This is a little personal, and a bit thoughtful, But very important to me that I share it, especially with my friends and family.
In Defense of Truth, not Mine or Yours, But Ours.
To Pilate's query; “What is Truth?” I give my answer... Truth is knowledge of things as they really are, were and will be. Truth is absolute and eternal; it endures forever. Truth never varies; what is true in one age is true in every age. While there are greater and lesser Truths, All Truth remains Inviolate.
A Study in Truth:
Years ago, among the many political posters, decals, and signs that I saw was one that read...
"Stop Terrorism, Kill Bush!"
I thought it a very naïve, hateful, shallow statement and view-point. But, I respected those people’s rights to have their opinion. I did not like it, but I did not confront them, heckle them, openly criticize them or start arguments with them... It would not have been the civil thing to do... and was obvious their minds were already made up. I knew that their opinion had nothing to do with the truth; it was merely them lashing out in a purely political response to a political opponent.
My looking at the facts and reasoning them out had proven that to me.
At other times I have seen much the same from both Liberal and Conservative Activists.
It's wrong. It bothers me a lot... There is too much hate and intolerance in the world.
To understand my background:
My Father served through World War II and Korea, but was killed in action July 29, 1953, I was 5 yrs old; I remember when the men came to tell us that his plane was shot down by Russian Mig fighters, I also remember months later when they came to tell us that his body had been found. It was a complicated part of the "Cold War" related to the Korean War.
Fast Forward:
I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, to follow my father’s example. That is, to fight oppressors and defend a helpless people. I spent 13 months in a Marine Combat tour in Vietnam 1968-69. The base I was assigned to was at the mouth of the Cua Viet River where it reached the Pacific Ocean, 3 Miles below the DMZ (a three mile wide demilitarized zone), we were 6 miles from North Vietnam and took many probes, firefights, artillery, rocket and mortar attacks regularly. Many men were killed and many more were wounded, including me. During those days my life was spared six times by extraordinary means, most people would be inclined to call them miracles. You may consider them what you will. I went on very many combat foot patrols thru villages and farmland, to search out and destroy the enemy. I met many Vietnamese Villagers along the way. I saw for myself the terror in the eyes of the Vietnamese people who were caught between us, as we tried to protect and liberate them, and the people who would murder them for cooperating with us.
This is a Truth, a Fact. No amount of argument or raving against it will change it as a fact… This Truth Will Stand Inviolate forever.
When I came home from Vietnam, I was “Welcomed Home” by a very limited few, in fact, I was Protested against by most, and spit at and called a “Baby Killer” by many ignorant, naïve, self-serving people that not only disagreed with my efforts to help free an oppressed people, but ridiculed me for being willing to try. Ironically, many of them sided with our enemy who were the “Real” baby killers.
“The more you look into the 'Whole Truth" about a subject, leaving NOTHING OUT. The clearer the picture becomes”. I will leave that for you to pursue on your own.
It took over 17 years for me to get over the betrayal of my country enough to return to the U.S. Marine Corps, in 1986, I re-enlisted in the Reserves... I still wanted to do something, even if it wasn’t much, to try to safeguard the freedoms that so many have died for, even for my former antagonists. It was at my third “warrior week-end” that three young Marines, only 18-19 years old, were the "very first" people to ever tell me “Thank-you” for my service in Vietnam. The effect it had on me was unexpected.
Soon I was able to change my military occupational specialty from “Communications” to “Combat Intelligence”. I spent several years in Marine Corps Intelligence, I attended formal Intelligence Schools and completing several "Marine Corps Institute" correspondence courses on Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence among many others. I was activated during Desert Shield/Storm where I experienced on-the-job training, during which time I analyzed raw information to form Intelligence and gave “briefings” to commanders on the findings. I found it to be very stimulating and rewarding, and ended my career as a U. S. Marine Corps, Chief Warrant Officer, (Counter-Intelligence).
The Heart of the Matter:
You see, in developing "Intelligence" you are in a search for Truth, you don't start with a predetermined result based on what you want to be true, and then ignore all other information. That will always lead to Error. Instead, you are looking for the "Truth" or the closest thing to truth that you can find or develop, from any and all available information. The information doesn't even have to be true in order to be valuable. The more information that does not agree with known facts, the more can be eliminated from what "Could Be True". But the main principle here is always, TRUTH, "things as they really are, were, and will be". Any TRUTH, is also a FACT, the terms are interchangeable. Any Truth, no matter what it is, will ALWAYS; agree, confirm, support, strengthen and prove ANY and ALL other Truths. And, "if you must find a distinction between truth and fact"; Facts will always, confirm and agree with "All Other Know Facts" So, if a so called FACT directly contradicts Any Other Know Fact, it cannot be true.
Now, “Truth” is a beautiful thing... It is what enables “Love” to exist. It supports all “Virtue”. It is always "Kind" when it can be, "Just" when it needs to be, will never “Lie”, will never “Cheat”, and will never “Betray” you. It can, and will protect you from false accusations. And simply put; It wants to be your friend.
