top of their game.” For some, the game changes, and not always of their own choosing. Am I at the top of this game? To be determined.

What is a promise you always seem to break?

Making promises I can’t keep. I can’t help but only make promises I can, no matter how hard I try not to.

What if money wasn’t a motivational factor for the majority of the population? How would people push themselves in life?

Even though we need money in order to survive in society, we are motivated in so many other ways to learn music, art, sports, and many other creative endeavors. Money is a necessity, more than anything else, but true happiness is a pursuit that motivates most of everything else.

“Top 15 Things Money Can’t Buy

Time. Happiness. Inner Peace. Integrity. Love. Character. Manners. Health. Respect. Morals. Trust. Patience. Class. Common sense. Dignity.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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

Questioning Names, Goals, and Wants

 

“The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time.”

-- Francis Chan

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Note to my readers: Well, the weekly report is out, and 9,420 people read my answers this past week.  It looks like I'm averaging about 9,000 readers per week for my humble offerings.  The attacks on me by the League of the Perpetually Offended have lessened quite a bit, though I don't know why.  My opinions haven't changed.  Perhaps they don't want to waste their stolen oxygen by trying to fish where they don't get a bite.  For those who continue to read, thank you.  Whether you agree with me or not, constructive thought is precious.  Please don't weaste it.

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What is the value of wisdom when it confers no benefits to those who are deemed wiser?

The value of wisdom is, first, to the individual possessing it. Then, if people wish to make use of someone’s wisdom, they, also, might find value in it. A truly “wise” person, whom one might deem wiser, will realize the truth behind what Socrates said: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing, and I am not quite sure that I know that.” There is always a benefit, even in repetition.

Do you agree or disagree, and why?

I’d have to have the statement first, and then I’ll let you know.

Do you find keeping a routine to be helpful or restrictive?

Having spent a career in military intelligence, sticking to a routine can be dangerous. Better to mix it up a bit so no one knows what you’re doing or where you’ll be at any particular time. It keeps your counterparts hopping.

“If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow -- you are not understanding yourself.”

-- Bruce Lee

What will you do if you meet the person who discouraged you from achieving your goals after you have become very successful?

The best thing you can do is not pay any attention to people who discourage you. They have their own issues to work through. If you ignore them, you have no reason not to smile when you meet them again. Your success is not a whip to beat them with. Smile, wish them well, and move on with your life. A great part of success is learning to be happy always, even in the face of those who discourage.

I usually spend a lot of time reading books to get into the essence of things and build a solid understanding of the material. What word describes my character well?

Studious.

What are the downsides to a person having a lot of compassion for others?

Compassion is one of those “buckets” that need refilling now and then. The big downside of having too much compassion for others is forgetting to refill your bucket to the point your case ends up in a basket. Where, then, is the compassion from others for you?

“...for there is nothing heavier than compassion. Not even one's own pain weighs so heavy as the pain one feels with someone, for someone, a pain intensified by the imagination and prolonged by a hundred echoes.”

-- Milan Kundera

Why is it so hard for you to offer another the same opportunities you were given? How is that not hypocritical?

It isn’t difficult at all and, if it is within my power to mentor them to that end, I will do so. I am a self-proclaimed hypocrite in several areas, but helping get a foot up isn’t one of them. My hypocrisy lies with, “do as I say, not as I do,” although, I do quite a bit of good. 

Is there a term or phrase for someone who thinks people will not believe the things they're saying?

A person of questionable veracity.

Have you ever had a very long grudge with a sibling and is it still in effect?

Ah! One of the many benefits of being an only child.

“Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.”

-- Anne Lamott

What are the most important life goals you want to reach?

90 years of age. That will make me the most long-lived in my ancestral line. My dad almost made it to 89, and he currently holds the title.

Why can't we have nice things?

I’ll bite. Why?

Would you support/help your friend, if they're doing something that goes against your morals/ethics? Something they know you don't agree with.

No. And, they know better than to ask. Why would a good friend ask you to bastardize your personal moral ethics? That isn’t a friend. I will do everything within that code to help them if I can, however.

“It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right.”

-- Lemony Snicket

Why is it important to make a journal or diary when you are young?

So when you say, “I was never that stupid,” you can go back and remind yourself.

What do you want to succeed at in life?

Love.

