A Petition to Share for Good Government

14 Jul 2026 4 Comments

Image by Dr. John Persico Jr.

Memory – A Perishable Commodity That is Invaluable

23 Jul 2026 2 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , ,

Once in a while it is fun to do a blog on a song that means a lot to me and I hope to some of my readers as well.  I have done several of these “song blog posts” in the past.  I hear the song while I am writing and I only wish that I were musical enough to be able to sing it as well as write about it. 

This particular song is from the musical Cats which is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.  Mr. Webber had a slew of great musicals with some very unforgettable songs.  This song is called “Memory.”  The song “Memory” from the 1981 musical Cats was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics written by Trevor Nunn, which were based on the poems of T.S. Eliot.

The song is about an elderly feline Grizabella who dreams of the days when she was young and beautiful and full of energy.  She has a chance to be reborn again and holds out hope for this to happen, which is reflected in the song.  The song is more than just about growing old, it is about aging, loss, regret, identity, hope and the courage to continue living.  For those of us over a certain age who think of themselves as “elderly” it was like this song was written for us.  I know when I hear the rising and falling tones that I feel sad but also joyful.  Perhaps there is a life again after this one. 

My memories come alive like characters in a movie that I am watching.  Only the movie is in my mind.  My father is driving in the car with my mom and I.  My mother is taking me to a Chinese restaurant on a Friday night in Jamaica.  I am pulling my sisters hair because she is annoying me.  My cousin and I are building a tree fort, but no girls are allowed.  Time goes by from childhood to adolescence, to youthful adult, to middle age, to growing old but not wanting to admit it, to finally conceding that I am old, to realizing that death is what my next adventure may be.  In all of these stages, friends, enemies and relatives make brief appearances on stage with me.  But I remain the star of my show.  Perhaps someday, someplace, somewhere, they will make a movie of my life.  “The Young John Persico.”  But I doubt it and it would probably not be a big box office hit anyway.

Memory
Turn your face to the moonlight
Let your memory lead you
Open up, enter in
If you find there
The meaning of what happiness is
Then a new life will begin

In this first verse, we see an association between happiness and starting a new life.  It makes us wonder if we struggle to live a life and that living does not really begin until we know what happiness means.  But happiness is not going to mean the same thing to you as it does to me.  I thought that once I was retired and beyond a reasonable prospect of finding meaningful work that my “happy” days were over.  I have never been so happy as when I was doing work that had meaning and purpose.  Work that would make a difference to the world and just maybe make the world a slightly better place than when I entered it.

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember
The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory
Live again

The singer (Grizabella) remembers a time when she was admired, attractive, and full of life.  She isn’t merely recalling youth—she is remembering when she felt that she belonged.

“I was beautiful then” isn’t simply about physical beauty.  It means:

  • I mattered.
  • I was loved.
  • I had purpose.
  • I knew joy.

This is something many older people experience.  We don’t simply miss being young—we miss being the person we once were.  We look in the mirror, and we do not recognize the person that we see because the images that we have in our mind do not match the image we see in the mirror.  I still run as fast as I did when I was 30 years old except my mile times back then were six minutes and now they are 13 minutes.  I think my watch must be running slower.  On a recent scuba diving trip, the deck hands called me “Pops.”  I had to look around to see who they were talking to. 

We don’t go to wild parties anymore, first because we never did and second because we would not last five minutes anyway.  My life seemed to have more purpose when I was working.  There was and is an indelible association in my mind with getting a weekly paycheck and having a real purpose in my life.  A monthly Social Security check does not seem to do the trick.

I knew what happiness was when I cashed my paychecks.  Each check represented the value of my work for the world.  I was naïve but happiness was working and getting paid.  As we grow older and wiser, the meaning of happiness evolves and matures.  Happiness goes from certainty to uncertainty and back to certainty.  But like the Zen Cycle, the new or latest certainty has a different character and a different profile than the certainty we had when we were young. 

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
A street lamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning

I wake up in the morning.  An ugly taste in my mouth.  Cigarette butts fill the numerous ashtrays, and the smell of tobacco lingers in the air.  Empty bottes of wine and beer are scattered around the kitchen and a few tables.  The kitchen sink is full of plates and glasses.  There is a stillness in the room which contrasts vividly with the noise and boisterousness of the previous nights.  Interesting how life can change so quickly like day goes into night.  But it is time to get back to business.  Nothing is forever.  Friends, relatives, and jobs are so much smoke in the air.  Here today and gone tomorrow.  The only certainty is that life goes on with or without us. 

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn’t give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

This verse makes me think of the famous line from the Shakespeare comedy, “As You Like It.”

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”

Well, I am ending my seventh chronological age and in September will begin my eighth age.  Karen wants me to go for nine, but I keep telling her that the odds are against it.  But if I don’t give in, if I don’t concede to the inevitable, perhaps I have more memories to create.  Can I talk myself into surviving when like others before me, I no longer feel like I fit into the present world.  I am reminded of the words written by Thomas Jefferson.

On May 11 in 1819, Thomas Jefferson wrote about making peace with his slow descent toward death.

“A decline of health, at the age of 76, was naturally to be expected,” he wrote, “and is a warning of an event which cannot be distant, and whose approach I contemplate with little concern.  For indeed in no circumstance has nature been kinder to us than in the soft gradations by which she prepares us to part willingly with what we are not destined always to retain.

“First one faculty is withdrawn and then another, sight, hearing, memory, eucrasy, affections, and friends, filched one by one till we are left among strangers, the mere monuments of times past, and specimens of antiquity for the observation of the curious.”

Maybe I am too pessimistic, but I think we have a time we belong to and a time we don’t belong to.  My parents did not belong to the Elvis and Beatles era, and I do not belong to the Taylor Swift and JayZ era.  I increasingly feel like “a specimen of antiquity” as did Jefferson. 

By the way, Eucrasy means (a healthy, well-balanced state of the body).  I had to look that up.  I am always amazed at how erudite our Founding Fathers were. 

Sunlight through the trees in summer
Endless masquerading
Like a flower as the dawn is breaking
The memory is fading

Life is a charade.  We play many roles and fulfill many identities in life.  Many if not most of these simply fade away like Mac Arthur’s “Old Soldier”.  Our memories fade.  Strange it is to wonder what we will be left with.  I remember digging trees with Mexican Braceros who did not speak English.  I remember climbing a tree to escape the police when I was in high school.  But I can’t remember my first date or the first woman I was really in love with.

I remember going to the 1964 Worlds Fair when I was 16 and spending two days looking at exhibits by myself.  I remember both times when I tried to eat a fried banana.  Once at the 1964 Worlds Fair and once in 1966 at a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans.  Suffice it to say that the bananas did not agree with me.  But I did not give up.  Years later in Mexico, I tried again and was successful.  The third time was a charm.  Would I have tried more times with some other endeavors in my life.  Those are memories that I try to forget. 

Touch me
It’s so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You’ll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day
Has begun

Now we reach the emotional climax.

Many people hear this as a request for physical affection.  I think it is far more profound.

She is asking:

  • See me.
  • Recognize me.
  • Treat me like I still matter.

Every lonely elderly person understands this plea.  We want to know that we still count.  Perhaps that is why grandparenting has become so important.  As Baby Boomers leave behind so many of the things that they lived for, grandchildren replace the antiques of their lives with the youth and curiosity that we once owned.  We may not go raging into the night, but we do not want to go lonely into the night. 

I was stumped though by what the line “If you touch me, you’ll understand what happiness is.”

I asked Metis (AI Assistant)  how she would interpret this line.  She gave me four possibilities. 

The one I like best says that compassion gives people back their humanity.  When someone reaches out with kindness— they help restore the person’s dignity.

Grizabella is saying: “Compassion transforms not only the lonely person—it transforms the compassionate person as well.”

Finale: 

I do not really have much more to say so I will not call this a conclusion section.  I leave it to you to form your own conclusions.  What would be a fitting end or denouement to this blogpost?  My friend SoundEagle has advised me not to call these blogs but blogposts.  A sort of technical difference but I have taken his advice. 

I like the idea of a finale since it goes along with the music theme of the blog.  So, what better way to end this blog.  You guessed it.

