Thank you so very much for writing! May the Lord bless you with all of his strength, and please keep up the good work! Whenever you feel yourself slipping back into your old habits, remember the suffering, hunger, and torture that the Apostles and Disciples of Christ suffered, and their ...
Thank you so much for the book review! Now I know which book NOT to read this summer! Your article was very well-written, with an expansive vocabulary, hilarious sarcasm (I LOVED the excise joke!), and vivid imagery (I really liked the novice chain sculpture-Venus de Milo contrast; it's very imaginative ...
Thank you so much for writing! The article was very nuanced with its conditional treatment of the free will vs. determinism debate. What's very interesting is that I am currrently debating the free will-determinism problem with my friends! In fact, I may share this article with them, if that should ...
Thank you so much for writing! May you be blessed and fortunate in your days to come, and I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court of Missouri will rule favorably. Those "Paula Deen Cakes" sound really tasty; I have to try some soon! And I think that your philosophy is ...
Thank you so very much for writing! I completed the transcription for your post. The story was very sincere, and I really enjoyed the comparison with Jesus. I hope everyone in the world can learn to love themselves and be proud of their blessed gifts. I also liked how at ...
Wow. I haven't read a poem this moving since Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" (I'm being sincere here). Dum spiro, spero, right? Maintain a clear mind, and keep up the fantastic work. Never stop gazing ahead; yield not to the past. Can't wait to read your ...
Thanks very much for writing! It's great to see your personal growth; after all, isn't a vital part of life tweaking our faults into virtues? Keep up the process, and keep on writing! --Calhoun25
Thanks so much for writing! The transcription for your post is finished. Keep up the writing and art pieces! Daily workout always keeps the body healthy and mind sharp! All of my concern goes out to Cab--poor man--and his family. Life can seem so bitter many times. --Calhoun25
Hey Kyle! I'm glad you've taken interest in examining the New Testament! This answer to your question about Acts is not mine, so I give all credit to the blogger who typed it: "In the original Greek, however, there is no real contradiction between these two statements. Greek makes a ...
Thanks so much for writing! I just finished the transcription for your post. I liked the ironic twist at the end, with the blind man seeing more than he who could see. That theme can also be seen in Oedipus Rex, when the blind prophet Tiresias predicts the downfall of ...
Thanks for writing! I just finished the transcription for your post. Wow! The descriptive imagery was very powerful! Keep writing, and keep filling up your spirit with love and kindness! You can never be conquered with these attributes. --Calhoun25
Thanks so much for writing! I just finished the transcription for your post. Those roaches can sometimes be very entertaining! It's those small wonders of nature that often go overlooked. --Calhoun25
!!!!! I sincerely send all my blessings and prayers to you for overcoming the colon cancer. Remember: stay strong, and whip the cancer with all you've got! I'm sorry that I don't have any personal stories to share with you, but I'm sure others do. Keep us updated! And by ...
Thanks so much for the two poems! They are very terse and moving; they pack a punch in their concise size. I totally agree with you; the truest love comes ONLY from above. --Calhoun25
Troy, I hope I can cheer you up by saying that I really care for you, and want only the best for you! If they let you, try reading and writing books; it can help alleviate some of the mental pain. I'm exhausted, and am off to bed right now. ...
Thanks so much for writing! Your transcript is done, by the way. The poem flows well, and the personification of Lonlieness and the Virtues is reminisicent of Classical literature. We've all dealt with Lonlieness at some time or another, and have argued with it again and again. Keep up the ...
Thanks so, so much for writing! The poem is terse and the words poignant. I'm checking out your Youtube channel now! Keep writing, and stay strong! --Calhoun25
Wow! This is really brilliant! I'll definitely use the spatial example when trying to explain this doctrine to friends. Tertullian liked to use metaphors to explain it. For example, one Sun has a Core, Sun Rays, and Heat. Tres personae, una Substantia. Pretty cool stuff. Until next time! --Calhoun25
I'm not sure if I can say anything that might cheer you up, but here goes: I care deeply for you; know that there are people out there who do love you. Stay strong and stay close to God; keep writing if you can. This piece of literature is just ...
Thanks so much for writing! OUCH. Since you hear so many put-downs in prison, I would like to shower you with some genuine praise, if it counts for anything: Your writing style is splendid! It's very clear and flows well. The expanded vocabulary is a nice touch as well. Great ...
On so many occasions, it seems as if the world is battling us. We even become enemies of ourselves. But all it takes is some encourgement from a fellow human being to surmount these difficulties. Michael, tell your friend that he is absolutely not worthless. I can attest to the ...
