Unethical Behavior in the US Armed Forces

I Research

Why do some U.S. military personnel take part in unethical behavior when they hail from a Christian nation that imposes strict taboos on such behavior? Why did American troops take part in what became known as the Massacre of My Lai, which occurred on March 16, 1968 in the region of Quang Ngai province, during the United States involvement in the Vietnam War? What was the reason that army personnel humiliated and tortured prisoners at the Abu Ghraib detention facility in Iraq in 2003? While many people believe that being raised in a Christian nation will inoculate American military personnel from taking part in unethical behavior there are many factors that will cause Americans in the armed forces to rationalize immoral behavior.

The overwhelming majority of people in the United States consider themselves Christian. Prior to 1990, the percentage of Christians in the United States was at 87 percent. In 2008, the percentage of Americans who consider themselves Christian had fell to 76 percent (Robinson, 2004). 76 percent of Americans claim that they follow the Christian bible and adhere to Christian standard. For example, the “Golden Rule”, which reads, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12) Why is this principle so readily ignored by some American military personnel?

Soldiers form a deep loyalty for each other, through shared sacrifice and hardship, a member in the United States military knows that he/she can count on the soldier next to him/her in life threatening situations. However, if loyalty is misguided it can lead to murder. On March 16, 1968 the men of Charlie Company, 11^th Brigade, Americal Division, led by Lt. William L. “Rusty” Calley marched into the hamlet of My Lai in Quang Ngai province and killed 450-500 men, woman and children (Hersh, 1970). The people that were killed were not combat troops. In fact, the soldiers under Lt. Calley did not receive any enemy gunfire before or during the massacre. United States Army personnel, like rifleman Paul D. Meadlo, a soldier who was giving children candy the day before the massacre, gathered up everyone in the village, old men and young girls alike, woman with infants in their arms and ordered them into one of three large ditches and methodically shot them to death (Zinn, 2001). On two previous missions, Charlie Company was hit from behind and lost personnel due to booby traps. On one mission Charlie Company lost 15 men, and on the next mission Charlie Company lost 28 men without seeing any Viet Cong. The men of Charlie Company were angry and frustrated at the invisible enemy (Hersh, 1970). The United States soldiers in Vietnam must have been confused and disorientated, due to the guerrilla tactics used in the war, unable to tell friend from foe (Bilton, 1993). Anyone who ran away once the killings began, were gunned down because they were suspected Viet Cong. Anyone who stayed was considered to be a possible enemy and killed. Lt. William L. Calley was charged and convicted of 109 counts of murder of civilian Vietnamese people. Lt. William Calley served three years of house arrest at Fort Benning for his crimes (Bilton, 1993). Ted Nelson wrote “A Battle Hymn of Lt. Calley” in his honor.

            Many people will obey authority or an authority figure even if one thinks that the authority figure is wrong. As was observed in the Milgram experiment, participants were willing to administer an electric shock to another person if the other person gave a wrong answer to a question. In Milgram’s experiment, the more questions that the actor answered incorrectly, the higher the voltage was administered. The actor, who was in another room, would make sounds of discomfort and eventually pain. If the subject began to question if they should continue, the authority figure would encourage the subject to continue on. Amazingly, 26 of the 40  subjects gave the highest, voltage of electrical shock to the actor, even though the switch had signs on them that said “danger: severe shock (Milgrim, 1963). Spec. 4 Max Hudson of the 2^nd Platoon testified that the night before the massacre at My Lai, orders had come down from Captain “Mad Dog” Medina. “He (Capt. Medina) stated that My Lai was suspected a VC stronghold. With this he ordered to kill everyone in that village” (Hersh, 1970). Obedience to authority is a very strong mechanism of persuasion especially if the authority figure, or origination, is perceived to be of a respectful source or if the person feels that they can pass on the responsibility to someone else (Milgram, 1963).