What Makes a Righteous Man or a Righteous Woman? – J. Persico and Metis (AI Assistant)

19 Jul 2026 2 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I want to talk about the idea of righteousness in my blog today.   Of course, I did not invent this concept.   But I do have my own definition for the concept.   I am going to give you my definition and then some popular definitions from other perspectives.   

A righteous person consistently places truth, justice, compassion, and integrity above personal gain.  They willingly sacrifice wealth, comfort, reputation, or even life itself when necessary to protect others, uphold justice, or defend what is right.  They serve others without expecting reward, listen with humility, admit mistakes, practice self-control, and continually strive to become a better human being.  They freely share credit, accept responsibility, and recognize that most worthwhile human achievements are built upon the efforts of many rather than the glory of one.  Their character inspires trust because their thoughts, words, and actions remain aligned even when doing so comes at great personal cost.  Following are a few examples from history of righteous people who were not afraid to die for their beliefs and actions. 

Martin Luther said, “Here I stand.  I can do no other.” 

Socrates said,  “And if you say to me, “Socrates, we will let you go free but only on condition that you stop your questioning,” then I will reply, “Men of Athens, I honor and love you.  But I must obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I will never stop doing philosophy.”

Jesus said: “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.” Pontius Pilate had claimed that he had the authority to release or crucify Jesus.

Nelson Mandela said, “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society… It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Sophie Scholl, shortly before her execution by the Nazis said, “I am, now as before, of the opinion that I did the best that I could do for my nation.  I therefore do not regret my conduct and will bear the consequences that result from my conduct.

Now let us look at how some religions with considerably more wisdom than I have define the idea of a Righteous Person. 

✡️ Judaism

Perhaps the religion that has done the most to bring the concept to the attention of the world.   In Judaism, a righteous person (tzaddik) is someone who strives to live according to God’s will as revealed in the Torah.  Righteousness is demonstrated through faithful obedience to God’s commandments (mitzvot), justice (tzedek), mercy, humility, honesty, and compassion.  A righteous Jew seeks to honor God not only through worship but also through ethical treatment of others, caring for the poor, welcoming the stranger, and pursuing peace (shalom).  The Hebrew prophets consistently taught that righteousness is measured as much by moral conduct and social justice as by religious observance.  While no person is considered perfect, the righteous continually repent, grow in character, and seek reconciliation with God and others.  Righteousness is ultimately expressed in covenant faithfulness, integrity, and living a life that sanctifies God’s name.

✝️ Catholicism

In Catholicism, righteousness is living in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, participation in God’s grace, and cooperation with that grace through a life of holiness.  While salvation begins as God’s free gift, righteousness is nurtured through the sacraments, prayer, scripture, charity, and faithful obedience to God’s commandments.  A righteous person seeks to imitate Christ by practicing the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, along with the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.  Genuine righteousness is reflected in love for God and neighbor, concern for the poor, forgiveness, humility, and a commitment to justice.  Catholics understand righteousness as both an inner transformation by grace and an outward life of good works inspired by that grace.

✝️ Protestantism

Most Protestant traditions define righteousness primarily as being made right with God through faith alone (sola fide) in Jesus Christ.  Human beings cannot earn righteousness through good works; instead, Christ’s righteousness is credited to believers through faith.  Good works do not produce salvation but naturally flow from genuine faith as evidence of a transformed life.  A righteous person trusts in God’s grace, seeks to obey Scripture, grows in holiness through the Holy Spirit, and demonstrates love, integrity, compassion, forgiveness, and service to others.  While Protestant denominations vary in emphasis, they generally agree that righteousness begins with God’s grace, is received by faith, and is demonstrated through a life increasingly shaped by Christ’s character.

🕉️ Hinduism

In Hinduism, righteousness is living according to dharma—one’s moral, spiritual, and social duty in harmony with the cosmic order.  A righteous person practices truthfulness (satya), nonviolence (ahimsa), self-discipline, compassion, generosity, and respect for all forms of life.  Because dharma may differ according to one’s stage of life and responsibilities, righteousness involves faithfully fulfilling one’s obligations while acting without selfish attachment to results, as taught in the Bhagavad Gita.  Such a person seeks spiritual growth through right action, devotion, knowledge, or meditation.  By cultivating virtue and reducing selfish desires, the righteous gradually purify their karma and move toward liberation (moksha), the ultimate realization of unity with the Divine.

☸️ Buddhism

In Buddhism, righteousness is not defined by obedience to a creator God but by living in accordance with the Dharma—the truth about reality and the path that ends suffering.  A righteous person cultivates wisdom, ethical conduct, compassion, mindfulness, and mental discipline.  They follow principles such as the Noble Eightfold Path, avoiding actions that produce harm while developing loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), generosity, patience, and equanimity.  Right intention, right speech, right action, and right livelihood are central expressions of righteous living.  Rather than seeking divine approval, the righteous Buddhist seeks to overcome greed, hatred, and ignorance, benefiting both themselves and others while progressing toward enlightenment (nirvana).

☪️ Islam

In Islam, righteousness (al-birr) is wholehearted submission to Allah through faith, obedience, and sincere devotion.  The Qur’an teaches that righteousness includes belief in God, His prophets, revealed scriptures, angels, and the Last Day, along with faithful performance of prayer, charity (zakat), fasting, honesty, justice, patience, mercy, and kindness.  A righteous person possesses taqwa—a deep awareness and reverence for God that guides every aspect of life.  Following the example (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad, they strive for purity of heart, integrity, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion toward others.  Righteousness is measured not only by religious rituals but by moral character, social responsibility, and sincere intentions.  Ultimately, the righteous seek to please Allah in both private and public life.

✴️ Bahá’í Faith

In the Bahá’í Faith, righteousness is living in harmony with God’s will while recognizing the unity of humanity and the progressive revelation of God’s messengers.  A righteous person reflects divine attributes such as truthfulness, justice, compassion, humility, trustworthiness, generosity, and love.  Bahá’ís believe that spiritual growth occurs through prayer, service, moral discipline, and continual self-improvement.  Righteousness is expressed not only in personal virtue but also in active efforts to promote peace, eliminate prejudice, advance equality between women and men, pursue justice, and contribute to the betterment of society.  Service to humanity is regarded as a form of worship.  A righteous person strives to align thought, word, and deed with God’s teachings while fostering unity among all people, regardless of race, nationality, or religion.

Looking at the above definitions might lead one to conclude that there are several common principles that all have in common.  You would be right.  I have summarized them in the table below and then provided a description following the table.  I hope that as you read this, it will not be strictly an academic exercise.  I think the concept of being a “righteous” person is an excellent concept to live by.  Ask yourself, which of these principles reflect beliefs and more important actions.  Then apply these to the next lawyer, politician or anyone else you decide to work with. 

Here are six principles that are found, in one form or another, in every one of these religions.

Universal PrincipleJudaismCatholicProtestantHinduBuddhistIslamBahá’í
1. Moral Integrity (Truth & Honesty)✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
2. Compassion & Love for Others✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
3. Justice & Fairness✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
4. Self-Discipline / Self-Control✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
5. Service to Others✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
6. Personal Spiritual Growth✓✓✓✓✓✓✓

1. Moral Integrity

Every religion insists that righteousness begins with being truthful and honest.

  • Judaism: obey God’s commandments honestly.
  • Christianity: live truthfully before God.
  • Islam: truthfulness is a mark of taqwa.
  • Hinduism: satya (truth) is one of the highest virtues.
  • Buddhism: Right Speech forbids lying.
  • Bahá’í: Truthfulness is called “the foundation of all human virtues.”

Without integrity, none of the others consider a person righteous.

2. Compassion

Every religion teaches that righteous people care about others.

This may be called

  • Love
  • Mercy
  • Compassion
  • Loving-kindness
  • Charity
  • Benevolence

but it always means putting another person’s welfare ahead of selfishness.

Interestingly, compassion is probably the single most universal religious virtue.

3. Justice

All seven religions insist that righteousness requires fairness.

Examples:

  • protecting the weak
  • honesty in business
  • fairness in judgment
  • defending the oppressed
  • respecting human dignity

Justice may be defined differently, but no religion praises selfish exploitation.

4. Self-Control

This one surprised me when I first start studying the different religions.

