On 'To thine ownself be true...' or at least do no harm

People I have known and continue to know have advice for others about how one might have lived their life 'fuller' or 'more honestly' and with greater love.  And as we examine the lives of the advisor, but NOT under any microscope, we think to our selves... 'physician, heal thy self'.

I suppose, tho, that it's unrealistic for us to take advice only from people who are well and healthy, mind and/or body...  for we'd search forever for THAT physician.

What then, to expect of those who would offer advice about our individual life predicaments?  Compassion, I might suspect.  Empathy, surely.  And understanding of why we might make the choices we make... even should some of these choices appear to be 'safe' and even dishonest.

Perspective is everything.


But don't stop talking...  For god's sake don't stop the dialogue.

Beat me, Daddy...eight to the bar....

Today I watched the former VP of this nation [USA] tell us that waterboarding is NOT torture and suggest that we not burden him with 'hypotheticals'.  One such hypothetical HE wouldn't want to deal with is... "If his own child was so treated would it STILL not be torture"?  Or, under what circumstances might it be torture?  Or is there any circumstance under which torture would be/should be allowed? 

He's answered that, of sorts, suggesting that IF it does a great public good, then it might not only be allowed but it should be 'praised'...the perpetrators held as praise worthy.

To this man and those who side with him I suggest that it is not I that needs to 'love it or leave it';  it's they that should be banned from the borders of this country...  a country  that should restore itself to greatness...a country that should insists on remaining true to the principles of its founding, refusing to become like those we abhor. 

America does not torture?  Sadly, "Does so".  And with a population that believes that protection trumps our humanity, double sadly it will continue to do so.

On being "All Grown Up"

It's a strange moment, this birthday. It's strange to know that this is as old as my father ever got...and eleven years older than my mother.  I don't know what to make of it, really.  It's just a strange reality.

On Randomness, the existence of a God(dess), and other light subjects

I stand with the thinkers who, when they hear religion discussed/professed, twitch and bite their lips because THIS is a subject off limits to the 'non-believer'.  We are told, in words and in deeds, that to challenge the popular though, someone's beliefs is, well, off limits.

To me this is made more difficult knowing that, should a candidate for a job or a public office, tell us that she/he accepts on faith that Elvis lives, well, the people who profess a belief in an un-see-able god for which no credible evidence exists, would snicker and vote NO...perhaps even make a little circling motion near their ear to indicate their true feelings for the 'Elvis Believer'.

Ok.  Hold your hand up...  Who thinks I'm making a case here for the fact that ELVIS LIVES?

The one interesting argument for the existence of a god, (once we've set aside the Bible or other writings of man as clearly NOT the word of god), is the existence of 'order' in nature.  "How could", a true believer offers "all this beauty and order form randomly?  And what of the thought that it MUST have a maker to start it all".   Any straight thinker ought to be able to arrive at the realization that the only plausible answer IS random order.  Why, I ask you, is it somehow easier to say things couldn't just start, and therefore ascribe this thing I can't understand to something like a Creator, thereafter resigning myself that the creator's beginning is uncomprehending, requiring faith without explanation?

The world I was raised in made me a religious young boy, taught by very, very human people;  none of them scientists or particularly deep thinkers.  All of them guided by the principle that there are things that are unquestionable, by pain of damnation of the soul for eternity.  What a marvelous basis on which to perpetuate a belief; no challenges allowed that do not 'prove the existence of God'.  What a completely child like people are we to be lead without questioning.

Think.  Reason.  These are things we can do.  No Almighty Being could (or would) forbid us from them.  We must use these tools to guide our lives, or live forever in war and ignorance...ultimately for no reason at all.

Derive your sense of purpose from life, not fables.  Be brave...  Face the world eyes wide open.  See the wonder that is...randomness.