I hope this helps: Keep on fighting, Allen! You'll get to meet your daughter one day. If you give up now, then you will know for sure that you will never meet her. But as long as you keep going, you still have a shot. By the way, you're poetry ...
This is a very good argument! It reminds me of something in the Gospel of John. He says that since we accept human testimony, we must also accept divine testimony. I guess it's like this: a) the Supreme Being can at least perform our engineering actions, given who He is. ...
Phew! That's a lot of reading! The brain needs training too! Thanks for the concise summaries! Saves us some time in picking out which books to read. --Calhoun25
Thank you so very much for writing! Wow! It sounds like your Chapel is in a sticky situation. Why don't you guys have a Chaplain? Is there difficulty in finding chaplains, or are they too expensive? At any rate, my prayers are with you and your Chapel, so that you ...
Wow! I would love to help! I don't know much about setting up websites, nor do I have any money to give for domain names (I'm only a student), but I can look into the matter and learn how to set up a website from friends. Is this the help ...
Wow! (Get it?) That sounds like a very moving anniversary you had! I'm not sure I could ever speak in front of those many people; sometimes stagefright gets the best of me. Anyway, I just want to graduate you truly, by God's grace, for what you are doing. I feel ...
Wow! That was really powerful! I know it can be tough sometimes, when you see your friends struggling with sin. We just want to reach out and save them with our knowledge of Christ. I'm not sure if this is good advice, but I try to be patient and gradually ...
Woah! Your poetry really reminded me of the post-WWI, modernism era! Like T.S. Eliot and such. The passion drips off the page. Keep up the good work! And hopefully you'll find an answer to your love problems, if these should be real and not imagined for the poems. --Calhoun25
Thanks so much for the reply! I do like to write in my free time, and at least read literary works from others. I was browsing through (BTB has so many interesting pieces), and this piece happened to catch my eye. How long have you been writing for? Also, do ...
Thanks so much for the reply! Do they let you read whatever you want? If so, try checking out the Classical and medieval philosophers, if you haven't already, like Aristotle and Aquinas. The text is very difficult, but once it is conquered, you gain so much insight into the world. ...
Wow! Bless that poet; for the poem is enjoyable in its words and selfless in its being a gift! Do you know Mr. Larson well? Anyway, thank you so much, Jim, for your service to this country. It's painful to hear that mistreatment-inside both the army and prison-still happens among ...
Thanks so much for writing! Whenever I lose my motivation for doing things, I always try analyzing why I'm doing something. Usually that reinvigorates my will-power, as I rediscover the original spark that motivated me to do what I do. Or maybe with art, you can find motivation in new ...
Wow! This is some powerful stuff here, Patrick! I agree wholeheartedly with your message, and I really enjoyed the "It's Your action" refrain. May the Lord bless you and your friends and family with all His power. If you can read whatever books you want, try checking out John Donne ...
I think you'll really like Weezer! Their music is very diverse, from their 90s stuff up to present day. They're an alternative rock type of band. Recently got into them myself. I definitely gotta check out those Christian rock bands you mentioned myself. I think I remember that one song ...
I totally agree with you, Kyle. Jesus' teachings come first before everything else: oaths should not be permitted. I have often pondered over this commandment. I think swearing oaths might border on lying, in the sense that they avoid giving definite answers. If we were serious about saying "yes", we ...
Thanks! This stuff helps keep Illinois citizens active in their communities and elections. Wonder if they've passed this Freedom of Information Act, or legislation similar to it, in other states. Keep writing! --Calhoun25
Man; that's deep. I'm not sure there's much I can say at all to cheer you up, other than stick close to God and his laws; that way, you can at least find some comfort until your release date comes to pass. Good luck, and keep writing! --Calhoun25
Maybe you can try sending a letter protesting any laws you dislike directly to the state capital, and various other local organizations? Hopefully they'll read it; at least you'll add your voice to the political arena. Anyway, keep up the great work, and keep writing! I love gathering these political ...
If this should be any consolation, love problems have been and are continually felt by persons all over the globe. Just read any love poem from ancient Rome, or a play by Shakespeare; or listen to a song by Bob Dylan. You're not alone! Stay strong, bro! G-d will determine ...
Hmmm, sounds like the Department of Corrections is not paying much attention to us citizens! (Where have we seen this in history?) Unfortunately, I don't have much pratical experience with governmental agencies. I would guess building up public support might help, or just repeatedly contacting the Department's appeal center (if ...
Keep going, brother! I find the best way to do that, is to look back on what has happened, take the best lessons I've learend, and use them to move forward. I can tell you've learned a lot; you've learned more than most people today in America have: you've matured, ...
