The Immutable Fixed Idea

Some people’s beliefs seem carved in stone, thought of as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. An idea can be so firmly entrenched that any clear evidence to the contrary will be summarily dismissed without actual examination. You’ll find people arguing whether we actually put a man on the moon or…

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Looking Through The Kaleidoscope

I ponder how humans view the world and why each has a different perspective. We all have well-intentioned folks who politically lean left, right, or center, tending to see very little the same way. I concluded that we each use a kaleidoscope. When we think we are looking far afield, we may just be peering…

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Are Things Really So Bad?

To hear the news and social media, you would think that humanity and our planetary condition are like water circling the drain to the point the sink is almost empty. I am the first to say we are busy as hell trying to make the doomsday criers’ predictions come true, but a look back at…

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How Our Traditions Bind Us

As human beings, we desire and depend upon boundaries. Much is said about our insatiable pursuit of personal freedom. However, it is those boundaries to our freedom that we depend on most. For example, in democratic governments, we enact laws to rule our social and economic behaviors. As long as these are reasonable and agreed…

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News Flash: New Wave of Assault & Murder

Over many centuries a particular type of crime has been held at bay. This is due to the limitations of mass attacks of this nature. What is this heinous crime? It is the assault, even murder, of peace, love, and joy. The Perpetrator Assaults with weapons such as guns, knives, fists, and other similar methods…

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Rites of Passage

In the space between childhood and fully becoming an adult, there have been customs performed by young men and women to signify or test their right to become full adult members of society or their tribe. Once those were successfully completed, they were expected to act as an adult, fully responsible for themselves. For young…

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Crossroads

During my lifetime, I’ve spoken with various folks who’ve expressed regret regarding some of the decisions they’ve made in their life. Most wished they could go back and make better choices. I’m certain had they done so, they could’ve ended up in worse condition since any change can lead to unforeseen consequences, not all pleasant,…

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Haters & Hate Speech – Doncha Just Hate It!

Hate, hate, hate is one of the most common words on social media. People seem to hate black, white, brown, conservative, liberal, wealthy, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and every other sort of human being you can name – some even say they hate most of them. Of course, a select few indiscriminately hate everyone, including themselves….

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Hate Thy Neighbor?

Preface: This article was written long before I wrote: “Haters & Hate Speech – Doncha Just Hate It!” Even though the content is similar, I have decided to leave since there are differences, and it clearly reflects my state of awareness of our culture at different times. I doubt that there has been another time…

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The Court of Public Opinion

Any person accused of a crime in the U.S. can only be convicted by sufficient evidence of wrongdoing by his accuser. Our constitution provides for that in very clear wording we commonly refer to as “presumption of innocence until proven guilty”. The court of public opinion has no rules at all. No evidence is required….

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