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I don't see how this thread is still in Relationships, but no matter - very good thread.
I am a Philosophical Taoist, but:
I still lust after women and consummate that lust at every opportunity
I drink, toke, cuss and sin more than a ship-full of sailors on shore leave
My job requires me to (and I actually enjoy) catching the "bad guys" and dealing out the necessary discipline, up to and including physical confrontations
As a corollary to the last point, I don't believe in non-violence; in fact, I believe that the judicious application of it can often solve a problem before it gets too big to handle
My life has been one long series of steps and falls off the "Path" so often prescribed for Taoists, yet I still proclaim it as my foundation belief
I'm no expert, but that all looks to be well within the bounds of what taoism is all about. After all, lust, profanity and violence are not necessarily immoral. In the proper context, I think these things can be simple and effective forms of communication.
I'm no expert, but that all looks to be well within the bounds of what taoism is all about. After all, lust, profanity and violence are not necessarily immoral. In the proper context, I think these things can be simple and effective forms of communication.
Note also I was careful to claim "philosophical", not "religious" - although they share common elements, the religious "brand" of Taoism is far too strict and...well, religious!...for my blood.
Who the hell cares. What is this? Sociology class. I get it, you aren't like any other black person. Cool. There are a lot of other black people like you, just as there are a lot who aren't. Why? Because people are individuals, and the media and social structures like to group everyone together based on how they look.
three words: just for fun.
ever heard of it??
damn..
also your username is really funny/clever and fitting.
I got this idea from another board I am one and thought it could be interesting here.
The point is to state an identifying characteristic (such as race, socioeconominc status, religion, etc.) and then list some things about you that defy the typical stereotypes of it.
I'll start. I am black but:
I don't normally eat, nor do I even know how to prepare fried chicken. I also grew up in a home where my parents never cooked it. I eat few friend foods.
I did not grow up poor and my parents taught me to speak proper English
while I like hip hop and rap, its not my favorite music and there is plenty of it I don't like
speaking of music, I like all kinds of rock music, including alt. metal and classic
I hate BET, UPN, and don't watch TV One.
I don't support people just because they are black, nor do I watch black TV shows for the same reason
I am not religious and wasn't raised that way. I live Jesus and bible-free.
Any other takers? And let's keep this fun and light-hearted.
yeah but do you like watermelon??? see got ya on that one!!
I'm white but i can jump and i'm a fast runner. of course this was way back when. now i'm fat and slow. i went to a very mixed high school and i was known as the white boy that COULD jump and i was fast. plus i had a bubble butt that the girls all checked out. of course that's gone now too. i like watermelon, fried chicken and i hate racism with a passion. i spent a lot of time when i was in H.S. helping people of different races get together in social situations.
My brother moved out to L.A. where he now works as a screenwriter. By screenwriter, I mean that he actually makes a living out of it, rather than parking cars or waiting tables.
15 years ago, he meets this girl and gets engaged. The wedding was on the bluffs of Malibu. So the family, Alabamians all, get on the plane and fly out. Now, you have to realize that we all have multiple college degrees, dress well, are all professionally successful, have decent haircuts, use proper grammar, and know which fork to use with the fish. And yet we were treated by the bride's family as if the Beverly Hillbillies had just rolled into town. The mother of the bride roundly ignored my mother the entire time, the florist gave my wife a condescending lecture on the purpose of a boutonnière, etc. etc., ad nauseam. And this attitude pretty much filtered out through most of the crowd, save my brother's friends. I mean, these people were just awful.
It was the typical Hollywood wedding, with several B list stars. Yet, even though it was a 4 p.m. wedding, all of them looked as if they had just rolled out of bed. I mean you wouldn't believe how unkempt this crowd was.
As one of the groomsmen, my job was to usher people to their seats. When one couple approached, I asked the woman, "Bride or Groom?" With that, I offered my arm, which she took. At that moment, the woman's escort said, "Hey man! That's MY date!" The woman explained the etiquette to her boyfriend, but he still insisted on taking the woman's other arm as we walked down the aisle until I could seat them. No kidding. I just can't make this stuff up.
Then at the reception, people would stroll up, ask, "Now where are you from?" When they learned we were from Alabama, their eyes would glaze over and stroll away, as if we had no possible usefulness to them. Finally, just about the time my very proper and very educated wife had had enough and was about to call a cab, one well-meaning guy strolled up to make conversation.
"So. I understand you're from Alabama."
"Why, yes, we are." He thought for a moment.
"So. Were you excited to get on a plane and come allllllll the way out here?"
Now, mind you, I've travelled all over the world on business. I am a published writer. My face has been in the Wall Street Journal not once, but twice. I speak at conferences. I've been in AdWeek, Print, and other national magazines multiple times. It's not as if I were dressed like Jethro Bodine or was letting my blue tick hound urinate into the floral arrangements. Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth, realizing the man meant well.
"Yes," I replied. "But you know what really excites me?"
"What's that?"
"These are only the third pair of shoes I've ever owned." The guy thought for a moment, and caught himself.
"Okay, I said something wrong, didn't I?"
"Sorry. We've just gotten a lot of that tonight." After that, we had a very nice conversation. My only other satisfaction that evening was having a conversation with Courtney Thorne Smith (For you kids, she was a star on Melrose Place and some other shows). We were seated next to one another during the reception. After initially getting the "don't speak to me me, because I'm a television star" treatment from her, I pretended to not know who she was and asked if she was having any luck breaking into the acting biz. She was actually a lot more down to earth after that.
Thank God the marriage lasted only five weeks. I don't think I could have faced those horrible people again. Maybe it was just Hollywood types, because I've met plenty of down-to-earth folks in L.A. over the years on business. But in the process of stereotyping us, they sure as hell stereotyped themselves.
Yes, life is a journey, but why are all the rest-stops on my Path always so filthy?
Sounds like Clark Park and I are fallen spiritual Brothers.
CP, if you're ever up Wilkes-Barre way, I might be able to help with the martial arts thing if you're interested.
Actually I visit Scranton/Wilkes Barre area at least once or twice a year in the warmer months. I am friends with a West Pittston lady named Lisa who bills herself as a "Victorian Lady" and dresses in 19th Century costumes ... she has been after me to stay at a gorgeous and opulent Bed-N-Breakfast establishment called The Stegmeier Mansion.
I don't say "eh", I don't like vodka, I do like sushi though.
I still get asked, "So how do you like it here?"
Thought you were from Maine since it says the land of blueberries and lobsters not Canada.
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