Every one teaches that righteousness requires mastery over one’s own desires.

Examples include

  • resisting temptation
  • controlling anger
  • avoiding greed
  • practicing humility
  • moderation
  • discipline

In Buddhism this means overcoming attachment.

In Christianity it is resisting sin.

In Islam it is submission to Allah.

In Hinduism it is mastery over desire.

Different language—same principle.

5. Service

A righteous person does not merely avoid evil.

They actively do good.

Examples include

  • helping the poor
  • generosity
  • charity
  • hospitality
  • kindness
  • community service
  • peacemaking

This principle appears almost universally.

6. Continuous Spiritual Growth

No religion says,

“You’re righteous now.  You’re finished.”

Instead they all teach continual growth.

Judaism:
Become more faithful.

Catholicism:
Grow in holiness.

Protestantism:
Sanctification.

Islam:
Increase in taqwa.

Hinduism:
Purify karma.

Buddhism:
Progress toward enlightenment.

Bahá’í:
Develop divine virtues.

Every religion sees righteousness as a journey rather than a destination.

An Even Deeper Commonality

Looking at these traditions side by side, they all point toward one overarching principle:

A righteous person is someone who continually seeks to bring their inner character and outward actions into harmony with the highest moral reality they recognize.

For Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í Faith, that highest reality is God.

For Hinduism, it is dharma and ultimate reality (Brahman).

For Buddhism, it is the Dharma and the true nature of reality.

The metaphysical foundations differ, but the practical direction is remarkably similar: transform yourself so that your thoughts, words, and deeds consistently express truth, compassion, justice, self-control, and service to others.

I find it striking to think that if you met seven truly righteous people—one from each of these religions—you might notice their theological differences, but you would likely recognize many of the same virtues in their character. That shared moral core has been one of the enduring insights of comparative religion.

Go back now and review my definition?  Does it hold up?  Does it reflect any or some of the principles noted in the religions named? 

Conclusions:

I want to end with some questions.  Years ago, I always ended my blogs with questions but somehow I lost this idea.  It is especially important because questions help us to reflect on life.  “The unexamined life is not worth living,” it is a decent quote to live by.  Here then are some questions to help you lead an examined life. 

Are you a righteous person?  Why or why not? 

Would others say that you are a righteous person?

Do all of the above principles apply to your actions as well as your stated beliefs?

Do you know when you are being a hypocrite or when you stray from your beliefs?

How charitable would people say that you are if you included charity to the entire human race and not just your tribe, religion, friends, or family?

How many friends do you have that you would say were righteous people?

Are you satisfied that you are on the right moral, ethical and spiritual path? 

How Education Destroyed Four Friends! by J. Persico

16 Jul 2026 Leave a comment

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized

How Education Destroyed Four Friends!

Why History Takes Some People Seriously — J. Persico and Metis-AI Expert

12 Jul 2026 25 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes my best blog ideas come at 3 AM in the morning.  This morning I woke up thinking about “What does it take to be taken seriously?”  Are people just reading my blogs and thinking “That sounds nice” or “Sounds like a good idea but not for me.”  I hope that I am writing these blogs as more than mere entertainment.  I want my ideas to be taken seriously.  But what does that mean to be taken seriously? 

I wrote down the title and then decided to list several people I know who I thought were taken seriously.  My simplistic definition of “seriously” at this point simply meant that lots of people have read or listened to the ideas of these “great” people. 

I decided to go to Metis, my AI assistant with the following prompt:

“What did the following writers all have in common: Thomas Hobbes, Rousseau, Voltaire, Harriet Stowe, George Orwell, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare?”

Metis replied:

That’s a good one, John.  My first reaction is that there are several defensible answers, but I suspect you’re aiming at something deeper than “they were all famous writers.”

The strongest common thread is this:

They all used the written word as a weapon to challenge the prevailing order and change how people thought about society.

Each of them attacked an accepted belief, institution, or power structure:

  • Thomas Hobbes redefined the purpose of government through the social contract.
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that legitimate government rests on the will of the people.
  • Voltaire attacked religious intolerance, censorship, and absolutism.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe exposed the human cost of slavery and galvanized abolitionist sentiment.
  • George Orwell warned against totalitarianism, propaganda, and the abuse of language.
  • Charles Dickens exposed poverty, child labor, and the injustices of industrial society.
  • William Shakespeare explored ambition, power, justice, tyranny, love, and the human condition in ways that continue to shape Western thought.

Another fascinating connection is that almost all of them made powerful people uncomfortable. Kings, churches, governments, aristocracies, slaveholders, industrialists, or dictators viewed their ideas as dangerous.  Many were censored, persecuted, exiled, or vilified during their lifetimes.

This reply really did not help me.  These writers received popularity and fame but were they taken seriously?  It struck me that perhaps they were seen more as interesting and entertaining than people who were making a profound impact on the destiny of the human race.  Like celebrities on at TV show.  Oprah, Kimmel, and others.  We watch them and then go back to our daily lives and nothing changes. 

I needed to sharpen my definition of what I meant by “taken seriously.” 

I went back to bed.  The next morning, I went back to the proverbial drawing board and came up with another group of people who I thought really made a difference.  I again wrote another prompt for Metis: 

“After I went back to bed last night, I thought of another angle on this subject.  Not just who was widely read but whose writings had the most impact on human history.  I came up with the following list:  None can argue that these men did not make an impact.  My new list included:  Jesus, Mohammed, Confucious, Aristotle, Buddha, Martin Luther, Karl Marx, Lao Tzu, Moses and Plato.”

“I think if you can extract some common principles that made these writers, philosophers and prophets not just listened to but acted on to create changes in the world, I will have a good outline for my paper on Being taken Seriously.” 

______________________________________________________________________________

Metis Again Replied:

John, I actually think you’ve sharpened the question considerably.

Instead of asking, “Who were the greatest writers?” you’re asking,

“What characteristics did the people have whose ideas actually changed civilization?”

That’s a much richer question because it looks at impact, not literary style.

Looking at your list—Jesus, Muhammad, Confucius, Aristotle, Gautama Buddha, Martin Luther, Karl Marx, Lao Tzu, Moses, and Plato—their conclusions are often incompatible.  Yet they share remarkable structural similarities.

If I were writing your paper, I would argue that history takes people seriously for reasons that have little to do with charisma or fame.

Here is the outline I would propose.

The Ten Characteristics of Civilization-Changing Thinkers

1. They addressed humanity’s biggest questions.

None of them wrote about trivial matters.

2. They built a complete worldview.

They did not simply solve one problem.  Each created an intellectual framework.

3. They challenged the existing order.

Every one of them questioned prevailing authority.

4. They made complicated ideas understandable.

This may be one of the greatest lessons.  Jesus used parables.  Buddha used stories.

5. They appealed to something higher than self-interest.

They asked people to live for something larger.  Truth, justice, freedom, equality

6. They connected ideas with action.

None merely described reality.  Each expected followers to live differently.

7. They embodied their teachings.

Whether one agrees with them or not, followers generally believed these leaders sincerely lived what they taught.

8. They endured opposition.

Nearly every civilization-changing thinker paid a price.  Ridicule.  Persecution.

9. They created communities, not merely readers.

This may be the single biggest distinction.  Millions have read Dickens.  Millions have read Shakespeare. 

Few formed lifelong communities around them.

Your list created civilizations.

10. Their ideas remained useful across generations.

This may be the ultimate test.  If an idea still helps people solve problems hundreds or thousands of years later, it possesses unusual depth.

That is why we are still discussing Aristotle after 2,300 years.

History is filled with people who were famous.  It is far more selective about those it takes seriously.  Fame attracts attention.  Being taken seriously changes civilization.

John: 

When I worked In quality improvement, we taught our clients about process and outcomes.  One is cause and the other is effect.  The ten factors that Metis described above all deal with outcomes.  What we need to write and to be taken seriously are processes or causes that link to outcomes.  Based on the research I did, I have come up with ten process factors that link to the ten outcomes above.  Not on a one to one basis but more on a multi-factor basis in that several causes may link to one or more effects. 

