The Response

A response to "The Quiz" by Hello Saferide:

You are gorgeous tonight
and I dig that you ask me these questions
as if you really wanted to know my answers

And you are far too kind
when it comes to my music and domestic charms
but you really should give sci-fi more of a chance

There is a story here too and its not all a fairy tale
But I'm hoping right now, so full of hope right now
That I can give you the evidence you need to give me the key
So here is my response to you

I might freak out if you said you liked me
but only a little like you
My IQ's never been tested
but I do have a bachelor's degree

I sleep like a baby through it all
And that you would slob in front of me is really too cute
I would never want to change you, but please don't mistake me for cool
And just so you know, socks are on as we speak

And if you'd fall, I would pick you up
And if you'd fall, I would pick you up

Only to say something that reminds me of you
Like those parts in the two books I read this month
And no, it just makes me smile more at you
And why wouldn't it be fine you make more money than I do?

I haven't slept with anyone you work with
And I wouldn't wish anyone here but you
I do have pictures of old girlfriends
But you are the prettiest one for me

And if you'd fall, I would pick you up
If you'd fall, I would pick you up

Original Lyrics to "The Quiz"

Learning

It is a testament to the human will to hope that even in the least hopeful of times gifted people find the heart to produce beautiful music. Some may even say that is the very reason the music is made; to make lightness out of darkness. I know that I am always grateful for it. Though it may just be my youthful readings of fantasy have forever shaped all I see, music is one of the few things that constantly evoke in me the feelings I experienced reading my favorite tales and learning of past cultures' mythology. Perhaps this is because music has been with us as long as history can remember. We can never know for sure.

Recently I read the short story Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin. In it contains one of the most powerful descriptions of music I have ever read. Actually, allow me to correct myself, it is the most powerful description of music I have ever read. To put it quite simply Baldwin was able to describe why music matters in a short, imaginative and inspiring passage. If you ever needed to explain to someone why the music you love is important to you, just repeat to them the words found in the story and they should understand.

Baldwin's writing also serves as the perfect guide on how to critique music. You only have to go through his description of how the music made Sonny's brother feel and compare it to the music you are listening to. You will find your favorite music arouses the same pleasure and symphony as that felt by the narrator. Of course you could also go into further detail by examining the nuances and aspects of the music that are particularly responsible for inspiration. With this guide no music is unreachable to your understanding.

This example of the relationship between literature and music is indicative of the greater need to study things as they connect to the rest of the world, not only in a comforting vacuum by themselves. All things have an impact beyond their original field and intent and we would all be better off if such an outlook was incorporated into our educational and vocational training. Unfortunately, we are far too quick to declare one way of looking at the world as the best and only way to truly fulfill our potential. You do not have to know how to develop a nuclear reactor to be able to understand its use, purpose and effects on the world, just as you would not have to be able to write a novel to appreciate its worth.

Go here to read the short story Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin.

You Guessed It, I Have No Clue What I am Talking About...

Wow, no new posts for two whole months, I should be ashamed of myself. Where did I let the time go? Some substantial firsts have occurred recently and plenty of inspiration has been around regarding writing topics, but I suppose, with so much to do, and so little time, I let my pen down for a spell. Good news, I'm back, at least for now, to write some more rambling non-sense. What could I droll on about? The beauty of the feminine? Nope, I talk about that already too much. The wonder of my friendly circle of relations? Again, a negative, my compliments are being repeated into redundancy at the moment. The way in which our world constantly gobbles up future hopes and dreams before their coming of age, nah, too depressing. Well, there is always football (the real kind that is), but not too much to say there, it kicks ass and everyone should love it. Hmmm, what do I got to work with here?

Scotland, where I was born and will always have close to me at heart. Edinburgh, crown prince of capitals, inspirer of minds, bringer of passion. Music, our link to the heavenly, releaser of stress, reliever of pain, granter of happiness. Love, the never tiring drug that propels all of us forward through barriers invincible in our minds. What must I say to get through to this? I know that I will be there, when I must, things will fall into place. My will dictates that I am the friend to which welcoming airs are felt. These are all aspects in my minds' eye. Thoughts and hopes that I wish to share with those nearest to me. FUN, I WANT TO HAVE FUN. Is that too much for a person to ask. Good times, good conversation, good food and of course good drink, begets good company and of course good times. Where DID all the time go to? We used to have it in abundance, be bored even with the heaps of it that we had in our laps, lazily eyeing while waiting for the next swimming pool to open or rental to be returned. Visits to the library, since when have they happened again?!!?! Young at heart is where I want to be, yearning for a warm touch, waiting here for you, while in my mind racing closer to you. Maybe, that is where the end shall be, but always, hoping for that one, last fateful breath of forgiving ecstasy.