Some may argue that the American soldiers now, in our current time, are too evolved to take part in barbaric behavior as torture, humiliation, or prisoner abuse. Sadly one only has to point to the acts of United States military personnel in 2003 at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.  Photos emerged of United States military personnel posing for photos while torturing and humiliating their prisoners. Lynndie England was famously photographed humiliating Iraqi prisoners while giving the thumbs-up gesture that made her infamous. According to Bageant, the low education standards in rural America, where some of the military personnel who were working at Abu Ghraib were from, was a contributing factor for the dishonorable acts that took place at the Abu Ghraib prison. Bageant suggest that if one had a better education they would be less likely to commit such acts of unethical behavior. Bageant continues on to suggest that the non-stop violence in American culture (e.g. TV, media, movies, videogames), has had a direct effect on the minds of American children, and can be a contributing factor for the lack of moral integrity demonstrated by some of the American military personnel at Abu Ghraib prison. “From the time I could walk I played games in which I pretended to kill Japanese, Indians, Germans, Koreans, Zulus….with plastic army men we tortured with flame, firecracker…We went to bed dreaming of the screams of the evil brutes we smitten that day… enemies of democracy and our way of life” (Bageant, 2007).

To choose conformity over common sense is a sad fact of human behavior. “Group pressure to conform despite individual misgivings” is the definition of “groupthink” (Brym & Lie 2007). In the Asch experiment, actors purposefully chose the wrong answer when asked which lines that were drawn on two different cards matched in length. The subject would 75 percent of the time give the same answer of the group even when they knew that the answer they were giving was incorrect. The Asch experiment famously demonstrated how group pressure can make someone choose the wrong answer or do something against one’s convictions just to be part of the group and not be “the odd man out” (Asch, 1955). Giving in to group pressure, or conforming to “majority rules”, can be the cause of acts as small as teasing a classmate that can lead to bullying or to large acts of unethical behavior. Lynndie England had a strong sense of wanting to belong, and was very eager to please. These traits that Lynndie England demonstrated prevented her from trying to stop the “bad things” that she said were going on at Abu Ghraib (Bageant, 2007).

The Jenness experiment again demonstrates how the desire to conform to the majority can be very powerful. In the Jenness experiment, Jenness put a glass bottle of beans on a table and asked participants to guess how many beans were in the bottle. Jenness interviewed participants individually and then again after the subjects talked with the group. The result was that the majority of the participants wanted to change their answers after consulting with the group (Jenness, 1932).

            It is easier to commit inhumane acts to fellow humans if you dehumanize them.

If one thinks that one is hurting a fellow human who has a family, or the person is someone’s mother, wife, or father one will be less willing to treat the person with humiliation, torture or inhumanely. But if the perceived enemy is dehumanized, viewed as less than human, and not deserving to be treated justly, fairly, or with respect, then it is easier for one to hunt and  kill the enemy or extract information by means of an enhanced interrogation processes (Maiese, 2003). If one attaches a disparaging label (e.g. “Slant-eyed”, “Gook”, “Towel-head”) to the perceived enemy then that label will further dehumanize them and make them susceptible to acts of cruelty. International law demands that all humans be treated with respect and dignity. The idea of meeting the basic needs of others is lost to a perceived enemy that has been dehumanized. Dehumanization can lead to intense hatred that can eventually lead to killing or genocide (Maiese, 2003).

The majority of American military personnel conduct themselves in an honorable fashion; however, it is the dishonorable acts that the media exploits for both good and bad reasons. The world has heard of the horrific acts committed at the village of My Lai and at Abu Ghraib prison-this fact hurts America’s reputation and casts an air of distrust on the American military. “The U.S. intervention in Iraq is troubled, to say the least, and now our own forces have handed our enemies a propaganda coup that trumps their best efforts” (Bowden, 2004). By learning about how and why these actions took place, Americans can learn how to avoid them in the future. 

           

II Personal

I have long wondered about why the massacre at My Lai happened. Last year, I worked at the airport. A handful of my coworkers were Vietnam veterans and I would, in a respectful manner, ask them about My Lai. The answers I always received were either “I don’t want to talk about it” or “I would just like to forget about that whole incident”. When I learned about Abu Ghraib, I was still active duty and hearing what happened at that prison made me angry. I thought, “No way, this is my generation and we don’t do those kinds of things. How the heck was that allowed to happen?” In class and by doing research for this paper I feel I have finally gotten the answers I have been long looking for.       