What this means to a writer that wants to be taken seriously is that you need to address as many of these process factors as possible.  I will go through each of them individually with my own experiences and opinions.  I certainly do not claim to have changed civilization.  What follows is simply my attempt to identify the habits shared by those who did change the world.  On the other hand, great coaches are seldom great athletes.  Great teachers are seldom great philosophers.  Some of us can see what needs to be done but are not really capable of doing it ourselves.  I invite those of you who have had more impact with your writings to critique my viewpoints and hopefully add your own.  My comments section is open to any discussion and ideas you might choose to share. 

How to Be Taken Seriously?

A person is taken seriously not because they are loud, famous, or certain.  They are taken seriously because they consistently demonstrate qualities that thoughtful people respect.

1. Seek truth above winning.

    Your loyalty should be to the evidence, not to your ideology.  Let the facts speak.  A court of law should be governed by facts and evidence but too often, the egos of the lawyers are driven by winning and not justice.  Do not let your writing resemble an unfair trial.  Be rigorous to the evidence.  Admit what you do not know.  Socrates, the wisest man in Greece claimed to know nothing.

      2. Challenge assumptions – including your own.

      Every great thinker questioned accepted wisdom before questioning others.  I had two rules when I was consulting.  One was to never assume.  Check out all my assumptions.  Hold everything that I think is true as a possibility and not an absolute truth.  Absolute truth is another name for God and unless you are God, you do not have an absolute truth.  Darwin took twenty years of research before he published his conclusions.

      3. Understand before criticizing.

      The strongest arguments begin with accurately presenting the opposing view.  A good friend of mine told me about the time he was in a meeting speaking when someone replied, “That is stupid.”  My friend was one of the smartest people I ever knew.  This incensed me on behalf of my friend.  In my younger days, I would have punched this ass in the mouth if he had called me stupid. 

      I asked my friend what did he say?  He replied, “I asked him why he thought it was stupid?”   I will never forget this.  It was well beyond my capacity to imagine anyone calling me stupid and then simply requesting their opinion.  At a company business meeting, I once threatened to throw another colleague out the window for a sarcastic remark he made.  Most thought I was joking.  I admired my friend for his open-mindedness and restraint.  I hope I have learned some of it in old age.

      4. Appeal to both reason and humanity. 

      Facts inform minds.  Stories move hearts.  I have learned this lesson only in the past few years or so.  I now realize why we have a heart and a brain.  They are both channels of communication.  Your writing will be more powerful and persuasive if you address both.  Jesus told stories that spoke to the heart as well as the mind.  The story of the adulterous woman and the prodigal son are two stories that have resonated with the world for over 2000 years. 

      5.  Write clearly.

      If an intelligent high-school student cannot understand your point, the problem is probably not with the student.  After completing my Ph.D., I took a position in a quality consulting firm called PMI for Process Management Institute.  I wanted to be considered a serious consultant, so my education continued after I took this position.  I published over fifty papers and two books during my time as a consultant. 

      However, I was not writing for the academic world, I was writing for the business world.  I had to unlearn “academese” and learn to speak English again; one syllable at a time over the next few years.  As my English teacher once told me, there are two ways that you can say anything.  You can say “Up the proverbial estuary without means of locomotion” or you can say “Up shit creek without a paddle.”  The first will only be understood by a select group of scholars while the second will be understood by just about anybody who speaks the English language.

      6. Speak about enduring principles.

      Justice, freedom, dignity, responsibility, compassion, truth, and courage never go out of style.  What are you about?  Why do you want to be taken seriously?  Changing people requires them to buy into more than just your hats or t-shirts.  People are motivated by visions and missions that promise them a better life.  If you want your ideas to be taken seriously, your writing must hold out the possibility of living in a better world.  Patrick Henry will never be forgotten because he was willing to choose liberty even if it meant his death.  

      7. Admit uncertainty.

      Nothing builds credibility faster than saying, “I don’t know,” when you don’t know.  Perhaps the downfall of many leaders and managers has been an inability to admit what they do not know.  Ironically, none of us trust the “know it all.”  Yet, we all have a difficult time saying, “I did not know that.”  Or “I do not understand, can you explain it to me?” 

      Ego has led to the downfall of many a great person.  The man or woman who can admit uncertainty is someone we trust more than the person who is sure of everything they say.  Napoleon refused to admit that there was any possibility he could be defeated when he invaded Russia.  His arrogance led to the almost total destruction of his army.  Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia in June 1812 with approximately 600,000 to 650,000 troops.  After six months of brutal fighting, extreme cold, starvation, and disease, only an estimated 100,000 to 112,000 soldiers survived the retreat out of Russia.  Hitler was warned but he made the same mistake.

      8. Change your mind when the evidence changes.

      Dogmatism destroys credibility; intellectual humility strengthens it.  Intellectual humility can save your life.  Every year, many people will die on hiking trails in Arizona during the hot summer months.  They will be told “You should not be out on this trail; it is too hot.”  They will ignore the warming or say something like “I have been running, hiking, working out, lifting weights etc. for more years than you are old.  I can handle it so don’t worry.”  These are the famous last words of many people who had little or no humility. 

      The Titanic is a classic example of a lack of intellectual humility.  It was believed that nothing (even God) could sink this great ship.  So sure, were the builders and owners that they only had 20 lifeboats on the ship.  This was not even enough for half of the passengers.  They also ignored numerous warnings of icebergs since they believed that nothing could sink the Titanic.  The rest is a well known story. 

      9. Offer solutions, not merely complaints.

      Anyone can criticize.  The serious thinker proposes a better path.  One of the personal problems I have with so many authors and writers is that they do a great critique of the issue or problem.  Than we come to the last chapter and their conclusions and suggestions for change are either non-existent or incredibly naïve.  I find academics usually have better solutions than journalists.  Journalists are excellent at describing problems but seldom can propose any useful solutions.  Do not just tell others what is wrong.  Spend as much time, telling them what they can possibly do to change things now.  Give them hope and a vision and not just woe and sorrow. 

      10. Live consistently with what you write.

        Character is the ultimate source of credibility.  People are taken seriously not because they seek influence, but because they consistently demonstrate wisdom, integrity, courage, clarity, and a commitment to truths larger than themselves.  I can think of no more powerful word that I want to live my life by than that of Integrity.  It is a shame that today we see so many people impressed by outcomes regardless  of the integrity of the person associated with them.  Jesus said “What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul.”  

        John F. Kennedy wrote a book called “Profiles in Courage.”  It featured eight United States Senators who risked their careers, reputations, and political futures by standing up for their personal principles.  Defying their constituents and political parties, these lawmakers prioritized national interest and moral conscience over personal ambition; thus, establishing a timeless standard for political integrity.

        Among my favorites stories was the case of Sam Houston who repeatedly defied mobs and risked his life by speaking out against the secession of Texas from the Union in 1861.  Several times he was threatened with being lynched for his beliefs, but he never backed down. 

        11. Ask unforgettable questions.

        Socrates’ legacy wasn’t a doctrine or a body of parables and principles, but a method of questioning.  Jesus frequently answered questions with questions.  Buddha often taught through dialogue.  Confucius framed moral reflection through inquiry.  Plato’s dialogues revolve around probing assumptions.  Even Marx began with the question of why economic inequality persists.  If you want to get peoples’ attention, start with a powerful question. 

        12. Pursue Significance, Not Wealth.  Write to be useful.  Write to make a difference.

        Today, there are thousands of people trying to make a living on the internet as media influencers.  Many of them care passionately about their ideas and what they see as methods to help people live better lives.  Unfortunately, there are many who care only about the money they think they can make by having hundreds or even thousands of subscribers. 

        I wrote a blog challenging people on this premise.  I understand that you can write to make money, but that is a very different animal than writing to help people live better lives.  Each of these directions start out from very different assumptions.  One is based on helping yourself while the other is based on helping others.  

        One of the most surprising discoveries I made while researching the most influential people in history was that very few became wealthy.  Of the ten civilization-changing figures I studied—Jesus, Muhammad, Confucius, Aristotle, Buddha, Martin Luther, Karl Marx, Lao Tzu, Moses, and Plato—none became fabulously rich.  Only Aristotle and Plato lived comfortably.  Buddha renounced a life of wealth, and most of the others lived modestly or even in poverty.