We are all holding hands

It pays to smile, not in green-backs fresh from the mint, but in something more lasting than that, a simple pleasure beyond a chemical process raising our bodies into an animated state, a knowing that today, tomorrow and yesterday are as forgiving now as they will be at any other time and that in the end the race is long, but only with yourself. So, what do we do about it? Simply put, our best, at every moment we can muster the strength to push through the dull grey monotony of our surroundings another victory awaits our efforts, a recollection of child-hood dreams and our connection to the larger human family that we all belong to. For in the end we are not alone, we are not doomed and we are most certainly not lost helplessly in darkness. When you open your eyes in the morning do you not see the sun? With its warm glow pulsing through our skin how can we not get up, move forward and take part in the journey awaiting us. Whatever we will discover there will always be more to experience; bringing us closer to ourselves, each other and the divine. Smile. Love. Happy.

"Projecting Identity"

Sometimes we are lucky enough to witness a remarkable piece of artistry before it has become familiarized with the general public. In these instances we feel privy to a special bond with the responsible artist, an almost instantaneous friendship wherein we have recognized their great skill and are sharing in on the as-of-yet secret wonder they have created. Of course these feelings are almost always temporary, as the art travels to the mainstream our simple adoration becomes more and more commonplace, left with no space from which to argue any form of privilege or special benficiance. As this occurrs we dreamily recall the past where our praise was not only guaranteed to reach the author, but also to be taken relatively heavily by their egoes and even probably given a response. This state is never as good as we try to remember it, but we hold fast until the next big thing comes along to claim our attention all over again.

The above described phenomenon happens in all mediums of art and is a constant subject of critics from all fields (I can personally remember several heated discussions from high school where a persons' early adoption of certain rock bands could make or break their social reputation). Lately I was most fortunate in not only being party to a group of people appreciative of a new creative force (at least new to rest of the world), but also to have witnessed this person develop as an artist over the last six years that I have known them. The experience is one for which I will be forever grateful.

"Projecting Identity" is the name of the show to which I am referring to and the painter's name is Jess Cross.

For more information (and to see more of Jess' art) please visit the two websites listed below.

jesscross.com
qbixart.com

Note: The painting above is titled My Name is Andrea and measures 30 x 40 inches. All of Jess' work in the show "Projecting Identity" are oil paintings on canvas.

People are Strangers, Strangers are Strange...

Face value, threat level, what do these items have in common and how do they relate to one another? These are questions that are surprisingly with us much of the time whether we are aware of them are not. For example, were one to enter a store and discuss a purchase with a sales-person several thoughts would likely be running through our heads:

What a horrible day at work, I really must do something to "take care" of that annoying new manager, what was it that he said he was allergic to again? Oh crap, is that person checking me out, what a day not to shave, wait, I'm not wearing a skirt, just relax and breathe, posture, don't forget your posture, thank you mom for insisting on all that proper shit when I was younger. Right, ok, so what was I doing here again, oh yeah, buying something, let's see, what is this guy blathering on about, do I really need a product protection plan for a bottle of shampoo, I mean what's the worst that can happen, I might actually use the whole thing up, heaven forbid, besides he's sporting a crew cut smoother than my rear end, what can he really know about hair products, heck maybe he did buy this shampoo and it made his hair fall out forcing him into this pathetic attempt to force the same fate into all the customers who come here, damn it, I'm doing it again, I really need to stop thinking too much, why can't I be more like Jayne?

Now to be truthful, there could be a good deal less or even a good deal more firing through our syntaxes during such a stimulating experience, and for sure there would definately have been some random word blurps such as, "ugly, fat, skinny, hot, cold, sex, sex, fuck, sex, sex, boring, boring, LOST, I, AM, LOST" (and repeat), but two constants would have remained true. On the one hand we would have similarly questioned our first impressions of our surroundings, judging what should and shouldn't be taken for its "face value". Well, that is if judge can be the word for instantly dismissing anything resembling intuition so we could resort to the oh, so much ever more reliable practice of trusting our inner "Targ-ets" and forgetting anything resembling human warmth in our final decision making process. While on the other, not so often used, and unfairingly implied inferior partner-hand, we would be obssesed with making sure that nothing immediately around us challenged our fragile self-conceptions, and if one were to observe any objectionable material we would quickly begin ingoring it, competing with it, maligning it and trying to sleep with it all at the same time.