            Dehumanization of the enemy is a huge reason why unethical behavior is occasionally tolerated in the military; however, the reason it is taught, as far as I know from my military experience, is because when a soldier is given an order, that soldier is expected to follow it, period no questions asked. If the one giving the orders is acting out of rage or fear, and the soldier receiving the order is already viewing the enemy as not worthy of respect, then once the principles of groupthink are added we have a recipe for disaster.

 I joined the Marines after September 11, because I wanted to do something to help my country and to protect those who can not protect themselves. I wanted to do something that might help prevent something like the terror attacks of September 11^th from happening again. I would hear people saying, “We should just drop the bomb over there and turn the whole place into a sheet of glass”. I didn’t understand why people would say something so mean and heartless…now I realize that they were just scared, angry, and participating in groupthink.   

References

Asche, S. E. (1955) Opinions and social pressures. Scientific American (Vol 193 p.31-35) San Francisco, CA.: W.H. Freeman and Company

Bageant, J. (2007). Deer hunting with Jesus: dispatches from America’s class war. (1^st ed., p. 288). New York, NY: Crown.

Bilton, M. (1993). Four hours in my lai. (p. 448). Westminster, London: Penguin

Bowden, M (2004)  Lessons of Abu Graib. The Atlantic Monthly (Vol 293 p.33-36). Washington D.C.

Hersh, S. (1970). my lai 4: A report on the massacre and its aftermath. (1^st ed., p. 305). New York, NY : Random House Inc

Jenness, A (1932) The role of discussion in changing opinion regarding a matter of fact. The journal of abnormal and social psychology (Vol 27 p 279-296)

Maiese , M. (2003, July). Dehumanization. Retrieved from  http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/dehumanization/

McKinley, T. (2009, May 19). A soldier’s tale: lynndie england. Marie Claire, Retrieved from http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/lynndie-england-1

Milgram, S (1963 Oct.) Behavioral study of obedience. the journal of abnormal and social psychology. (Vol 67 p.371-378)

Robinson, B. (2004, Nov 14). Religious identification in the u.s. Retrieved from http://www.religioustolerance.org

Zinn, H (2001). A people’s history of the united states: 1492 to presen. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Does God Exist?

Wayne T. Mulei                                      

4 December, 2011

Does God exist?

Since the beginning of time man has looked up at the heavens and asked the question, “Is there a God? Who made this planet? Where did it all come from? Who made the original humans? Did the universe come about in a huge big bang? Or did it come about by a Divine Mover?” Everyone seems to have an opinion about the existence of God, be they a pastor at a church or your average Joe walking down the street. If one listens carefully, one will be able to pick out one of five different arguments for the existence of God. If the person arguing for the existence of God is skilled at debate, they will interweave their arguments. However, once one is able to identify the different arguments for the existence of God, through critical thinking, one will quickly come to the conclusion by using reason and logic that there is no substantial proof for the existence of a God.

            The ontological argument, by far the most common argument, is the first argument that most people will put forth. However, even though the ontological argument is the most popular it is the most ridiculous. The ontological argument says that God’s existence is imposed by the definition or concept of God (Oppy), or more plainly, that God exists because we as humans give characteristics to God. It is because of these characteristics that God exists. For example, God is powerful, all knowing and omnipotent so therefore He exists. One of the main problems with this argument is the argument is based on unsubstantiated information; it is not really an argument because the ontological argument is basing truth on nothing. Another problem with the ontological argument is the argument uses testimony or an “open declaration or profession of evidence in support of a fact” (Oppy); however, that fact is nothing more than personal belief. Some people will hold a book and point to it and say, God exists because this book says that He exists, and it is because the book says that God exists therefore He exists (Anselm). Here it is very easy to recognize the circularity of the ontological argument. What usually follows the ontological argument is a statement of damnation or if anyone does not believe the way I believe then they are a fool. Amy Kimoto in her essay, “Should I Believe in God”, points out that when arguing against the existence of God, one will be received with “utter closed-mindedness” (Kimoto).

