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I've noticed that every time I accuse someone of some wrong doing, it is something that I have been equally guilty of in the past. It is not easy to recognize that which hasn't been experienced. From here, an issue rises of where the notion that these behaviors are wrong comes from. I have lived in Mississippi my entire life, so my morals were strongly influenced by Christian religion. Aside from the churches I was required to attend as a child, most of my local society is governed underhand by these churches. So the concept of sin has made a lasting impression on my mind. It wasn't until my favorite high school science teacher taught me to question absolutely everything I know, that I realized that there are ways of thinking around such things. For example, let's say I have an apple, and I place that apple on my dresser next to my bed for my breakfast. While sleeping, someone comes into my house and steals my apple. When I wake up and see that my apple is gone, I will be alarmed. The vulnerable state of mind will lead me to search my surroundings, almost frantically, for any sign of who or what snatched my treat. I'll start running a checklist of what I possess: where I saw what last. I'll probably start with what I think is the most valuable, and work my way down to the less important things. Eventually I'll settle down, and move on to breakfast. What happened? My plan changed from waking up and having a nice light watery breakfast to dealing with a flood of emotions while accomplishing hardly anything at all. Now, lets rewind to right before I went to sleep, after placing the apple on the dresser. If, before sleeping, I told myself and believed in my mind that I had absolutely no ownership or control over anything other than this biological entity that I call my body, and that everything around me was merely my environment, then the outcome of my morning would have been much different. Sure, the meal I planned to have is no longer available, but that doesn't mean that someone has to be a thief. That doesn't mean anything wrong has happened. By forming the opinion that a person is a thief, that person is rejected. When people reject one another, no matter how justifiable such terms may appear, the outcome is harmful for both parties. The fact that multiple parties have formed is the most harmful part about it. We, like most mammals, have a tendancy to form packs or herds. For those who insist that we are separate beings, we form groups. What happens when you form a group? Well, you tell yourself that certain people are INside your group. The rest of the people that you are aware of exist OUTside your group. Usually, a person will focus positive thoughts towards those within the group, leaving the negative thoughts for those outside of the group. It happens on every scale of grouping imaginable. Think about sports teams. It is one side against the other. Sure, all players may recognize that their opponents have talent, but the mentality is still there. Some rivalries are more blatant than others. Fans of opposing teams have been known to fist fight, even riot. Teams break from the governing rules of the game to elbow each other. Look at boxing, hugging is frowned upon in a boxing match. The only time you see boxers hug is when they are exhausted and need to catch a breath, before punching each other repeatedly. Today, boxing is one of the less violent of the combat sports. What about the grand scale? The big one? Well, look at nations. We are divided by territory. We form groups in territories, and then attack the groups that formed in other territories. This is called war. The object of war is to convince as many other humans as possible that your inside group controls a particular piece of land. Wars end when either of the opposing groups decides to submit to the will of the other group. Submission may be as easy as adopting a new language and culture, or as harsh as death. I like to think that humans have a mixed balance of packs and herds. What is the difference? Herbivorous animals are usually considered to be herd animals. Carnivorous animals are most likely considered pack animals. Of course, birds flock and that sort. Humans, for the most part, are omnivorous. I personally, just consumed a sandwhich that consists of wheat grain, baby spinach, and turkey meat. Eating this meat doesn't truly make me a pack animal. I still feel more like a herd animal. I showed no ill intent towards this dead turkey. I can only assume how the turkey came to be in the petroleum container. I feel more like a herd animal, casually waiting in line with others like me for the opportunity to consume. Pack mentality is more present in those that hunt and those who kill within their own species. Those subject to acknowledge racial differences likely give in to pack mentality. I've seen water buffalo, texas longhorns, angus, and goats of all various shapes, sizes, colors, genders all grazing peaceful in the same green field. Granted, I do live in the south of North America, I have never seen tigers, lions, wolves, hyenas, or any other of the likes existing peacefully in any environment.

just my opinions on a variety of different topics