Hey George! It’s great to talk to others about these sorts of things! I think you’re spot-on about Plato. His idea of morally perfect rulers does sound very nice on paper; yet I agree that it is very difficult, if not impossible to implement. In general, I often worry about ...
Love reading this stuff, man. Raw emotion contained in powerful writing. I can detect sincerity in this poem. That's one of the most important goals for a writer to accomplish. Keep it up man! Talk to you later! Peace, Calhoun25
It's very interesting that you alluded to Nietzsche! I definitely think a lot of topical debates are heated, partly because the opponents do not define the terms they are using. If they should more clearly define their terms, they might see where the root of disagreement is. If the disagreement ...
Someone once told me - he may have been reciting some Biblical passage - that G-d has more thoughts for each life than there are grains of sand on a beach. And your experience confirms this statement. What seemed in the beginning as a painful punishment, became your ticket to ...
Thank you so much for the blog post! Now that the Internet World sees this, we can start working! Let's stay hopeful for the future, and the blessings it can bring. Best, Calhoun25
Thanks so much for writing! I have been thinking about a similar problem - how negative habits slowly creep into our routines, without our noticing. Your sentence about negative triggers in the morning, really got to me. I recently struggled with that - waking up and immediately thinking that people ...
Wow! It's great to hear all those people giving love your way. Have you been making music for a while? Bet it's composed from the heart and influenced by hard experiences: the best kind of music. Time for a fresh start, eh? Hope things keep going your way; keep your ...
These poems remind me of the great modernist poets, such as T.S. Eliot and W.H. Auden. They are terse, yet pack quite a punch. I wonder: did you intentionally organize the poems in this manner? A way to enhance one's poetry, is to find clever ways of organizing it. This ...
Thank you so much for this. I can tell you are well-read in Scripture, since you bring up and interpret perfectly all those different passages. I've recently been dwelling on this subject as well. I read an article today, that gave personal advice for living longer, from people aged 100 ...
That last sentence: "Amazing, even in prison among harden, abandoned human beings, the advent of death is still a Commanding Performance." That sent chills done my spine, particularly for describing Death as a "Commanding Performance". This is a very moving, well-written piece. I wonder why you decided to write about ...
This piece reminds me much of a modernist, stream-of-consciousness style. I like it. I wonder why it's called Irish Soup? Because the piece is a potpourri of different thoughts? I hope you find that wisdom lying around somewhere (check under the desk). But seriously, being respected is one gift of ...
Hey man! This article is very well-written and nuanced. It seems like you're very interested in Christianity and existentialism! I recommend Soren Kierkegaard, who is considered to be the founder of modern existentialism. He deals with the topics you are concerned with, and from a Christian perspective. Your article got ...
I guess they didn't account for your vigilance! It's almost the end of November; have your appeals been heard and carried out? I know you wrote this around Nov. 1st of 2014. I'm worried they might just sweep your calls under the rug. In any case, it seems like the ...
I guess they didn't account for your vigilance! It's almost the end of November; have your appeals been heard and carried out? I know you wrote this around Nov. 1st of 2014. I'm worried they might just sweep your calls under the rug. In any case, it seems like the ...
Hey bro! Thanks for the links! Information can be the key to power: you're doing a great service to all those families with members struggling in prison. I hope you keep posting to your blog -- you never know when those female pen pals will show up. Finally, thanks for ...
First off, I would like to praise your writing style. It is very lucid and earnest. I once read an article about a young man who became paralyzed waist-down. He of course suffered for a bit, but then realized he still had life left in him. To paraphrase his quote: ...
First off, I would like to praise your writing style. It is very lucid and earnest. I once read an article about a young man who became paralyzed waist-down. He of course suffered for a bit, but then realized he still had life left in him. To paraphrase his quote: ...
Talk about patience! I remember when the Wisconsin protests erupted in 2011. It was even a hot button issue among the public school teachers in my area. If a law or bill is being passed in one state, it might be passed in your own. I guess this "money judgment ...
Hey George! I hope everything has been relatively restful for your 2016. I've been thinking about your description of the shakedowns. Sometimes when people are in an authoritative position, they rationalize unjust treatment under the guise of "necessary to discharging one's duties". They should not treat your belongings so (deliberately?) ...
Alright, keep doing what you're doing George! Keep studying and thinking about what you can -- it makes for a brighter and more full human person. If you can, let me know what's going on. Take care now. --Calhoun25
Your upbringing reminds me of the various forms family (or lack of it) can take. I know some "families" are families in name only, even though parents and children live together in the same household. Conversely, there are some families that are shining examples of everything familial love can be, ...