            The cosmological argument is another common argument that comes up when discussing the existence of God. The cosmological argument differs from the ontological in that instead of hearsay or unsubstantiated information, the cosmological argument looks for proof for the existence of God. The cosmological argument is an argument for the existence of God by affirming that the universe and its parts can be neither accidental nor self-caused and must ultimately have been brought into existence by God (Reichenbach). Or, the universe exists, and it must have been created by someone. That someone is God or a “Prime Mover” (Reichenbach). Those that believe in the cosmological argument will argue that because people exist and nature exists, God must also exist. The refutation of this argument comes in the form of infinite regression. When arguing against the cosmological argument, one only needs to ask, “Who created God?” The answer will either be in the form of the ontological argument. For example God “just is,” however, one can counter “if God ‘just is’ why cannot the universe ‘just be’.” Or one will receive the answer that God’s father created God. Then when asked, “Who created God’s father?” the answer may be, “Grandfather God.”  This is an example of infinite regression. Infinite regression is illogical because something cannot come from nothing.

            The third argument is the most compelling, for it attempts to answer the question of purpose. The teleological argument is an argument for the existence of God based on the idea that the universe and its parts give evidence of purpose and/or design and therefore require a “Divine designer” (Ratzsch). The teleological argument attempts to answer the question of what and who gave plants and trees and ecosystems a purpose. When one looks at nature it is easy to see that everything is interconnected, everything exists for a purpose (Ratzsch).  Someone who is making a teleological argument may assert “If birds, dogs, and humans have a purpose, and everything in the world has a purpose,” then there must be a Divine designer to initiate purpose. This is a great argument and hard to refute; however, using critical thinking to assess the teleological argument, the flaw in this argument becomes clear. One may try to figure out what is the purpose for plants, animals, and humans, and may come up with a number of different ideas or solutions. For example, some may say, plants and trees exist for the purpose of producing food and oxygen that life is dependant on for survival. Animals might exist, for nutrition, clothing, tools, and a means of transportation for humans. The meaning of life and purpose for humans has been debated since the dawn of man, and a score of philosophers have come up with a number of solutions. However, a very large leap is being made from the beginning part of the argument of purpose of existence to, “there must be a Divine designer.” The teleological argument consists of a conditional statement. Or more plainly, the “if” and “then” part of the statement must be true, or the statement does not work; if everything has a purpose, then there must be a Divine designer (Ratzch). The teleological argument suggests that something tangible be can created by something intangible, and that is absolutely absurd.       

            The moral argument is the fourth argument that is common when trying to prove the existence of God.  The moral argument maintains that morality must come from and be guaranteed by a “Supreme being” or God (Byrne). Some people may state that there is “goodness” in the world and people can be good. God is good, God is perfect; therefore, God exists. The moral argument is vey similar to the ontological, in which humans give a human characteristic to God, in the case of the moral argument the human characteristic is “goodness”. The moral argument, like the ontological argument uses testimony and unsubstantiated information, therefore attempts to base truth on nothing. 

            The last argument for the existence of God is usually made when the one who is attempting to prove God’s existence has run out of ideas. Balise Pascal, a 16^th century philosopher, argued that belief in the existence of God is simply the “best bet”. “A rational person should wager as though God exists. Because living accordingly [living with the belief that God exists] one has everything to gain and nothing to lose” (Hajek).  This became known as Pascal’s Wager. However, a ratiocinative person will quickly dismiss Pascal’s Wager due to the unsophisticated approach Pascal takes towards faith and belief. Believing that something exists just because belief serves ones self interest does not mean that that thing exists (Hajek).

 By understanding and by being able to identify the different arguments for and against the existence of God, one will not be easily swayed or deceived by someone who is merely a good orator. One will be able to look objectively at all the different arguments and be able to make an educated decision through critical thinking. Nevertheless, one will quickly realize that there is no substantial proof for the existence of God. God’s existence has to be taken purely on faith. However, one cannot argue against faith with reason and logic, because what is faith if not belief absent of proof, or believing in something with no proof of existence. Foolish people will say that faith is a beautiful thing; however, putting faith in a fictitious and angry God has been the cause of countless wars and death.

When reading this one may come to the conclusion that I do not believe that God exist. That is not the point I was attempting to make. The point that I want to make is that through education one will not be deceived by a good speaker who is trying to make one of these arguments. 

  

Works Cited

Adams, W. Royce., ed. Viewpoints. New York: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.