        Yet their ideas transformed civilizations and continue to influence billions of people today.  History rarely remembers people for what they accumulated; it remembers them for what they contributed.  If your primary goal is wealth, people may question your motives.  If your primary goal is truth, service, and improving the human condition, your ideas are far more likely to be taken seriously.

        Conclusions:

        History has never lacked intelligent people.  It has never lacked eloquent people.  It has never lacked passionate people.

        What it has always lacked are men and women whose character gives lasting credibility to their ideas.

        Being taken seriously is not something you demand from others.  It is something you earn.  

        You earn it – one act of integrity, one act of humility, one act of courage, and one act of truthfulness at a time.

        The End.

        The Christian Hypocrisy Jesus Condemned

        08 Jul 2026 38 Comments

        by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

        You have eyes but you do not see.  You have ears but you do not hear.  You say the words, but you ignore the deeds.  You claim to profess a belief in Christ, but you do not live according to the words of Christ.  You follow Christ by your own desires but not by the desires of Christ. 

        O Ye Christian Hypocrites!

        Let me be clear.  I have known many Christians whose lives reflected extraordinary compassion, humility, mercy, and sacrifice.  This essay is not about them.  It is about those who invoke Christ’s name while ignoring Christ’s teachings.

        I have watched Christians for seventy years now and what I see are too many hypocrites.  People who commit the same sins over and over again, buoyed up by their belief that they will be forgiven.  Forever forgiven for their debts and trespasses.  They call out the Lord’s name over and over again, “Please forgive my sins” but they do not change how they live or what they do. 

        O Ye Christian Hypocrites!

        You rant and rail against those who disagree with the specific brand of Christianity that you belong to.  All the rest of the Christians in the world will not be allowed in the same heaven as your Christian sect.  You demand that the Government put the Ten Commandments of Moses in the schools.  You demand they be put in City and Municipal offices.  You want to tear down the wall separating Government from Religion so that America can become a Christian Nation. 

        You ignore the fact that nothing, absolutely nothing in the Declaration of Independence calls for America to be a Christian Nation.  Where it says “God,” in your hypocrisy you read Christ.  Where it says “Creator” you read Christ.  The Founding Fathers knew what it was like to live under religious tyranny.  That is why they were wise enough to open the doors of America to all religions.   Religions such as  Congregationalists, Quakers, Calvinists, Muslims, Catholics, and Jews were all welcome. 

        O Ye Christian Hypocrites!

        If this hypocrisy was not enough, the worst is still to come.  The Christians who totally ignore the Sermon on the Mount.  Not the commands of Moses.  Not the commands of Joseph.  Not the commands of Isaiah.  The very commands of  Jesus on how to live and what to live for and by.  In my eighty years, I cannot recall hearing Christians campaign for the Sermon on the Mount with anything approaching the fervor devoted to displaying the Ten Commandments.  I have never heard a Christian demanding the Sermon on the Mount be placed in any schools.  Never in any Church.  Never in any Government Office.  The words of Moses and the Old Testament flow easily on the lips of many Christians but the very words of Jesus himself are ignored.  They are ignored or treated like so much heresy. 

        The Sermon on the Mount – Christ’s Beatitudes:

        The  Beatitudes are a series of blessings that are part of a more extensive order of teachings, including the Lord’s Prayer, called “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7).  The Beatitudes describe the virtues and attitudes of those who will inherit God’s Kingdom.  

        The Sermon on the Mount and its blessings, the Beatitudes, were purposefully spoken by Jesus to challenge our conventional thinking, to turn our world upside down and guide the disciples and those who followed Jesus into a “new” and genuine Biblical life that reflected the attributes and values of God’s Kingdom.

        • Love for all people, even our enemies
        • Servitude over acquiring earthly wealth and power

        These values opposed the law of retribution (eye for an eye) provided for within the Old Covenant and the Law of condemnation under the weight of sin leading to death.  

        They also oppose the entirety of this world’s systems and values, which are measured by accumulating wealth and power.

        Let us look at what Jesus said and what he wanted Christians to do in this world. 

        The Beatitudes from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

        1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

        Jesus placed this first because spiritual humility is the foundational starting point for entering a relationship with God.  You must acknowledge your spiritual need before you can receive spiritual wealth.  Those who are too arrogant to accept the help of God will not receive it nor will they enter God’s Kingdom.

        •  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

        Mourning” goes beyond standard bereavement.  It refers to a broken heart over one’s own moral failures and the pain caused by turning away from God.  However, It also includes feeling deep sorrow for the injustice, tragedy, and pain present in the world.  Not just in your own little family or your own church but for all the people suffering in the world whether from disease, injustice, famine, or politics.  Jesus meant for us to be Citizens of the World and not just our own little corner of the world.

        • Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.

        While the aggressive and ruthless seem to conquer the world now, Jesus promises that the quiet, trusting, and resilient will ultimately inherit the renewed creation.  The people with faith in his words.  The people who are silent but live out the words of Jesus in action and deeds.  Not the men and women who boast loudly of their faith like the Pharisee bragging about his wealth and contributions.

        • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

        Do these hypocritical Christians even know what righteousness means?  Do they think the mansions of the rich and famous are full of “Righteous” people?  Do they think the politicians collecting their bribes from lobbyists and corporations are “Righteous” people?

        According to Judaism a “Righteous person” is someone who acts justly, showing mercy, and fulfilling moral and communal obligations.  Jesus saw true righteousness as results in practical actions.  It means treating others with fairness, defending the vulnerable, showing mercy, and actively seeking justice. 

        O Ye Christian Hypocrites!

        It saddens me to get this far with the Words of Jesus.  It is exceedingly difficult to live in a world with people who profess one thing but do another.  People who claim that they want the USA to be a “Christian” nation, but who support violence, hatred, intolerance, and bigotry to others.  People who think that only members of their clans deserve respect or deserve to be treated like Jesus thought all people should be treated. 

        The questions that beg to be answered all start with Why?  Why do people who claim to be followers of Jesus not follow his words?  Why do people who read the bible and go to church regularly have a fundamental misunderstanding of the Beatitudes and instead practice hate, vengeance and intolerance.  Why do religions become tribes that insulate their members from understanding the beliefs of other religions?  Why is identity often more important than discipleship and following the true words of Jesus? 

        • Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

        The late Pope Francis authored a book titled,  “The Name of God Is Mercy.”  This book by Pope Francis gave me a deeper understanding of what it meant to be merciful.  I have never been what you might think of as merciful.  Francis said, “A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”  This is a beautiful thought.  Jesus also implied that those of us who have hard hearts towards others, the poor, the sick, the immigrants, the elderly would have a tough time being granted the mercy that we could not extend to the truly needy. 

        • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

        Who among us is truly “Pure” in heart?  What Christian out there would say they are not?  Yet, purity would seem to be an impossibility in this world.  Why then would Jesus put this onus on us?  Was he being unfair?  What did he mean by Pure in Heart?  

        Jesus meant that a pure heart is undivided.  It means loving God with your whole being, rather than having split loyalties between the world and spiritual life.  It means doing the right thing for the right reasons, completely free from hypocrisy, deceit, or the desire to impress others.  Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Jesus did not care for hypocrites, liars, and cheats.  His life exemplified his constant battle with these types of behaviors. 

        • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.

        This may just be the one that most people regardless of religion whether Christians or not, ignore.  The world seems to run on an engine of violence against others.

         It has been said by some that “Violence is as American as Apple Pie.”  Many Christians seem to have no problem finding passages in the Old Testament to validate any war that their leaders want to support.  Christian leaders as well as other sects have routinely met in the old Rose Garden with the President to bless America and wish us success in vanquishing our enemies. 

        I could understand this idea of violence from people like me who were taught by their parents to never let a slight or slur or assault go unpunished.  But if you say you subscribe to the words of Jesus then show me where Jesus said, “Go smite your enemies.”  When his disciple Peter drew a sword and cut off a man’s ear to protect him during his arrest, Jesus rebuked him.  He commanded Peter to put the sword away, warning that those who rely on violence will perish by it (Matthew 26:52).

        • Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

        Easy to say but so hard to do.  I am amazed by the hundreds of Christians who willingly gave their lives rather than renounce their belief in Jesus or his Father.   Not all Christians by any means are hypocrites.  Many Christians lead exemplary lives.  Many Christians try every day to put the words and ideas of Jesus into practice for themselves and for others. 