Why do you rightly or wrongly believe/think that people are not usually what they seem?

People, in general, and by design, mistake, or subconsciously, don’t tend to show everyone what they’re all about. Someone who seems very shallow might offer up the deepest conversation. The “stud” might just be looking for the “girl next door” and not a ravishing beauty. The “big guy” you think played football in high school, was probably head of the chess club. People, in general, also don’t take the time to really get to know someone, which is a shame.

“Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.”

-- Phaedrus

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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

More Questioning of Success and Values

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Do parents have to put in a lot of additional effort when they homeschool kids?

Yes, it’s another job. For a housewife or househusband, it’s a second job. And, it is a job where the children must learn so they can pass tests. They still must graduate.

What are some seeming impossibilities of the present age?

Traveling at the speed of light. Time travel. World peace. Meaningless sex. Okay, that would be seemingly impossible at my present age.

Can a country print as much money as it wants?

Absolutely! And, then, they can sit back and watch their economy implode. The more money you print, the less it is worth, and most money is already worthless, for all intents and purposes. We spend money based on nothing but promises and bullshit. We pay people nothing to print paper worth nothing so people can earn nothing and spend their nothing on something. How far do you think this will go before it falls apart and our nothing becomes worthless?

“If the debt which the banking companies owe be a blessing to anybody, it is to themselves alone, who are realizing a solid interest of eight or ten per cent on it. As to the public, these companies have banished all our gold and silver medium, which, before their institution, we had without interest, which never could have perished in our hands, and would have been our salvation now in the hour of war; instead of which they have given us two hundred million of froth and bubble, on which we are to pay them heavy interest, until it shall vanish into air… We are warranted, then, in affirming that this parody on the principle of ‘a public debt being a public blessing,’ and its mutation into the blessing of private instead of public debts, is as ridiculous as the original principle itself. In both cases, the truth is, that capital may be produced by industry, and accumulated by economy; but jugglers only will propose to create it by legerdemain tricks with paper.” 

--Thomas Jefferson

What are some suggestions for a successful life?

Remove all drama and debt from your life so you can focus on being exceedingly happy always!

Why does this human world go from bad to worse so stubbornly?

God help us if it went from bad to worse any easier. I suppose it goes to show that even “bad” seems to understand the problems with “worse” in our world.

Why are values important to people?

Good moral values are what we use to base our “rules of law” on. Without rules of law, we would be in a constant state of anarchy and lawlessness. Good common values are very important to a thriving society.

“Organizations, companies or individuals without core values are exactly like a boat without an anchor; it can be easily tossed to and fro following any direction the wind blows.”

-- Dr. Lucas D. Shallua

Should important people in your life tell you when you are doing something wrong?

I would hope so. Why do they think I keep them around, for their dry humor and interesting repartee? It certainly isn’t for their good looks. Just saying.

Does my dog have a destiny?

All living things have a destiny. How they fulfill that destiny has a great bearing on how far they go forward in their next life, and as what.

Do wicked people try thousands of times a day to tempt good people?

Maybe not “thousands” of times, but I think it is a given that they do constantly try. After all, they are wicked.

“The universe runs on the principle that one who can exert the most evil on other creatures runs the show.”

-- Bangambiki Habyarimana

What are the things that you don’t value in life?

As a start, the perpetually offended, racists and, in particular, racists who say they aren’t, socialism, communism, terrorists, and any other group or political system that prohibits freedom of thought.

What can you do to make your relationship last longer?

Be honest, understanding, tolerant, loving, strive to be happy always, and, above all, always listen to what they say.

Does reading make you a better person?

That depends on what you read and what you do with what, if anything, you get out of it.

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”

-- Groucho Marx

“I already have enough problems. I don’t need someone adding more to it” what would you think of this quote?

Agreed! We need to be getting rid of drama, not adding to it. We’re supposed to be striving to be happy always!

What are responsibilities and duties?

Your responsibilities are your priorities that need to be taken care of. Your duties are how you take care of those priorities.

How do guilty people justify their actions?

They don’t have to, they’re guilty. Whatever bullshit they spew from their pie hole is simply to entertain their listeners, and the media are more than happy to oblige.

“Perhaps you notice how the denial is so often the preface to the justification.”

-- Christopher Hitchens

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. 

It is my fervent 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 senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, 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 a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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