What a busy scenario, almost as aimless as my writing and certainly longer-lasting, such behavior can numb us completely to anything worth feeling and drive us mad for longing for easier, simpler days when we were blind to our parents' crazed scramble for the money to take care of us and could be made happy by the soothing push of a power button. The blissful somnambulism of it all! What I would give for that power button now.

Hmmmmm

Smiling at a stranger can make their day, maybe even their week, who knows, it can even change their life. I know for me a smile helps, but a heap load of money can go even further. Though it is true that there are some things that you can do without money, and even quite a few that no amount of money can guarantee, in our world today we can not survive very long without its presence in our wallets. Thankfully we go through some experiences that leave us with qualities nothing can strip away from us, not even a severe absence of coinage. However, I would be lying if I said there is nothing I want that involves money. Honestly there are quite a few things that being financially comfortable would really help me with, a new car and my own piece of property being some of the key ones. What I know now is that I have the means to realistically realize these goals and it is quite an exciting revelation. I do realize that there is a ways to go and some things I want to work on about myself, but simply knowing I am so much closer now makes everything all the easier to deal with. So, for right now, I am smiling and I hope you can too.

Urgent News Bulletin

The reports of my death have been extremely exaggerated. I am back, and though I am may not pack as big a punch as the Dark Knight returning, I do now come fully equipped with a B.A. in history and a minor in literature. I know some stuff and beware, I may actually write about it. Good fortune to you in this new year and prepare for amazingly new ways from yours truly to bore and excite you simulataneously while attempting to impart obscure history lessons on the Scottish Renaissance (available on request at any time by the way). If you are lucky I might even avoid talking about something veary close to my heart (two words, which thereby constitute a hint: Mr. Pointy*)! Oh, and one more thing, though the world may every day seem like it is hurtling closer to the end times, remember this: happiness is not a fish you can catch, but it is something you can eat with the whole family, and it tastes good with chips, the British kind of course. Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: In order to avoid any confusion I want to make it perfectly clear that I was in no way referring to a portion of the male anatomy. Indeed, the truth is very far from that Freudian first impression, "Mr. Pointy" was actually the name Buffy the Vampire Slayer gave to her favorite stake, which was used for a single purpose, killing vampires, duh.

'Tis the Season

Just when you thought that religious interest groups couldn't get more out of touch with reality, you have William A. Donahue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights stating that, "Ninety-six percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, spare me the diversity lecture," regarding his opinion that there is no need for the White House to be politically correct in their holiday greeting cards. However, a quick check over at the CIA World Factbook (which, last time I checked anyway, are ostensibly on the side of the American government, and have no mass orchestrated plans to silence Christmas) reveals that at the most seventy-eight percent of Americans celebrate Christmas (and that is a 2002 estimate).

I don't know about you, but I believe there is a big difference between those two numbers, especially when you realize that the remaining twenty-two percent of Americans who don't celebrate Christmas constitutes around 64.9 million people. That's no small change.

Personally, I love Christmas, it is my favorite holiday for many different reasons (the presents don't hurt either), and I also realize the possible hypocrisy of sending out a generic holiday card while claiming to be a born-again Christian (I am referring to the beliefs of our commander-in-chief, not myself, as this was cited in the aritcle I linked to above), but on the other hand, as a general rule (if not simply out of respect for other people's beliefs and a modicum of politeness), I don't write "Merry Christmas" on the cards I give to my Jewish and other non-Christian friends. Believe me, I would love to take any opportunity I can get to criticize the Bush administration, but in this case, amazingly, I have to say that he and his staff (let us not pretend this was an issue decided without any office discussion) made the right choice here. So, happy holidays to all of you and may love and respect for your fellow human be with you at the end of this year.

But Why?

If someone could explain to me the attraction such an action has, when there are so many other things to worry about in the world, I would be most appreciative.