        It is easy for me to stand on a soapbox and excoriate Christians for being hypocritical.  I have never denied that in many parts of my life, I am a hypocrite.  I admit it.  I denounce it.  I work to overcome being a sexist, being a racist, being violent, being greedy, being xenophobic.  I know it is not easy since I have never reached the heights spoken of by Jesus.  Yet, I do not support those who claim to be Christians but who by their every word and deed show themselves to be anything but apostles of Jesus Christ. 

        I am fed up with the so called Christian religions and churches that support hatred and violence towards those who do not subscribe to whatever they call Christian beliefs. 

        I am fed up with those who want all Americans to become Christians.

        I am fed up with those who want to wage war on people and nations that do not subscribe to their religious, political, or economic values. 

        Too many of these efforts are led by people who say that they are “Good Christians.”  People who claim they only want to do the will of God.  But the will of God is bent to their own biases and prejudices.

        God save us all from the Christians who profess Christianity but practice a belief system that Jesus would not recognize.

        Christianity does not rest on a change of mind.  It rests on a change of heart. 

        What Does it Take to Have the Courage to Change Your Mind? — by J. Persico and Metis (AI Assistant)

        04 Jul 2026 14 Comments

        by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

        Do you hate to admit when you are wrong?  Do you try to defend your position even when it is indefensible?  If so, do not feel too bad.   You are in great company.   Throughout history, some of the greatest thinkers and most intelligent people in the world have refused to admit when they were dead wrong.   We are going to look at some of the most egregious examples of some very smart people who had some deeply mistaken ideas that they clung to despite  overwhelming evidence that they were dead wrong.   

        Lord Kelvin: When Great Certainty Meets New Evidence

        Lord Kelvin was one of the greatest physicists of the nineteenth century.  His contributions to thermodynamics, electricity, and engineering transformed modern science.  Yet even Kelvin demonstrated that genius is no guarantee against error.

        Kelvin argued that the Earth was only about 20 to 40 million years old.  Using the best physics available at the time, he calculated how long a molten Earth would take to cool to its present temperature.  Geologists and Charles Darwin objected that such a young Earth left far too little time for the slow processes of evolution and geological change, but Kelvin remained convinced that his calculations were correct.

        The missing piece of evidence was unknown to everyone at the time: radioactivity.  After the discovery of radioactive decay in the late 1890s, scientists realized that radioactive elements inside the Earth continually generate heat, dramatically slowing the planet’s cooling.  Modern dating methods now show the Earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old.  Kelvin’s mathematics had been sound—but his assumptions were incomplete.  His refusal to reconsider those assumptions delayed acceptance of the overwhelming evidence.

        Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: When Belief Overrules Evidence

        Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the supremely logical detective Sherlock Holmes, spent the final decades of his life passionately defending spiritualism.  He became convinced that séances, mediums, ghosts, and communication with the dead were genuine phenomena.

        Despite repeated investigations exposing many famous mediums as frauds, Doyle continued to defend them.  Perhaps the most famous example was his unwavering belief in the Cottingley Fairies photographs, which appeared to show two young girls playing with fairies.  Even after experts questioned the images and evidence accumulated that the photographs had been staged using paper cutouts, Doyle insisted they were authentic.  Decades later, the women involved admitted they had fabricated the photographs.

        Doyle’s story is a powerful reminder that intelligence alone does not protect us from self-deception.  A person may apply rigorous logic in one area of life while allowing hope, emotion, or deeply held beliefs to override evidence in another.  His willingness to believe extraordinary claims despite repeated contrary evidence stands as one of history’s most striking examples of confirmation bias.

        Albert Einstein: The Genius Who Resisted Quantum Reality

        Albert Einstein revolutionized physics through the theories of relativity and helped lay the foundation for quantum theory itself by explaining the photoelectric effect.  Ironically, he spent much of the latter half of his career resisting one of the central conclusions of quantum mechanics.

        Einstein believed that nature had to operate according to precise, deterministic laws.  He rejected the idea that events at the atomic level were fundamentally probabilistic, famously remarking, “God does not play dice with the universe.” Throughout his life he searched for hidden variables that would restore certainty to physics.

        Over the decades, experiment after experiment supported the predictions of quantum mechanics.  The strongest evidence came long after Einstein’s death through tests of Bell’s inequalities, which consistently confirmed quantum entanglement and ruled out the kind of local hidden-variable theories Einstein had hoped would exist.  Today quantum mechanics stands as one of the most thoroughly tested and successful scientific theories ever developed.  Einstein’s skepticism helped sharpen the science, but in the end the evidence proved stronger than his intuition.  Nevertheless, Einstein’s objections helped force physicists to sharpen the theory and design better experiments.  In that sense, he was “wrong about the interpretation he favored,” but immensely valuable in advancing the science.

        Now most of us probably know someone, perhaps not as famous as my three examples, but someone close or dear to our hearts that will never accept that they are wrong about anything.  You can argue with them until you are “blue in the face” and they will never change their mind.  These friends can be infuriating.  But have you ever stopped to think why they refuse to change their minds in the face of sometimes overwhelming evidence?  Psychologists have coined a term for such intransigence and call it “Belief Perseverance.”

        This is the tendency to maintain a belief even after the evidence supporting it has been discredited or disproven.

        Psychologists use this term when people continue believing something despite overwhelming contradictory evidence.

        Example: A person continues to believe a conspiracy theory after every claim has been independently debunked.

        Sometimes Belief Perseverance is confused with a close phenomenon called Confirmation Bias.  They are closely related but not the same. 

        Confirmation Bias is the tendency to seek, notice, and remember only evidence that supports one’s existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.

        Unlike Belief Perseverance, Confirmation Bias is about how people process information, not necessarily refusing to change after being proven wrong.

        Before we leave the cognitive realm there is one more relevant term that we need to look at.  It is called Cognitive Dissonance.  This is one of my favorites since I have seen so many examples of this in my years on this earth that I have lost track.

        Cognitive Dissonance is the psychological discomfort people experience when facts conflict with what they believe about themselves or the world.  When people are faced with a set of facts that cause them discomfort they will use a variety of ways to rationalize the evidence that ignores the reality in favor of a reality that they are comfortable with.  Like making excuses for someone’s behavior that is clearly immoral or unethical because they want to admire the person.

        Now in today’s world of misinformation, disinformation, lies, distortions, fake ads, false messages, propaganda news, you can be pardoned if you cannot tell the difference between Perseverance Bias, Confirmation Bias and Cognitive Dissonance.  Truth be told, even Einstein could probably not tell the difference.  However, the bottom line here is clear. 

        People, your friends and mine, and even those who are not our friends will continually use distorted logic and distorted facts to cling to ideas and perceptions that are false. 

        And you may never be able to change their minds.  Nothing you say.  Nothing you do.  No experts you call on.  No preachers, teachers, ministers or nightly newscasters will ever make one dint in their belief systems.  Their minds are made up.  They are more than made up.  They are cast in stone, or iron.  You can take a sledgehammer, and you will not make a single dint in their ideas of what is true or not true. 

        So why are we all so stupid that we waste our precious time trying?  Is it truly an impossible task to change anyone’s mind?  If Lord Kelvin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Albert Einstein would not change their minds, what makes you think that your Aunt or best friend will?  Is the effort to convince them otherwise truly useless?  Perhaps we need to look as some examples in history where people did change their minds.  The most famous example may be Charles Darwin, the founder of “Evolution Theory by Natural Selection.” 

        Charles Darwin provides a striking contrast to those who refused to abandon deeply held beliefs.  Throughout the more than twenty years he spent developing his theory of evolution by natural selection, Darwin deliberately searched for evidence that might prove him wrong.

        Darwin believed that no theory should be protected from evidence.  As he gathered new observations from geology, fossils, animal breeding, and the natural world, he continually refined and revised his thinking.  His willingness to let facts, rather than pride, determine his conclusions exemplifies what we now call Intellectual Humility—the recognition that being wrong is not a personal failure, but refusing to change in the face of convincing evidence demonstrates a lack of Intellectual Humility .

