I recently discovered the perfect solution for identity theft…\u00a0 It is quite simple really:\u00a0 have the type identity that no one else would want…\u00a0 As I have watched the furor erupt over the upcoming election, I have also noticed that the division in our country has reached an unprecedented level – except perhaps during the Civil War.\u00a0 There is a second “civil” war being conducted right in front of our eyes, only this time it ain’t a geography based war fought with weapons – it is a gender\/race\/religion\/core belief based war being fought with beliefs and ideas.\u00a0 I ran across a Bertrand Russell quote that seems to describe it best…\u00a0 “War does not determine who is right, only who is left”.\u00a0 To those who may not know Russell, he was a British philosopher who was a CO (conscientious objector) during WWI.\u00a0 He is also credited with changing the Beatles’ views on Vietnam.\u00a0 I don’t agree with several philosophical opinions he wrote about, but he is spot on with his view on war.\u00a0 In fact, I would like to use our different opinions to prove a point.\u00a0 Everyone is correct on certain beliefs\/opinions, but no one is correct 100% of the time – it is called being human.<\/p>\n
Philosophy deals with ethics when forming opinion.\u00a0 To me, there are 4 levels of intent\/action a person must consider when it comes to ethics.\u00a0 Ranked from best to worst (in my opinion):<\/p>\n
1) Doing the right thing for the right reason.<\/p>\n
2) Doing the wrong thing for the right reason.<\/p>\n
3) Doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason.<\/p>\n
4) Doing the right thing for the wrong reason.<\/p>\n
It might seem that I have put 2, 3 and 4 in the wrong order, but (in my opinion) I have not…\u00a0 The reason?\u00a0 Doing the wrong thing for the right reason creates and hones character throughout life.\u00a0 I have many historical heroes of all races and genders.\u00a0 I have them for many different reasons also.\u00a0 People like MLK Jr and Gandhi are prime examples of the “wrong thing\/right reason” ethic.\u00a0 I have noticed a disturbing trend – and one I must address head on.\u00a0 It reached an unacceptable level a while back when astronaut Scott Kelly had to apologize for quoting Winston Churchill due to some of Winston’s beliefs (on racism, etc).<\/p>\n
https:\/\/heavy.com\/news\/2018\/10\/scott-kelly-winston-churchill-apologizes-astronaut\/<\/a><\/p>\n I have the utmost respect for astronauts like Kelly.\u00a0 The way he handled the issue made him one of my heroes.\u00a0 You see folks, true heroes try to apologize and make amends for things said and done while ignorant of certain facts.\u00a0 But consider this:\u00a0 any and all historical figures have character flaws – though some greater than others.\u00a0 Without Churchill, we would all probably be speaking German.\u00a0 By the same logic, it is ok to respect our founding fathers as heroes – even if they had ignorant beliefs on issues such as race and gender – as their IDEALS paved the way to where we are today.\u00a0 It is possible to reconcile action and motive after the fact – but no one is perfect.\u00a0 We all must be shown the error of our ways before we can correct anything we have done.\u00a0 Along the same line – the civil war should be studied in greater depth when it comes to the heroes remembered (north and south).\u00a0 I am going to attach a letter from Robert E. Lee that I hope will open some eyes – along with some interesting forgotten history.\u00a0 See if you think Lee should be remembered and respected?<\/p>\n