Byrne, Peter, "Moral Arguments for the Existence of God", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

Hajek, Alan, "Pascal's Wager", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

Kimoto, Amy. “Should I Believe in God?” Adams 268-269.

Oppy, Graham, "Ontological Arguments", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

Ratzsch, Del, "Teleological Arguments for God's Existence", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

Reichenbach, Bruce, "Cosmological Argument", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

The Best Friggin' Slice in Town

Wayne T. Mulei

09-23-2011

Eng. 98r

Restaurant Review

The Best Friggin’ Slice in Town

As soon as you step into the door of Nu Yalk Pizza you get the feeling that you have stepped into another dimension, into another time and place, Little Italy in New York City circa 1980 perhaps. This pizza joint come recommended by locals and viewed with suspicion by out- of –towners. From the old Broadway sign to the gruff looking staff, you know that you are in for a treat. Nu Yalk Pizza is truly unique to Reno.

Where did Nu Yalk Pizza come from? The first thing that you will notice when you drive into the driveway, located on the corner of Moana and Kietzke, is the large sign on the front of the building. In block lettering the sign reads Nu Yalk Pizza. You laugh a little because of the obvious gimmick of the owner trying to spell out New York Pizza in a New York accent. You learn later, after questioning the cook, that this pizza parlor was originally called New York Pizza but after an apparent epiphany, by the owner Rick Crocitto, realized that there are hundreds of pizza parlors nation-wide with the same name New York Pizza. Rick wanted his pizza parlor to be unique so Nu Yalk Pizza was born.

Ordering and paying your food is an experience all in itself. As you walk into the door you are greeted with a “How you doin?” (voice infection dependent on the gender of the customer) by one of the cooks. Your order is taken by a longhaired fellow named Matt, he tells you that he has been working here since the late 90’s, you can’t help but notice the two pizza tattoos that he has on his elbows, and think to yourself, “what the heck?” He goes on to tell you that 85% of the customers who come in here are from New York or had lived there. Matt, like the rest of the staff has a rugged look about him and one wonders about that sanitariness of the establishment.“Whadalya have?” he asks you. You look to the menu and notice the moderate prices, one slice of cheese cost $2.16 with an additional $0.58 for a topping. “Two slices of pepperoni” you reply, Matt instantly scribbles “2P” on a receipt and slaps it into your hand as he simultaneously yells over his shoulder, “Two pep!” to the other cook . The cook takes a large cheese pie from the cooling rack, he cuts out two slices and carelessly throws some pepperoni on them, he then grabs a well-used pizza peel, black with soot, and scoops up the slices and slips them into the large oven behind him. As you walk over to the cash-register, you look up at the drink menu. They offer half a dozen of different draft beers, wine (straight from the box), and a self-serve soda station. Some of the sodas that they offer here you do not find vary often in other pizza parlors around town, such as, Hire’s Root-Beer, RC Cola and Sunkist to name a few. As you reach for your wallet to pay you notice the cashier eyeing the large tip jar in front of the register, you wonder if he is trying to use some Jedi mind trick to get you to put money into the jar, well it works, you put in a dollar to the instant joy of the cashier.

It’s not just about the food, it’s about the place. You take a seat, at a table with a stainless steel top, and you look around. The ceiling has an industrial theme to it with pipes running though. “What the hell are ya doin!” someone yells at the large T.V. at the front of the restaurant that has the ball game on with a slice in his hand. On the brick wall at the back of the restaurant hangs an old subway map with graffiti on it. “Two slices of pepperoni at the bar.” is called over the loud speaker, you go and retrieve you food from the bar. On a dented metal plate with wax paper sits your two slices so large that they barely fit on the plate. You think of getting a fork but remember the ridicule that comedian Jon Stewart gave Donald Trump when Trump was pictured eating a slice with a fork “ la forcella di satana!” (Italian meaning “the fork of Satan) and think better of it. You pick up your large thin slice and fold it in half, as is the custom when eating New York style pizza, you are instantly hit with an over powering strong flavor of oregano and garlic. “Food of the Gods” you think to yourself as you eagerly devour your slices.