Hey Troy, I think your last piece about determination is a perfect gloss for the chess picture. We find ourselves in these difficult chess games, in which the opponent is none other than ourselves. At the same time, as you say, the key to our strength and victory is ALSO ...
Hey Shawn, “Nothing but hopes and dreams, but hopes and dreams can sometimes be the most powerful forces in the world.” Amen, bro! That sounds like something from the hearts of the world’s most dynamic people. Dix is a true role model. If I ever stop by Kent State University, ...
(Continued from before) I think your recommendation for law enforcement is spot-on. It does seem like we have the resources to stop these recent terrorist attacks: we just need to better understand and process the information. Perhaps better computer programs or organizing can help us make sense of the red ...
Article 1. Whether it is natural for man to possess external things? Objection 1. It would seem that it is not natural for man to possess external things. For no man should ascribe to himself that which is God's. Now the dominion over all creatures is proper to God, according ...
Hey George, First, about the brunch program. I read your article entitled, “First Amendment under Attack in Illinois’ Prisons: the Price of Dissent”. The brunch program appears to have been an instance of law inadequately and unequally applied. It is frustrating, to say the least, when great effort is expended ...
Also, you could reread your books, this time adding commentary in the margins. Turn the books, if you can, into a “director’s cut” commentated by George Peter Jr. I had a teacher in high school who averred that writing margin notes is an art. They need to be pithy – ...
Article 1. Whether it is natural for man to possess external things? Objection 1. It would seem that it is not natural for man to possess external things. For no man should ascribe to himself that which is God's. Now the dominion over all creatures is proper to God, according ...
Hey Shawn, Thanks for sharing your intriguing thoughts! They gave me a bit to chew over. I tried looking up that PBS documentary, to get the name. Was it part of the "Take it from Me" series? Anyway, your description of the problem, as illustrated in the documentary, seems spot-on. ...
I did not know Stephen Hawking looked at time travel like that. I guess he has no problem with a current destruction of matter; his beef is, as you say, the creation ex nihilo of matter at some time else. As far as I know, your solution seems possible. I ...
Anyway, that’s all for now. Let me know what you think about these questions and topics. It’s always a pleasure to hear your thoughts on them. --Calhoun25
Hello Shawn, As always, it was a pleasure to read your response. I think your comments on the intellectual powers of inmates are spot-on. I talked to a professor who was running the Civic Knowledge Project (CKP) at the University of Chicago. Recently, CKP teamed up with another organization for ...
OK, the argument for G-d’s having always existed runs something like this: we’re agreeing that the universe came into being a finite time ago. If everything that comes into being has a cause of its existence, it follows that the universe has a cause of its existence. Now, on the ...
Now, what to say here? I think there are cogent reasons to reject the reality of an actually infinite number of things. These reasons paint the reality of infinity, so as to entail metaphysical absurdities. Let me explain. Suppose you have an infinite number of coins, labeled “one”, “two”, “three”, ...
Here is another example. Suppose you have two planets revolving around a sun. Planet A revolves twice as fast as Planet B. When Plant B revolves once, Planet A has revolved twice. When Planet B revolves twice, Planet A has revolved four times. When Planet B revolves four times, Planet ...
If we decide that an actual infinity does not exist, then the causal chain, which ends in the universe’s creation, cannot extend back forever. It must end somewhere. What should the stopping point be? Recall my earlier argument: the cause of the universe must be personal; many people call it ...
Phew! That was quite a lot. Of course, there are lots of details and considerations I left out. I love talking about philosophy with my friends, who often have quite insightful comments to add. I would like to know what you think about all this: whether it is plausible, incorrect, ...
Rich surrealist imagery and narrative! It reminds me of a Bob Dylan song. I like all the creative flourishes of your pen -- like using letters from the Greek alphabet. You might like trying "automatic drawing", where you draw the first things that come to mind. Keep up the good ...
Hey William, It's good to hear back from you! I didn't have any particular Dylan song in mind, but "Going, Going, Gone" is a great song to pick out! I need to spend more time soaking in Planet Waves. Retrospectively, Planet Waves is an album easy to overlook, in the ...
If you enjoy exploring the soul or mind, you might profit from reading Soren Kierkegaard. He's known as the father of modern existentialism. Kierkegaard often gets compared to Nietzsche. And I bring up Nietzsche because he makes an argument reminiscent of a suggestion you make. In one of his books, ...
Hey William, Good to hear from you again! Your description of your drawing taught me details that I had not explicitly picked out. I overlooked the stop sign around your head, and the octagonal shape of the hive in the background. Perhaps my mind unconsciously picked up on those features, ...