        Darwin’s legacy reminds us that progress, whether in science or in life, belongs not to those who are always right, but to those who are willing to admit when they are wrong.  This brings us face to face with the concept of Intellectual Humility.  This is a willingness to question any concept or belief we hold in the face of new evidence or facts or logic which might question the assumptions upon which we hold said beliefs.  One might readily ask “How in the face of so much misinformation and lies can we tell facts and evidence from lies and fake facts?”  This is not an easy question to answer. 

        Unfortunately, our schools and education systems seem to place more value on providing answers rather than asking questions.  The whole idea of critical thinking comes down to the willingness to ask and consider questions rather than blindly accepting facts.  Socrates was considered the smartest man in Greece because the Oracle said he was the only man who recognized how little he really knew.  The Socratic method is one of deducing truth and understanding by asking questions. 

        Plato in his “Socratic Dialogues” described many of the stories wherein Socrates educated his students by asking questions and not by providing answers.  Ironically, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created perhaps the greatest detective of all time whose main modus operandi was asking questions and keeping an open mind.  Something his creator did not seem to have the ability to do himself.    

        My father gave me a bit of advice which I still adhere to today when I was a child.  He said, “Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.”  Lawyers know this truth when it comes to witnesses.  It has been said by the legal profession that “Nothing is as unreliable as an eyewitness.”  These thoughts mark a boundary for my intellectual humility.  It seems to be almost a curse that the smarter someone is, the more intransigent their humility can be. 

        Living here in Arizona, we come into the summer season when temperatures soar into the triple digits.  We have heat warnings in the parks and posted in many public places.  Nevertheless, frequently people ignore these warnings and run or hike down a trail only to come back in a body bag.  Regardless of how many warnings they receive, some people insist that they know better.  They regard the park rangers or DNR people who are trying to warn them as stupid unthinking clods who really don’t know how much experience they have or how tough they are. 

        Belief Perseverance not only affects science and politics, but it also sometimes kills people.

        Go to YouTube and you can find countless examples of people who were so blinded by their own intellectual perceptions of their physical prowess and abilities that they thought they could ignore the advice of others.  There have already been four deaths on park trails in the Grand Canyon this year.  More will come. 

        Many people do not realize that Arizona loses far more people to heat than to lightning, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, mountain lions, bears, rattlesnakes, and scorpions combined.  Heat is, by a wide margin, the state’s deadliest natural hazard. 

        Last year (2025) in Arizona, a total of 680 people died from heat related deaths.  Most were:

        • Over age 50,
        • Had underlying medical conditions,
        • Were outdoors for extended periods or lacked reliable air conditioning,
        • Were experiencing homelessness.

        What does Intellectual Humility have to do with any of these facts?  I think it all comes down to recognizing our own limitations.  Sometimes this is made harder because we “used to be” good at something that we are no longer so good at.  My best time running a 10k was 38”48 seconds.  That is roughly six fifteen per mile.  If I ran one today, my mile times would be about 14 minutes per mile.  I could almost walk faster than I now run.   Our perceptions of ourselves as we used to be can blind us to a reality that we need to face today. 

        Two sayings I like a lot are: 

        • “You got to know when to hold them and when to fold em.”
        • “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change ,the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

        Growing old is never easy.  Letting go of ideas is perhaps even harder.  Intellectual Humility is a path to growing older longer and with less pain.  Without Intellectual Humility, your images of what you once were and what you once did can blind you to the reality that you are today.

        The courage to change your mind is not a sign of weakness—it is one of the highest forms of wisdom.   Many good people would be alive today if they had developed more Intellectual Humility.

        What does the 4th of July really mean?

        04 Jul 2026 5 Comments

        by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized

        Happy Family Standing On The Hill And Watching The Fireworks

        happy family standing on the hill and watching the fireworks

        Happy 4th of July! The 1st of July is the 182nd day of the year. As you watch the fireworks tonight, consider that today is now the 185th day of the year. This probably will make little or no difference to your enjoyment of the display you go to see.  Each year, the fireworks displays seem to be longer and more spectacular.  The loud explosions, dazzling sparkles and bright flashes of color contrasting with the grey smoke really bring home to me the vision that drove Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner.”

        O! Say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
        What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
        Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
        O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
        And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
        Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
        O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
        O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

        The American Flag, the 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence and the “Bombs” too many of our soldiers have seen are more than just images of a unique US Brand.  They are more than just symbols of our heritage. They are down payments on a legacy that is part of our fundamental American dream.  Our Forefathers created a system of government that was based on the belief that all men (and eventually this included women and African Americans) were entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  This was the most positive, uplifting and life affirming message the world had ever known.  It became the great American experiment.  The only other country to ever come close to America in creating an entirely new life affirming belief system for its citizens was Greece.  The Greek experiment failed to continue but its message helped to form a foundation for every other experiment in democracy the world over.

        There are those who argue that the “ascendancy” of the American experiment is over.  It is opined that just like Rome, France, Great Britain and many other empires, America is on the downside of its greatness.  China, India, Japan and Brazil are noted as possible successors. Perhaps from a military or economic view this will be true.  But taken from the perspective of the belief system that under-girds America, there are no countries that are even close.  We do not always practice what we preach.  Moreover, in many areas of life, we seem to have lost our way.  Our politicians are often guided more by party politics than by what is good for the American people or the world.  Today our nation seems fractured into two countries.  One is red.  The other is blue.  It is questionable whether they can ever be reunited into a common nation.

        As you enjoy your barbecue, your picnics and your fireworks today, rest assured, the core of the American experiment, the dream and ideals that has brought and continues to bring millions of immigrants to the shores of America will ring forever through the halls of history.  The world will never forget that someday and in some place called America, there was once a people who lived, worked, fought and died for the belief that “we”, the people, including the rich, the poor and all minorities have a set of inalienable rights.  These American values have become values the world over.  It matters little whether the USA is still true to them.  Democracy may be under siege in many nations but there are still millions of people who live under a democracy today and millions more who yearn for the Democratic values espoused by our Founding Fathers.

        America became a great nation because we once practiced and believed in this message for all people.  We remain a nation that is great in spirit and great in heart though many of us appear to have lost our way.  If we can find the ability to care more about others than we do about ourselves, our nation can still be a spiritual and moral beacon to the oppressed and downtrodden of the world.  Greatness cannot be measured in economic and monetary terms.  We must measure the greatness of a people by the greatness of their vision.  By that standard, America is the greatest nation that has ever existed.  If only we can find that vision again.

        Time for Questions: 

        Do you believe in the American Vision?  Do you believe it is for all people, or just for Americans?  When was the last time you actually read the Declaration of Independence?  Do you know the difference between Patriotism and Jingoism?

        Life is just beginning.

        “The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.”
        ― James Madison

        What Warriors Respect

        29 Jun 2026 5 Comments

        by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

        Over the years, I have come to think of myself as a warrior.  Not because I served four years in the military.  Truth be told, the Boy Scouts were a tough organization compared to the Air Force.  I think of myself as  a warrior because I have never walked away from a fight.  Sure, I sometimes got my butt kicked but the other guy did not want to fight me again.  Furthermore, we often had a greater amount of respect for each other after the fight was over.  That is what it is like among warriors throughout the world.  Not bullies mind you but warriors who do not shy from a fight or the draft.  A warrior is not someone who loves fighting.  A warrior is someone who accepts the burden of fighting when something worth defending is threatened.  Bullies seek conflict.  Warriors seek justice.  I would rather defend someone else than defend myself. 

        Throughout history, from Alexander the Great  to Audie Murphy, real fighters have always respected their opponents.  My father was a professional boxer before he hung up his gloves.  Never a great fighter but he had a pretty good win/loss ratio.  My father taught me to box when I was young, and I later added Taekwondo to my repertoire.  I could kick or punch with equal confidence.  I was proud that I never picked a fight or started a fight.  I once asked a good friend, why I had so many fights and he said, “Because you never walk away from one.”

        I found it very difficult to ignore bullies or people picking on anyone.  Most of my “disagreements” with others were over their mistreatment of someone.  Like the time, I was in the pool hall on base, and an Army guy took the pool cue from a smaller soldier and said, “I am playing next.”  I told him the little guy was next, and he told me, “Mind your own business.”  My business continued with his friends pulling me off him as I was assaulting his head with my fists. 