There is no pizza joint quite like Nu Yalk pizza here in Reno. If you are looking for a slice and a little taste of New York, “with Big-Apple style dinning in the Biggest Little city of the World” head over to NuYalk pizza.

Testimony+Quantity = Knowledge?

 How much testimony (open declaration) is needed for that testimony to become knowledge? The problem here lies in the question. If someone studies or is told the same thing continually that person will become narrow minded and ignorant. It is not how much or quantity of the study that one needs to be concerned with but the quality and variety of that information. If a seeker takes a variety of different information, then one can make an educated decision. Then that becomes knowledge.  Also one need to be able to ask the right questions. One knows that he is asking the right questions with experience. In order to get experience one needs to ask a whole bunch of wrong questions. Never stop asking questions and seeking knowledge.

Direct Democracy

Wayne Mulei

Sept. 15, 2011

SOC 101

Response Paper 1

America’s Static Government

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of the nation, culture, or group to which one belongs. It is believed that the United States’ form of government, representative democracy, is the best form of government. A representative democracy, as defined in Am Gov 2011 by Losco and Baker, is a form of government that restricts popular decision, or the will of the people, by making the general public elect officials who create public policy. In my opinion, this form of government is outdated. A direct democracy is a form of government that extends the political decision-making to every citizen, as opposed to a few elected individuals.

Ancient Greece practiced direct democracy; free citizens would make their opinions known in open-air assemblies. With today’s population, having every citizen give their opinion in an open-air assembly is somewhat impractical. However, with modern technology we can have a synthetic form of an open-air assembly through the internet. For every large issue, such as, going to war, we should authorize a national vote. Citizens would log into a secure web site, with all the safety and incorruptible measures that online banking web sites utilize, enter their social security number, and cast their vote on whether or not to start or participate in an ongoing war. We have the technology, to allow every citizen to make his or her voice heard. The national education level is at a point where the average citizen can make an educated vote on any number of important topics. The House of Representatives, where representatives are elected by the direct vote of the people, would need to stay in place to take care of the mundane business of running a country; however, changes would need to be made.

Each state should have equal vote in the House regardless of state population. We are “one country, indivisible” (Pledge of Allegiance 1892). If each state has equal representation in the House of Representatives and each citizen has a direct voice, through the power of voting, along with the government the nation would uphold the principles of the Declaration of Independence; therefore, having a direct democracy would be a practical and effective form of government.

Many people today feel that their vote does not matter so they do not vote. When the 2000 presidential is analyzed, it is hard to disagree with people who are discouraged about voting. In a direct democracy, an electoral college is not necessary. We have made large advances also in the way of communications; using this technology could avoid the debacle of the 2000, Bush vs. Gore election. According to the 2000 election results, Al Gore received 543,895 more general election votes than George W. Bush did. However, George W. Bush won the presidency because he had won more of the electoral votes.  How different would the world look today if in the January 2002 State of the Union address President Bush did not label Iraq as part of the “Axis of evil”? Would of the United States invade Iraq, against the wishes of the United Nations, if Al Gore were in office? Would Al Gore have looked at the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 as an act that required a response to invade Afghanistan, followed by Iraq, followed by Pakistan, or as an act of 19 people who wanted to do something really big and pay for it with their own lives? These questions are now left to speculation.

 The reason that direct democracy is not practiced in the United States today is because a representative democracy had already been established before we had developed the advances in technology that we currently enjoy. President Obama said in his September 8, 2011 Presidential address to Congress, “Americans are a strong, rugged, independent people.” I feel we do not need to be held back by tradition in a dynamic world. Americans should have a direct voice in American government. We are the people who have to fight the wars when there is a call to arms. Before me, and Americans like me, are sent half way around the world to kill someone that we do not even know, I want a say in the matter- a direct democracy would allow us to have that say.

Belief System

The difference between a religion and a belief system (way of life) is like Daoism or Buddhism they run horizontally. What that means is that Daoist and Buddhist look around them (nature) for their spiritual well being, there is no one appointed above them. Whereas Christians, Catholics, ect., runs vertically, meaning, that there is a hierarchy (priest, pastors, popes, saints) appointed above them. It seems to me that the original message of a lot of religions are pure and good, but some where along the way a hierarchy was put into place for some sort of gain, be that monetary gain or control. Also in a spiritual system that is a way of life there is no one to pray to. Buddhist do not pray to Buddha for guidance. People of religion look to someone or some thing for salvation. Those who follow just a way of life believe that everything they need is within themselves.