You raise a very deep question about our spiritual essence. I’m not sure I know very much about it. But I do hazard a guess every now and then. I think you are right that we almost always fail to “cultivate” our most valuable potentials. Almost all of us could ...
I will try checking out “Becoming Ms. Burton” sometime soon. It sounds like it will be a very informative and deepening read, something to meditate on. Speaking of which, I’ll try checking out “prisonyoga.com” as well. Nice tips, William. I typed “Damian Kevitt” into Google, and found a couple of ...
Hey William, It’s good to hear back from you! I am humbled by your praise. I do try to understand others, though not always (or even often) with accurate results. I stand to learn much more about understanding others. As long as I’m imperfect in this respect, there’s something to ...
Your description of inciting F.E.A.R. reminds me a lot of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. He was known at the time as a social gadfly. Let me post a definition of “social gadfly” from the Internet: “A social gadfly is a person who interferes with the status quo of a ...
Anyway, your self-description reminds me of Socrates and Jesus. It’s important to lovingly, though firmly, engage others with sincere questions and conversation. We’re all engaged in a spiritual journey, whether we recognize it or not. Constructive dialectic puts wings on our feet; it’s a way—not the only way—to help one ...
As a quick side note, I’ve been getting very interested lately by music theory. It’s fascinating to learn how music is made, and what makes it sound so good. It seems to me that composing music takes real talent and genius. I think our greatest musical intuitions come from letting ...
Hey William, It’s always a pleasure to hear back from you! I didn’t think you were inappropriately bombastic in your critique of mediocrity. I took you to be using hyperbole in order to drive home your core points. Whatever you make of him, the philosopher Nietzsche often used the same ...
Thank you for your explication of your previous comments. I think I better understand what you were before saying about subjectivity and objectivity. You seem perturbed by “objectivity” in the sense of being objectified or exploited or deceived by those in various positions of power. If I understand you correctly, ...
Thanks for the tip on the book. I read the Wikipedia Article about the author, Ken Wilber. He sounds like a very interesting guy. I find his sort of syncretism, which he seems to engage in, very interesting. And yes, I do appreciate your “eclectic…presentations to ponder”. The philosopher Elizabeth ...
I also saw the most recent question that you put to me: “What does MORAL EMANCIPATION mean to you?” That is a good and deep question. I feel I am on safer ground answering what does moral emancipation mean to me, as opposed to what is moral emancipation, period. The ...
(Pg. 1/2) Hey William, Thank you for your kind and meaningful compliment: “Nice reprise with the MORAL EMANCIPATION challenge.” I think you raise deep questions that most humans underthink. I appreciate your examination and derivation of concepts like “moral”, “Pharisee”, and “religion”. I think I better understand what you’re getting ...
(Pg. 2/2) You note the connection between being pharisaical and being self-righteous. As it seems, being pharisaical is incompatible with being perfectly virtuous or ethical, since it involves the vice of self-righteousness. Here is a question for you, William: What is the precise relationship between righteousness and self-righteousness? Is self-righteousness ...
Hello William, As always, I am glad to hear back from you! I did have the pleasure of looking at some of your NSOL coursework. I enjoyed reading the questions and answers, which deal with an impressively diverse range of topics. I found Question #87 especially interesting: “How can a ...
You bring up a similar point in the next question: “The greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics is what determines good conduct vs. evil conduct.” Again, I think this is a very respectable and plausible position. And again, I would like to query your intuitions with a test ...
I think you are absolutely right that “we must survive trials and tribulations with a certain degree of integrity intact in order to grow into and enherit our birthright of sapience”. Your quoting Proverbs is spot-on. I myself will quote a famous passage from Romans, which I am sure you ...
I took a look at that website you recommended. It is very polished and easy to navigate. I read through the FAQs, some of which I found very interesting. I wanted to ask you what the meaning of “survival” is. I noticed that term come up on the website, as ...
[1 of 3] Hey William, It's a joy to read your latest letter! I like your response to the $50 case. It's an interesting solution! Set the ground rules beforehand, and let those rules comprise the moral boundaries. "I'll hold your money and return it on request, only if you ...
[2 of 3] Unfortunately, as things stand, the world is far from shalom. It is shattered, as evidenced by the atrocities you mention: Indigenous Americans being deprived of their land, Africans being forced into slavery, and defendants being wrongly accused or poorly represented. We humans regularly fail to give others ...
[3 of 3] Hmm, your parting question is a deep one: "What do you think you'd Do, Be, Have [after escaping exile]???" (I really like your allusion to Homer's Odyssey.) I'm not sure how helpful my answer would be, since I have difficulty imagining such a long exile. Nevertheless, I'll ...