It is said that you can have no better friend, nor a worse enemy than a US Marine...
“And it is very nearly true”.
However...
That distinction must go to TRUTH itself. Truth rightfully deserves that privileged and honored title.
I Will Attempt to Explain;
The more a person learns of Truth, the harder it is to fool him...
The less a person seeks the Truth, the more a fool he becomes.
The more a person seeks Truth, the more Truth will seek after him.
The more a person defends Truth, the more Truth will defend him.
The more a person spreads Truth, the more others will Respect him.
The more a person loves Truth, the more Truth will sustain him.
The more a person honors Truth, the more Truth will honor him.
Since those early days, I have realized that those people and people like them, the ones that feel that they should be able to criticize anyone or anything with full immunity... That It's "Their Right". Are the Ones that will be the first to deny to extend those same "Rights" to any other view point than theirs? It is pure Ignorance.
My Suggestions:
STOP attacking each other, especially over things you don’t understand.
Begin to seek after Truth, study every and all view points, and reason them out in your mind.
Once you identify error cast it aside.
Never hold on to a “pet” idea. Truth is more important than your “Feelings”
When you can prove a Truth, whatever the result, embrace and accept it.
After you are able to establish the Truth, defend it.
Be Kind in your treatment of those that may yet be ignorant of a Truth… We all are guilty of that.
Gentleness will ease the hurt, and guilt of finding out that they have been wrong...
humility and kindness will eventually convince them that you are their friend.
Rid yourself of hate, name-calling, bitterness, and contentions… strive for common ground.
Do Not Ever, Deny the Truth... It convinces others of the "Truth" that you are a LIAR.
Life is hard enough for most people, that we don’t need hurtful things in it.
In Closing...
I am becoming an old man. And have many problems. (Some may be even worse than yours.)
None of us know how much time we have. I may have 1 year or 30.
I don’t want my time filled with anything but Truth, with all its Virtues.
I want to Love my Beautiful Wife, and strive to make her happy.
I want to Love and teach my Children and Grandchildren by example, how to find True Happiness.
I want to be a friend of man, all men, not just the ones that are easy to love.
...But the ones that need a friend the most.
I want to be honest in all my dealings... at all times, and in all places.
I want to be a good and productive citizen.
I want to leave the world a better place because I was here.
And I want to have earned the right to be called a “Friend”.
And, If, as I am convinced there is another side to death,
My deepest desire is to hear it said of me… He was Kind!
I Leave You With This Poem:
“This time of life is precious; do not let it waste,
If doing good, is your desire, do it now with haste.”
kb
“You Are What You Do”
Copyrighted
In Defense of Truth, not Mine or Yours, But Ours.
To Pilate's query; “What is Truth?” I give my answer... Truth is knowledge of things as they really are, were and will be. Truth is absolute and eternal; it endures forever. Truth never varies; what is true in one age is true in every age. While there are greater and lesser Truths, All Truth remains Inviolate.
A Study in Truth:
Years ago, among the many political posters, decals, and signs that I saw was one that read...
"Stop Terrorism, Kill Bush!"
I thought it a very naïve, hateful, shallow statement and view-point. But, I respected those people’s rights to have their opinion. I did not like it, but I did not confront them, heckle them, openly criticize them or start arguments with them... It would not have been the civil thing to do... and was obvious their minds were already made up. I knew that their opinion had nothing to do with the truth; it was merely them lashing out in a purely political response to a political opponent.
My looking at the facts and reasoning them out had proven that to me.
At other times I have seen much the same from both Liberal and Conservative Activists.
It's wrong. It bothers me a lot... There is too much hate and intolerance in the world.
To understand my background:
My Father served through World War II and Korea, but was killed in action July 29, 1953, I was 5 yrs old; I remember when the men came to tell us that his plane was shot down by Russian Mig fighters, I also remember months later when they came to tell us that his body had been found. It was a complicated part of the "Cold War" related to the Korean War.
Fast Forward:
I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967, to follow my father’s example. That is, to fight oppressors and defend a helpless people. I spent 13 months in a Marine Combat tour in Vietnam 1968-69. The base I was assigned to was at the mouth of the Cua Viet River where it reached the Pacific Ocean, 3 Miles below the DMZ (a three mile wide demilitarized zone), we were 6 miles from North Vietnam and took many probes, firefights, artillery, rocket and mortar attacks regularly. Many men were killed and many more were wounded, including me. During those days my life was spared six times by extraordinary means, most people would be inclined to call them miracles. You may consider them what you will. I went on very many combat foot patrols thru villages and farmland, to search out and destroy the enemy. I met many Vietnamese Villagers along the way. I saw for myself the terror in the eyes of the Vietnamese people who were caught between us, as we tried to protect and liberate them, and the people who would murder them for cooperating with us.
This is a Truth, a Fact. No amount of argument or raving against it will change it as a fact… This Truth Will Stand Inviolate forever.