        On the street corner where I hung around growing up in Rhode Island, I hardly ever got into any fights.  People who hang in gangs learn to measure their opponents and learn where everyone stands in the pecking order.  This is based on mutual respect learned sometimes the hard way.  There were guys you would never get into a fight with because even if you won, they would get you back later.  Like clocking you with a pipe wrench some night when you least expected it. 

        I think the same is true with warriors the world over.  From Spartans to Trojans to Romans, to Gladiators, to Knights, to Indian Braves to Marines to Boxers, or to MMA fighters, the one thing all fighters respect is someone who will stand up for themselves and get back up when they are knocked down.  That is the most difficult thing to do in a fight. 

        Watch the great boxers in history and every one of them is eventually knocked down but they almost always manage to get back up.  Some of them don’t make the ten second count but it is not for trying.  When someone puts up a clean fight or battle or contest, whether they win or lose it does not matter.   Warriors respect courage, integrity and people willing to stand up for something. 

        A concept of respect among warriors does not mean that the great fighters in history did not also fight an intelligent fight.  This means sizing up your opponent and looking at their strengths and weaknesses.  Only a fool will fight a battle on someone else’s terms. 

        The most famous duel of the great Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi was against Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryū Island in 1612.  Both men were renowned for their fighting prowess.  Musashi deliberately arrived hours late, angering and unsettling Kojiro.  He also fought with a wooden sword carved from an oar during his boat ride to the island.  

        Enraged and off balance, Kojiro attacked first.  Musashi struck a decisive blow, winning one of history’s most legendary sword duels through both psychology and skill.  Musashi realized that Kojiro was his equal as a swordsmen.  Knowing this, he sought the edge that would help him to defeat Kojiro.  Musashi understood something every warrior eventually learns: courage alone isn’t enough.  Respect also means respecting your opponent’s ability.  Only fools underestimate those they fight.

        An aerial battle between a German Ace and a British Ace exemplifies the concept of respect.  The fight involved Adolf Galland and Douglas Bader during the Battle of Britain.  Bader, who flew despite having lost both legs, became one of Britain’s most admired pilots. Though they were enemies, Galland and Bader developed mutual respect.  When Bader was shot down and captured, Galland arranged for the Luftwaffe to drop replacement prosthetic legs for him.  This is remembered less for a single duel and more for the remarkable respect between adversaries.

        The stories of warriors from the Spartans to Native American warriors are full of examples where respect developed from the bravery and integrity demonstrated during the heat of battle.  The great conquerors in history led from the front ranks and not from an office or palace someplace thousands of miles away.  Soldiers seldom respect people who eschew the conflicts that are part of their lives. 

        As I aged, my experiences with veterans working at the VA, working as a DVOP and now co-hosting a radio show for Veterans has taught me how much different it is being a Veteran versus being a civilian.  As a Veteran, it does not matter what branch I served in or whether or not I saw combat.  I am respected because I willingly served my country. 

        You never know when your number will be called up when you are in the military.  A Veteran may never see combat, but we respect those Veterans who serve because of the service they were willing to give.  We respect the thought that “All gave some, but some gave all.”  

        No one wants to die but as Caesar said, “Cowards die many times before their deaths.  The valiant never taste of death but once.”  We respect men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for a cause or an idea or their country.  It is not the war or cause that leads to our respect for a warrior.  It is because they are willing to concede their lives for something that they feel is more important than simply going on living. 

        Times have changed and I have grown older.  I am still fighting.  Age has changed the weapons I carry, but not the battles I choose.  Today I fight with words.  I fight for justice.  I fight for equality.  I fight for truth.  Over the past ten or more years, I have called out the racists, the sexists, the war mongers, the crooked and the greedy.  I have learned that moral courage is often harder than physical courage.  A fistfight lasts minutes.  Standing against popular opinion may require years.  Standing against popular opinion may cost you friends and many of the things that you value in life.

        I have written dozens of blogs to shed light on the injustices in our society today.  Some have dealt with our prisons some with our military some with our health care systems and some with our education systems.  I have not shied away from challenging accepted truths and venerated systems.  More than once, I asked myself, “do I dare say this in print?  Could it somehow come back to haunt me or damage what little financial security I have?” 

        My neighbor told me during one election that I should take my yard sign down as it would not go well in our neighborhood.  Both Karen and I after some discussion decided to leave it up.  A minor thing but when you look at the crazies in our society and the fanatics, it would have been easier to take it down and feel more secure.  But that is not the way of being a warrior or a fighter.  Warriors don’t take the safe way or the easy way.

        Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  Something inside of me calls forth a very similar sentiment.  What would life be if we sold our soul for a job or for the favor of someone who had no morals or ethics?   Jesus said “What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul.”  Perhaps more of the people who claim to be Christians should heed the words of Jesus.  Today our political houses across this nation, from sea to shining sea are full of men and women who sell their souls and integrity every day for another chance to curry favor, to support a lobbyist or simply to insure that they will be reelected. 

        What will it take to turn America away from greed and cowardice and back to a country where we can admire and respect courage and integrity?

        Every generation must decide what kind of people it admires.  If we admire wealth above character, comfort above courage, and popularity above integrity, then warriors disappear—not from the battlefield, but from everyday life.  Nations do not become great because they produce more politicians.  They become great because ordinary people refuse to surrender what they know is right

        Perhaps we need more warriors and less politicians.

        My Favorite Movies for June 2026

        28 Jun 2026 2 Comments

        by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , ,

        I have decided that on the last Sunday of each month I will publish my favorite movies for that month.  Some months I might have only a few and other months, I might have more.  Karen and I have what we call “Friday Night at the Movies” where she makes Friday dinner and I set a table in front of our TV and we watch a  movie that I have chosen.  I often have two or three prospects, and I give her a choice. 

        Many of the movies I select are very old.  Some will be more recent.  Just the other day, Karen and I went to the real movies to see Sheep Detectives.  I highly recommend it.  I often run any prospective  movies by Rotten Tomatoes to get some idea of their content and themes as well as ratings. 

        If you are looking for horror movies and slasher movies, sorry, you will need to find another list.  I am not very big on seeing people get their heads cut off.  If you are looking for “Cowboys in Space” movies where each hero kills twenty villains with one shot, you should also look elsewhere.  I have watched my share of these in the past and they are so predictable, it is like watching the first half of an NBA basketball game. 

        If you are looking for a “Zombie Invasion” movie, NADA.  I grew up on Frankenstein, Dracula, Werewolf, the Mummy and other great characters.  Zombies all seem to be cloned from the same casting office.  Finally, If you like to see what I call “Vengeance” movies with a guaranteed kill rate, you will be very disappointed.  I think there is only one on screen murder in my entire list.  And sorry no blood.

        Here then is my inaugural list.  Some of these are from many years past, but since this is my first month’s list, I thought I should include some of my all-time favorites.  If you have any recommendations for me, please feel free to list them in the comments section. 

        Keep the Change – 2018
        A warm, funny, and deeply authentic romance between two adults on the autism spectrum that celebrates love, individuality, and acceptance.

          The Story of the Weeping Camel
          A breathtaking documentary from Mongolia where an ancient musical ritual helps reunite a mother camel with her rejected calf.

          Salmon Fishing in the Yemen – 2011
          An eccentric dream of bringing salmon to the desert becomes an uplifting story about hope, faith, and unlikely partnerships.

          The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
          A delightful ensemble comedy-drama in which British retirees discover that new beginnings often arrive late in life.

          Call Northside 777
          A determined reporter uses persistence and emerging forensic science to uncover the truth behind a decades-old murder conviction.

          The Petrified Forest – 1936
          A tense desert drama where dreams, desperation, and danger collide in the unforgettable performances of Humphrey Bogart and Leslie Howard.

          Captains Courageous – 1937
          A spoiled boy learns courage, humility, and responsibility after being rescued by a hardworking fishing crew.

          A Nice Indian Boy
          A charming romantic comedy about family, culture, and love as an Indian American man introduces his fiancé to his traditional parents.

          The Talk of the Town – 1942
          Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Ronald Colman shine in a witty blend of romance, comedy, and thoughtful debate about justice and democracy.

          After Love – 2020
          A quietly powerful drama about grief, identity, and unexpected family secrets revealed after the death of a husband.

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