Wanting

It is better to be left wanting more than to have to much. This can be true for many thing in life. Think about your favorite food, If you have too much even the most tasty thing in the world becomes sour in you mouth. This is also true with relationships, if your around someone long enough, even if they are the love of you life or a parent. The relationship starts to go sour. A little time a part can do a world of good. For example, when I lived with my father, one of the greatest persons I know, we would argue all the time. Now that we do not live together, things are great between us. I value our time together, I am sad when we part and I look forward to seeing him again.

Wisdom

How is wisdom gained? How does one become wise? Wisdom is, in my opinion, is the proper application of knowledge and the shedding of ignorance. The first step is acquiring knowledge. Start by looking at your own life. Find out if your living the unexamined life. Then look at your own beliefs and see if you have fallen victim of Pascal's wager. Do you believe what others  around  you believe just because it has always been believed? Look into long held truths and see if they really are truths. In doing so, you will learn to ask the right questions, better questions. Question a multitude of people with different beliefs and backgrounds and learn form there experiences, good and bad. But there is danger here, be careful. Some people will say something profound and appear to be wise, but to say something without understanding the deeper meaning is like not knowing at all. Those who truly desire freedom will not accept any solution, they will do their own research. Find their own truth. They will not follow the orders of others. Once you have gained knowledge you then look within yourself and find the answers to your questions. Then you can help others break the chains of Plato's cave.

Accountability

Should someone be held accountable for their actions that are not socially acceptable to today’s standards, but were acceptable in the time during the time when they were committed? Should the Nazi guard be convicted of crimes today, that were committed during his service to the Nazi party in WWII? Should we still hold in high regard the founding fathers who were slave owners? Should we celebrate Columbus Day who slaughtered thousands of Native Americans for greed and profit? In my opinion the answer is no. Even if the act was socially acceptable back then it was still wrong. For example, if you have been born into a household that owns slaves and treats them harshly. And you are taught by your parents that, this is the way you treat slaves. I feel that this does not excuse you from the act of harshly treating slaves, when you become an adult and capable of making your own decisions and choices. To not use critical thinking skills and just hide behind what is, or is not a crime or what is, or is not lawful is letting the judicial system of the time make the choice for you. And so you become the slave.

Absolute Truth

Is there absolute truth? I cannot say no because by saying that there is no absolute truth is stating a truth. However, I believe that truth is relative to the time we live in. And to the individual. For example, in ancient times they used to think that the world is flat. Through science and understanding we have found out that this is false. And if I believe something strongly enough it becomes truth to me. To many people today belief and truth are the same. In my opinion they are not.

If a tree fell in a forest...

There is that age old philosophical question, "If a tree fell in the forest and no one was there to hear it did it really fall?" This is kind of a rudimentary question. Because what you are really asking is the effect of sound waves on human organs. But if you look a little deeper you will find yourself asking, "Without us does the forest exist? or the universe?" or a little further, "Is intelligence a prerequisite for existence?" Well what is intelligence? In the case for a forest to exist, you need trees and for trees to exits, you need a ecosystem. Animals, is not animals a example of intelligence? But animals and insects survive on instinct. Is instinct the same a intelligence? In my opinion instinct is action without thought. And intelligence in action with thought. In that light, no intelligence is not prerequisite for existence. Then again, if we as human are not there who really cares.

A gift from the Dao

To live your life in accordance with bushido (chivalry, martial virtues) you will receive an intangible gift from the Dao.

A gift that cannot be

 bought with any amount of gold.

A gift that cannot be

 stolen with any amount of stealth.

A gift that cannot be

acquired with any amount of might.

And once received, cannot be taken from you with any amount of force.

But can only be given-up willingly.

How do you live a life in accordance with martial virtues?

What is this gift?

What do you do with it once you receive it?

The unexamined life

The unexamined life is not worth living.

                                                                    -Socrates

What is the unexamined life?