When I came home from Vietnam, I was “Welcomed Home” by a very limited few, in fact, I was Protested against by most, and spit at and called a “Baby Killer” by many ignorant, naïve, self-serving people that not only disagreed with my efforts to help free an oppressed people, but ridiculed me for being willing to try. Ironically, many of them sided with our enemy who were the “Real” baby killers.
“The more you look into the 'Whole Truth" about a subject, leaving NOTHING OUT. The clearer the picture becomes”. I will leave that for you to pursue on your own.
It took over 17 years for me to get over the betrayal of my country enough to return to the U.S. Marine Corps, in 1986, I re-enlisted in the Reserves... I still wanted to do something, even if it wasn’t much, to try to safeguard the freedoms that so many have died for, even for my former antagonists. It was at my third “warrior week-end” that three young Marines, only 18-19 years old, were the "very first" people to ever tell me “Thank-you” for my service in Vietnam. The effect it had on me was unexpected.
Soon I was able to change my military occupational specialty from “Communications” to “Combat Intelligence”. I spent several years in Marine Corps Intelligence, I attended formal Intelligence Schools and completing several "Marine Corps Institute" correspondence courses on Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence among many others. I was activated during Desert Shield/Storm where I experienced on-the-job training, during which time I analyzed raw information to form Intelligence and gave “briefings” to commanders on the findings. I found it to be very stimulating and rewarding, and ended my career as a U. S. Marine Corps, Chief Warrant Officer, (Counter-Intelligence).
The Heart of the Matter:
You see, in developing "Intelligence" you are in a search for Truth, you don't start with a predetermined result based on what you want to be true, and then ignore all other information. That will always lead to Error. Instead, you are looking for the "Truth" or the closest thing to truth that you can find or develop, from any and all available information. The information doesn't even have to be true in order to be valuable. The more information that does not agree with known facts, the more can be eliminated from what "Could Be True". But the main principle here is always, TRUTH, "things as they really are, were, and will be". Any TRUTH, is also a FACT, the terms are interchangeable. Any Truth, no matter what it is, will ALWAYS; agree, confirm, support, strengthen and prove ANY and ALL other Truths. And, "if you must find a distinction between truth and fact"; Facts will always, confirm and agree with "All Other Know Facts" So, if a so called FACT directly contradicts Any Other Know Fact, it cannot be true.
Now, “Truth” is a beautiful thing... It is what enables “Love” to exist. It supports all “Virtue”. It is always "Kind" when it can be, "Just" when it needs to be, will never “Lie”, will never “Cheat”, and will never “Betray” you. It can, and will protect you from false accusations. And simply put; It wants to be your friend.
It is said that you can have no better friend, nor a worse enemy than a US Marine...
“And it is very nearly true”.
However...
That distinction must go to TRUTH itself. Truth rightfully deserves that privileged and honored title.
I Will Attempt to Explain;
The more a person learns of Truth, the harder it is to fool him...
The less a person seeks the Truth, the more a fool he becomes.
The more a person seeks Truth, the more Truth will seek after him.
The more a person defends Truth, the more Truth will defend him.
The more a person spreads Truth, the more others will Respect him.
The more a person loves Truth, the more Truth will sustain him.
The more a person honors Truth, the more Truth will honor him.
Since those early days, I have realized that those people and people like them, the ones that feel that they should be able to criticize anyone or anything with full immunity... That It's "Their Right". Are the Ones that will be the first to deny to extend those same "Rights" to any other view point than theirs? It is pure Ignorance.
My Suggestions:
STOP attacking each other, especially over things you don’t understand.
Begin to seek after Truth, study every and all view points, and reason them out in your mind.
Once you identify error cast it aside.
Never hold on to a “pet” idea. Truth is more important than your “Feelings”
When you can prove a Truth, whatever the result, embrace and accept it.
After you are able to establish the Truth, defend it.
Be Kind in your treatment of those that may yet be ignorant of a Truth… We all are guilty of that.
Gentleness will ease the hurt, and guilt of finding out that they have been wrong...
humility and kindness will eventually convince them that you are their friend.
Rid yourself of hate, name-calling, bitterness, and contentions… strive for common ground.
Do Not Ever, Deny the Truth... It convinces others of the "Truth" that you are a LIAR.
Life is hard enough for most people, that we don’t need hurtful things in it.
In Closing...
I am becoming an old man. And have many problems. (Some may be even worse than yours.)
None of us know how much time we have. I may have 1 year or 30.
I don’t want my time filled with anything but Truth, with all its Virtues.
I want to Love my Beautiful Wife, and strive to make her happy.
I want to Love and teach my Children and Grandchildren by example, how to find True Happiness.
I want to be a friend of man, all men, not just the ones that are easy to love.
...But the ones that need a friend the most.
I want to be honest in all my dealings... at all times, and in all places.
I want to be a good and productive citizen.
I want to leave the world a better place because I was here.
And I want to have earned the right to be called a “Friend”.
And, If, as I am convinced there is another side to death,
My deepest desire is to hear it said of me… He was Kind!
I Leave You With This Poem:
“This time of life is precious; do not let it waste,
If doing good, is your desire, do it now with haste.”
kb
“You Are What You Do”
Copyrighted
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