The Man They Call Malcolm

So, apparently I'm a pathological serial killer who likes chain-saws, well at least in Canada anyway. For your enjoyment:

Billy solves his problems by calling up his mom
Heather solves her problems with drugs and alcohol
Daniel solves his problems with a doctor and the law
But malcolm’s got his own way, it’s better than them all

’cause malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
And he never has the same problem twice

Whether it’s a bill or a check arriving late
Rancid marble cheese or a steak that’s second rate
Awful tv programs or a broken elvis plate
Or his fiancée who dumps him because he’s gaining weight

Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
Malcolm solves his problems with a chain-saw
And he never has the same problem twice

And he goes vrrrrrmmm vrrrrrmmm
Problem solved!

-Malcolm by the Arrogant Worms

And I bet you thought folk music was tame drivel that only old people listen to!

Pop Music Observation #1

So I was talking to a friend today about The Beach Boys song Help Me Rhonda, which he had thought for years was Help Me Ronya, and something struck me (well, not anything in this physical world that is): I could not think of any female singer who referenced a boyfriend's name in a love song. I mean, come on, think about it, there are hundreds (actually I suppose its more like thousands if we are talking about published songs and I know if we go into the amateur world we would quickly be talking millions here) of songs by and sung by men making frequent mention of their lovers' names (i.e. Rhonda, Eileen, Mary, Roxanne, Jamie, Alyson, Jessica, Gertrude, ok well maybe not Gertrude, but the list certainly goes on), but the same cannot be said for female singers. The closest I could come up with is Fernando by ABBA, but they aren't an all female vocal group (a band would count though if the guy(s) in it weren't singing, just playing instruments) and I have always imagined that song is about an unattainable love not somebody the females in the group actually had a relationship with. The question then becomes why is this so? Is it because women are just more mature than men and refrain from sharing unnecessary personal information out of consideration for their past and current partners? Or maybe they feel that would be giving the specified personage too much credit or more attention than they deserve? Who knows? Well, hopefully some of you have a guess at it and I would love to hear them. Maybe there is really something to explore here...

Our Selfish Natures

I would like to discuss the nature of selfishness. In so much as we only consider the physical body it is certainly possible (and acted out quite frequently) for a person to selflessly accept physical or materialistic pain and loss for the advantage of their peers. However, as has often been noted no physical act, no matter how altruistic it may appear, can easily be proved to not be selfish on some mental or spiritual level. Though at first this may seem to be a reason to despair about the self-centered failings of humanity I, for my part, see a reason to hope. For as selfish as we may be in our thoughts when we act, it is the very presence of these mental processes which enable us as humans to engage in actions that are physically selfless. As long as we remain acutely aware of our desires and intentions in order not to abuse those around us with our choices it is no sin that we act with good will based on our own experiences in reality. After all, why do you think Jesus instructed us to treat one another as we would desire to be treated ourselves? He was no fool, he knew what it meant to be human.

Some Questions of Late

What is the responsibility of the consumer, if any, in contributing to a morally bankrupt, subversive and polluting market by providing demand and surrendering so much hard earned cash? Are we really all just "Shropshire Sheep"? Don't we have the power to exert our opinion through boycotts and strikes? They worked in past movements of political, social and economic protest, why not now? Couldn't a politically active system of supply and demand reform the market? Are things really so hopeless? Don't we have happiness in our interpersonal relationships? Why is it so difficult to follow and accept the greatest thing we can ever learn, "Just to love and to be loved in return?"

A Defence of Romance, Part I

In our time Romantic ideals can easily seem to be out of place and irrelevant. Rapid technological progress, the growth of the global economy and the mass appeal of online marketing in goods and services all point towards Science (with a healthy amount of capitalistic oversight) as the discipline from which we must obtain our answers for the future. I disagree, for we are also using these new technologies to keep in close contact with distant, and sometimes not so distant, friends and relations, we are making new contacts through our business operations with people all over the world and, in addition, we are effecting an increasingly substantial portion of the world population with matters of newness in all shapes and sizes. Because of this accelerated mass interaction of humanity how we relate and communicate our intentions and feelings are more important than ever.