 In my opinion, it is living your life through or being obsessed with reality TV, sports teams or day time soaps.  Never really doing anything yourselves. And what we do is only for shallow material gain. Not making time to seek knowledge or spiritual enlightenment.

Doing what has been done because it always has been done.  Not ever finding truth for yourself. The foolish take the advice of the grey because they are grey.

What is worth?

In my opinion, worth is cost, cost is time, time is life. A wasted life is the cost of living an unexamined life.

Are we living in a civilization?

  Are we civilized?

We have advanced so far in the way of transportation, information sharing, and communication. Yet we still cannot settle our differences through communication.

In the past 100 years we have seen not only the invention of atomic weapons, but also, as a human race, have used them on each other. In August 1946, the United States dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing hundreds of thousands of people.
It still boils down to the biggest and the strongest. Prime examples would be the Firebombing of Dresden and the Massacre of Nanking. So I ask again, are we civilized?

Many times we may think that, "that’s not my time, it’s different now." Well, what of the Massacre of My Lai? Committed by regular, home grown, U.S. American soldiers in the Vietnam War. Or Tiananmen square in 1989? Or of the terrorist attacks of Sept.11? Or of the current civil unrest in Tibet and Thailand?

There is a saying “That if we do not learn from the mistakes of the past we are doomed to repeat them.” In my opinion, we as a human race are repeating them. In our country, we travel to the other side of the globe to invade other countries, spend billions of dollars, lose thousands of American lives, and thousands of Middle Eastern civilian casualties. Why do that while we have poverty right here in America? Starving people, families living in tent cities, poverty. Where is the good will toward men? At this, the so called "height of civilization"?

Some argue that only a minority of humans are living uncivilized, while the majority of humankind is living civilized. By this definition you could say that we are living in a civilization. Or is "civilization" based on the comforts that we have, such as T.V.’s, running water, electricity, etc?

Honor

                                              Honor

When you think of honor what do you think of? Do you think of a figure in history? William Wallace? King Leonidas? The dictionary defines the word honor as fairness, honesty, high respect, or dignity. The Greek the word arete means excellence. It means courage and strength in the face of adversity.
But what is it today? Some would say that it is unselfish giving to those who do not have. Humility. Those who uphold truth.

 “He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.” – Walter Lippmann


What is honor to me? A quote come to mind of a unknown author, "Chivalry is the flower of humanity." Honor is an uncompromising code of ethics that cannot be bought or sold for material gain.

David J. West wrote:

This blood and honor
the way of the warrior
my reverence found

moderation

When planting a tree seed too much water will not do, your seed will drown .On the other hand
depriving the seed of water it will only wither and die.  It cannot survive.

Moderation is the key.

 The same is true with martial arts training. Over training will only result in injury or becoming burnt-out.
Whereas under training will cause a cessation of martial skill development.

 Again moderation.

 The Buddha taught that; both excess and asceticism, neither is the path of the way.
 Only through moderation will we gain enlightenment.

Teach a man to fish

“Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”
                                                                                                                                       -Lao Tzu

Using a gun in a self-defense situation is the best form of defense. But, what the Ghost Dance fighters and the fighters of the Boxer Rebellion taught us is that no skin, through training or belief, is impervious to bullets.

What happens when the bullets run out?
Or when you cannot get to a gun?

Learning unarmed self-defense and situational awareness through a martial art has benefits that can last a lifetime.

Good martial artist

What do you think it means to be a good martial artist?
I think that it is more than just being a skilled fighter. I think its living by a higher code of ethics.  One of the best marital artist I know is a peaceful tai chi  practitioner. Who in our discusssions enphasis meeting force with peace. And it is best to win a fight without throwing a single punch.

Conscience

I had given a friend of mine some advice today on conscience. He said, " I have grown to hate my conscience! In this cynical world there s just no place for it. I have found that it's not only my greatest strength but also my greatest weakness!" I replied, "I think that conscience is a good asset that great people have. Too many people chose not to follow their conscience and that is a contributing factor for the state of our civilization. Follow your conscience and you cant go wrong."  Also I threw in a quote, " Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it."
Albert Einstein
I told my girlfriend this and she suggested that I create a blog so here I am.... blogging.