Community Blogs
The blog is a view of life, science, politics and education from an engineering perspective. As engineers, we are taught to view the world objectively. We can hope, believe and calculate a particular outcome, but natural laws are inflexible and pay no heed to who we are or what we believe. We must approach the objective dispassionately, while compensating for our own distorted perceptions. Balance is also a key element; balancing between the ideal and the pragmatic, balancing cost and functionality, balancing analysis with action, etc.
Scheduling routine critical self-analysis is the foundation to objectivity. If we do not fully understand and compensate for our own failures, tendencies, habits and skewed thought processes, we will not see the world as it is. Without a regular critical self-analysis we will see the world as we are and then fall prey to self-delusion.
Failure is a great teacher. When failure is coupled with perseverance, it produces the fruit of patience and humility. An engineer, fresh out of engineering school is typically set up for failure early and often. The failure breaks the new engineer of any ideas of self-importance, arrogance and book smarts. Only then can the new engineer be formed and molded into a productive element in the industry.
Thanks,
Bernie
My priorities
The shooting has forced me to develop a list of priorities. At the top of the list is faith, then love, then freedom, then honor and duty. Way down on my list is life. If I have lived a life of faith and love in a free manner; and if my life is one characterized with courage, convictions and character, then I am ready to go at any time. I will die some day; one out of one people will die. The probability of me meeting my end is quite high…as it is with my children. It is not a matter of if I will die, it is when. I can't give something a high priority when that something is inevitable.
For me, this isn’t just talk. Since the death of my brother, I have learned to live everyday as if it was my last. Every morning that I wake, I give thanks to God, “Lord, it appears that you have given me the privilege and opportunity to see the dawn of another day. In this new day, help me to find another area of my life to surrender to your will and your ways. Show me another person to love today and lead me in your Truth. (For this is only one Truth, one Way and one life; and it is only found in Jesus) And if you take me out of this world today, let me go with a clear conscience, a pure heart and a genuine faith.”
I have repaired the broken areas in my life. I have gained a clear conscience with acquaintances and family. I have forgiven all those who have wounded me. And I am at peace with God. I am ready.
If I have left this life in a gruesome manner at the hands of a criminal, don’t grieve for me. I am in a better place. Instead grieve for the person who took my life; that person is living in torment, unable to see the life, love and freedom that Jesus has to offer. But forgive that person, because I already have.
We encourage your comments but will strive to remove discussion that contains personal attacks, racial slurs, profanity or other inappropriate material as outlined in our guidelines. We post-moderate comments on most content, but may choose to pre-moderate some comments so please be patient if you don't see yours appear right way. We also ask for your help by reporting comments you think are inappropriate.
30 Comments
MGarber - Dec 18, 2012 2:53 PM
Its pointless to fear death.
As I abide by no god, I dont expect to ever be "in a better place" than this, so, like you, I make a concerted efffort to make this place a little better.
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 18, 2012 3:41 PM
I would first have to tell him that I exist.
MGarber,
As a result of not fearing death, I don't fear the Newtown shooter. But I balance that with precaution. I can't readily identify a person who just snapped and wants to go down in a blaze of glory but I want to be able to protect others from an emotionally unstable person with a gun.
jman99 - Dec 18, 2012 3:53 PM
how about a car? if the emotionally unstable person had a car would you protect others from that person?
MGarber - Dec 18, 2012 4:00 PM
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 18, 2012 5:02 PM
Hillarious!
George,
The early colonial concept of policing involved the idea that all citizens are vital to the detection and prevention of crimes. Everyone was a deputy.
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 18, 2012 5:05 PM
An unstable person with a car can do tremendous damage. Please see the fatalities of drunk driving. Unfortunately, there is little that others can do in that situation.
Pierre Del Norte - Dec 18, 2012 5:22 PM
That was rich!
jman99 - Dec 18, 2012 6:23 PM
An unstable person with a car can do tremendous damage. Please see the fatalities of drunk driving. Unfortunately, there is little that others can do in that situation."
Just take your gun to the nearest bar and wait in the parking lot for the first drunk that drives away. Then simply prevent him/her from driving away ad endangering the public.
ExToDResident - Dec 18, 2012 6:24 PM
It is a great joke no matter who the main character is.
WFB resident - Dec 19, 2012 2:08 PM
look above , somehow they see it as witty or a semblence of smart ! How sad .
VoicesOfAuthority - Dec 19, 2012 3:43 PM
Most engineers I know deal in logic and don't have time to waste thanking the imaginary sky god for another day of life every morning.
Maybe you don't want people to grieve for you when you die because you are in a 'better place', but that load of crap is based on fear of death and rationalizing it for some afterlife so the sting of death from living 'this life' is not as ominous or frightening to the masses
Those children in Connecticut are not 'in a better place'. They're dead and will not get the chance to live their lives. So don't go talking about God's plan. If the imaginary sky god had this as a plan, then anyone worshiping the resurrected zombie lie should reexamine their damned beliefs and maybe pick up a more worthwhile hobby to spend their time on instead.
But wait, the Devil made him do it. Another cop out. Total BS.
No god or demon or devil makes the world this way, WE DO.
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 19, 2012 10:12 PM
I do agree that the devil doesn't make anyone do anything. We make our own choices. However, the balance to that thought is that we fall prey rather easily to addictive thoughts and behaviors. Once we have deceived ourselves we become blind to truth and the heinous crimes we commit may be rationalized in our own warped minds. And in fact, even seems good to us. There is no possible way for man to come to truth on our own.
I am only speaking for myself when saying that I am ready to go. I have lived and full and rich life. Everything from here on out is gravy.
This tragedy is not part of God's plan. With a cursory reading of the Bible we find that plans for good, but allows free will to man to determine the course of action. If our will is corrupt, we will act on it.
And yes, I do believe in 'Intelligent Design'. There is much more to this existance than merely material substance.
WFB resident - Dec 19, 2012 11:49 PM
jman99 - Dec 20, 2012 8:14 AM
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/532630_307377172696579_1286692404_n.jpg
Now I don't want to pry, but you did mention Europe and concentration camps.
Rabbi have a lot of experience dealing with the trauma that is generationally transposed to children by parents and grand parents. I have no idea if you have any connection to the Hebrew faith, but it has been my experience that most Rabbi will do their utmost to council in situations without regard to what ever faith you belong. It was not just the Jews who were traumatised during the Holocaust, but it is the Jews who have been best at developing remedy for the poison of the fallout of the Holocaust.
What could it hurt to try?
MGarber - Dec 20, 2012 8:46 AM
Unless youre using 'Intelligent Design' in some unique manner those are 2 totally different things.
Bernie Ziebart - Dec 20, 2012 9:04 AM
My dad experienced the horrors of the Nazi regime and WWII in Germany first hand. He had done his best to supress any memory of the trauma. For the most part, he has adapted to life well since then. But at the age of 75 he started getting panic attacks and started to re-live those horrors.
I don't think it is possible to have experienced what he had and not need counseling.
Healing started when my dad learned to forgive the guards who beat him mercilessly and killed others. My grandmother was a bit more open about the stories and handed down a legacy of mistrust of government.
I had analyzed my own mistrust of government years ago and decided that the mistrust can be beneficial. My level of mistrust is not to the point of being paranoid; I have run for elected office, I am involved in political campaigns and I have a deep appreciation for our Founding Fathers and the constitution.
But I am also aware that power corrupts and politicians have a lust for power and control. The only safeguard for liberty is when the politicians fear the people.
MGarber - Dec 20, 2012 9:11 AM
Unless youre using 'Intelligent Design' in some unique manner those are 2 totally different things.