That is why I suggest a review is necessary of the literary and social Romantic movements from the 18th and 19th centuries. Though, as a student of history, I am well aware that ideologues obsessed with personal vendettas and crusades would take these idealistic notions and warp them into some of the worst crimes against humanity, I believe that it is unfair and academically irresponsible to condemn the Romantic ideals of love, truth, beauty and freedom in the face of these heinous acts of blatant self-interest. In truth these ideals hold above all things the constant recognition and realization of our place in the human family. Since all people become equal upon this consideration it is impossible to justify any form of mass murder, repression or cruel and unusual punishment upon one group of people for the sheer benefit of another community of people under these principles. Quite contrarily, Romantic sentiments lead us to conclusions of peace, a shared love between all neighbors and a determination to better the lots of those more unfortunate than us. Though I will continue to explore these thoughts in relation to broader means of human connectivity I wanted to begin with the very inter-personal example below.

The popular Jim Carey film The Truman Show perfectly exhibits Romantic ideas through Sylvia's enduring adoration of Truman and her supreme faith in her love for him. She has so internalized his imprisonment that not only has she made it her purpose to combat the immorality of Truman's predicament, but has voluntarily enclosed herself in her home, a cell of her own making. It is telling that we never see her leave her abode until Truman finally escapes the confines of his own fabricated world. Without even being told we know she is headed straight for his arms. What better allegory could we hope for to understand how we can seek to act along Romantic guidelines?

"Bar-bie-is-m"

1. A catch all phrase covering any idea that promotes and expresses the hypocritical, anorexically image driven, super-model obsessed nature of popular female youth culture in America. 2. A flippant remark characteristic of said ideas (ie. "Like Barbie, you totally look fat in that mini-skirt, hurry up and change so we can go get McFlurries at Micky D's!").

Calling all Free Thinkers

What Lurks in Its Soul? by David A. Vise

Cry me a river...if you ask me this is some of the most heartening news I have read since I first learned of the success of the American Revolution in elementary school. Without the innovation described in this article, humanity truly would be condemned to the simple repetition of mindless schedules. Besides, I'm not exactly sure why it is, but something about a spirit of rebellion and a willingness to dare the system of conformity prevalent in our time is thoroughly inspiring. So go forth, disrupt normality, find that dare to be great situation and lose yourself in it with abandon. I'll see you in the pit.

A Prologue

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't made a new post the last few days. Everything is fine, but I have been in the process of mentally preparing a multi-part article that I hope to start publishing this coming week. It will be a kind of personal mission statement involving all of my prior learning and experiences. Since not everyone who reads these articles knows me personally I want to make sure my arguments will be clear enough to stand on their own. I can say now that a key element of these articles will be my optimistic belief in the goodness of humanity as expressed through love (of all shapes and sizes). I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you and I am very excited to read any comments you will have. Already I have obtained great joy through this blog so far and I am very thankful for the intellectual stimulation it has provided me. A few unexpected events this weekend have reminded me of the connections that bind all of us and how though you may at times be forgetful of your own past, it does not diminish in any way its impact on the world around you, however small that "world" community may be. It is a genuine comfort to be surrounded by so much kindness while elsewhere in the world many of our brothers and sisters are facing so much suffering. Though I do feel guilty sometimes for the luck of my relatively easy life, I believe that as long as we stay true to ourselves and each other and genuinely make what efforts we can to make a difference then we can always find something to be happy about. As a recent romantic comedy illuminated, "love actually is all around us".

Hamlet for Kids

So last night I was watching The Lion King with some friends and as I have every other time this film comes up in discussion I presented my theory on how it is a retelling of Shakespeare's play Hamlet (And yes I realize that this is the second time Shakespeare has been a subject of my blog, what can I say, I'm in love). My friends seemed to dig it, especially my point that Timon and Pumba are complete adaptations of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Of course, as Disney is wont to do, there are certain elements that are toned down or cut out all together (who needs to see a lioness commit suicide in an animated film?), but for the most part the film is very true to the spirit of its source. Now before anyone else points it out I know that Simba not only defeats his uncle in The Lion King but also goes on to become king rather than meeting the most tragic and gruesome end Hamlet encounters at the conclusion of his story. I believe the reasons for this change, whether justified or not, are relatively obvious since we are dealing with a Disney film.

