Inspiration

WELCOME!

This blog has been a long time coming. Its inception is simple: I have been interacting with other human beings for thirty-five years, and this experience has led me to form a singular purpose. That is to say, I want to combat the forces of idiocy and ignorance and make people think about who they are and what they believe.

It's a big task, and I alone am not up to it; no one person is. But I hope that my voice will add to the voice of the rational in keeping this world back from the brink of insanity. I refuse to give in to chaos, disorder, and evil. Is that clear enough a mission statement for you?

Let me also add, however, that I'm not here to convince you that one way - my way - is right. I'm not trying to change your mind; I can't. I can only offer the facts and truths as I see them, and invite you to share yours, and hope that when the dust settles we find (if we do find) a single truth left standing. Further, when such a truth is revealed, I pray that both of us will be mature enough to embrace it. Yes, you heard me: this is an invitation for you to prove me wrong. If your facts are solid, your logic good, and mine are not, I'll change my values. The price of this, Dear Readers, is that YOU must do the same.

Put up or shut up time.

You may ask if I've ever blogged before. The answer is 'Not really'. I'm not a true stranger to this. I've written 'diary' entries before, I've had a Livejournal, and I've had good, lively debates with friends and family - but I've never really put myself out there. I've certainly never had an audience. Why not? Many reasons. Job security. Identity security. Time commitment. Effort. All the usual excuses. I've been willing to challenge a friend when they mindlessly spout off a bit of idiocy without thinking, but I've never had the gumption to do so on a larger scale. I'm coming to believe that this might even qualify as a lapse in my civic duty. I'm not sure.

I can't let it slide any longer, though. I have my own thoughts and truths I'd like to share with you, and topics I want to discuss. I also believe that putting myself out here will give me the opportunity to better myself. As a side effect, I believe the same could happen to you. I'm all for making the world a better place, one corrected misconception at a time.

I've never been afraid to tell people when I see that they're full of it. Little things I let slide - such as an uncle's penchant to say 'Damn Republicans' whenever there's an ill in the world. But the big things, and sometimes even the not-so-big, I challenge. If someone says that the Big 3 auto companies are solely to blame for their financial troubles, I point at the unions and say, "What about them?" I point at the Left and its eco-policies and CAFE standards and nudge them saying, "Hmmm?"

Don't mistake me for a Republican, however. I'm not one, or a Democrat, or a Libertarian. I'm also not a conservative or a liberal. I find some value in each group, but I don't ascribe to any one blanket identity, policy, or value. There is value EVERYWHERE - nothing is wholly without it - and wholly embracing any ideology weakens you to the fallacies contained within it. Conversely, to issue a blanket rejection of any concept, person, item or ideal because of one aspect or element of it is the height of foolishness. Such sweeping associations and rejections are easier, true - which is why so many do it - but this behavior is neither intellectually honest nor viable if one is in the service of reality and truth (little T).


Hmmm. That's a bit stronger than I'd intended, but - maybe that's for the best. Next post, I will dissect a phrase that we take for granted and look under the hood - something I love doing.