As Shakespeare was writing a play, indeed a tragedy, in the tradition of the classical Greek tragedies where the big "bummer" serves as the motivation for the audience to ponder the purpose and meaning to their lives it makes complete sense that Hamlet has to suffer a climatic, and in this case the ultimate, fall. For Disney films the target audience is primarily young children and though of course people of all ages enjoy the films they are made with children in mind. In our present time death is not usually seen as an encouraging factor for a growing youth to experience and therefore it would have been counter-productive, if not downright discouraging, to have Simba die at the end of his travails. In addition, pop youth culture, especially since the punk movement, is already incredibly angst ridden and does not require the existential jolt Shakespeare provided in his play.

I also believe The Lion King serves an excellent role in cultural enrichment for simply promoting an interest in the great bard. As with historically based films, the student of history cannot obsess over detail, he or she will be forever disappointed in this way, but instead must be pleased by the growth in interest such Hollywood films bring about and the opportunity they provide to bring a better understanding of a given period to a larger proportion of the population. In conclusion then I would suggest that promoters of culture and literature should be pleased with The Lion King as since its release in 1994 it has promoted an appreciation of fine storytelling, art and literary history in its viewers; who for the most part are presented with all other manner of detrimental and derisive pop cultural junk.

A Question of Faith

For this post I am reposting a comment I made on a friend’s blog which examined the term “blind faith” and its possible oxymoronic nature. His conclusion was that no faith can be blind as our experiences and knowledge plays a part in all our thoughts on belief. Despite agreeing with his general observations I felt there was a need to state that there are still instances today where the term “blind faith” can be said to be true in its intended meaning. At least since the time of the Enlightenment in the Western World reason has been valued over “blind faith”, but, as with many of our cultural characteristics, this belief is not shared by everyone else on Earth.

Though for the most part I agree with you and the other comments regarding the superiority of "true" faith over "blind" faith on this page, there is an area where I must differ from the majority. Since I am unclear as to the origin of the expression "blind faith" I am not sure if my following argument was purposefully intended by the creators of the expression, but I do believe it follows the rules of logic. As has been noted by others our experiences and knowledge have a great effect on our perceptions of faith and belief. And though in that sense no faith is blind, I do believe there are two instances where it can be said to apply.

The first, and we can say "negative", instance is when a person without any reinforcing knowledge or necessarily experiences is a complete advocate of a certain faith. For example, a member of an intolerant and fundamental society, such as the former Taliban, can be raised in such a manner where such "blind faith" is not only expected, but encouraged. For if the use of knowledge and experience were encouraged to validate the faith, the conclusions made would most likely counter the previous convictions held under "blind faith". Remember that the ability to choose our own faith and belief system is a luxury the whole world does not share. This "blind faith" could also refer to the strict obedience demanded in totalitarian regimes where explanations are also not required in order to justify the actions of the state.

The other meaning, which can be said to be the "positive" one, is when a situation demands an instinctual response to a question of faith (i.e. in life threatening circumstances). In such environments there is not a chance to rely on past experiences or thoughts to shape our attitude. For example, I believe it would be safe to say that most of us have this form of "blind faith" in our mothers and other close friends and family members. I can also imagine situations where if one held a "blind faith" in the power of love or the basic goodness of humanity then it could effect your actions.

To clarify my points I would like to restate my two definitions of “blind faith”. For the “negative” version the term “blind faith” is a purposeful exaggeration in order to stress the lack of personal reflection on one’s beliefs. In the “positive” connotation using the term “blind faith” is an attempt to emphasize the ease at which we make certain decisions under incredibly nerve-racking conditions.

The following is a response from a comment on my previous entry that challenges my conclusions on the “negative” connotation of “blind faith” on the basis that since we are all free beings and have the will to choose our own actions there is no such situation where the kind of “blind faith” I described can exist.

In what I wrote I in no way intended to negate the existence of free will. I am a staunch believer in free will and it is at the corner stone of almost every thought I have regarding the world around me. I can see though where my comments could have been interpreted to the contrary. What I would like to make clear is that while yes, we all have the ability to make our own choices (I would say though that the realistic nature of that ability has a lot to do with our relative independence or dependence on others for our livelihood) there are certain situations where it is clear that choosing against the majority will result in unpleasant circumstances if not outright death. And though that does not always morally excuse such an action I would say that I would not judge such a person as evil for following their inclination for survival and nothing more. Of course there is a lot of gray area here and I would understand if you still find what I say objectionable. I do hope though that I have made my point clear and at least achieved a position where we can respectably disagree with one another.