Book of Questions #3

If someone you care very deeply for was brutally murdered, and you know who the person is, if they were put on trial and acquitted of the crime, would you seek revenge?

For the people that know me well enough, I think that they would know that the answer would be yes, of course. How I would go about it would be another story. It would honestly take every scrap of morality and the perseverance of a saint to refrain from immediately going to the guilty party or parties residence and just go to town on a vicious revengeful killing spree.

There are far better ways to make someone pay for their crimes. It would be much more fulfilling to have one's own version of personal biblical justice be done on a transgressor. It's an ultimate failure that the judicial system has brought upon itself. Nowdays, we have to be not only politically correct, but humane and merciful to even the worst criminals in society. Child molesters get short prison terms, murderers get off in a few years, and even the people on death row get basically a life sentence worth of appeals and hearings and delays. We are to believe that criminals are best treated with rehabilitation and compassion, despite the lack of the latter in which they committed their crimes. In theory, rehabilitation can work, but only with a good support system and placing them in an environment that is better than the person was in when they committed the crime. In reality, that is not done. So instead, we dump $150,000 per year, per criminal to give them a comfortable existence wherein they find "god" or further hone their criminal minds and are then released back into the same existence they had when they first committed their crimes. That led to the start of some states to issue three strikes policies, that still, really don't work.

To exact my own justice? The punishment should fit the severity of the crime, no matter how the punishment is served up. Biblical ways state eyes for eyes and tooth for tooth. A safe enough bet in most circumstances. Yes, I know accidents happen, but for those blatant and cruelly premeditated crimes...the more elaborate the punishment the better.

A simple and steady eroding away of all that person had. Take away their life. Take away everything they love and all things that comfort them. Make them feel so small, and so ashamed of the crimes that they committed that they no longer wish to exist. I'm not talking about killing off innocents or killing in general, just trying to take everything away from that person so that they can reasonably feel what it is like to be at suck a great loss. If they take their own life, so be it, but that would be their own decision.

Am I cruel and unreasonable? Or am I justified?

Book of Questions #2

Would you rather be part of a World Championship sports team or be the champion of an individual sport? What sport would you choose?

I think that the concept of competition and glory are very intimately tied. From what I understand from those that have competed, each individuals views of gratification and dedication are vastly different based on their own unique personalities. I have competed in both individual sports and team competitions. When I swam, outside of relay teams, my individual events were gratifying, even though I never finished first, for the fact of me challenging myself to excel. Granted, when I did really well, felt like i was in the zone, and met my individual goals, I did have a feeling of personal satisfaction and ego boosting. There are some things in sport that can only be savored on the individual level. It's selfish and greedy, but that's the only way that it can be experienced because the moment is so personal and intimate, and yet you can relate to others who have shared that same moment. Surfers understand this by catching a perfect wave on a lonely beach. Hikers and mountain climbers do this by reaching their summits or trail climaxes. Hunters do by being fully immersed in the hunt and the kill. Runners experience it by reaching their goal over whatever distance. Hell, even competitive eaters relish over the fact of being able to speed eat 56 hotdogs.

The team dynamic was far superior in my opinion. The ups and downs of a team far surpass the individuals goals. During water-polo matches, or any sport for that matter, most of the time a team is only as strong as it's weakest link. there were times when I screwed up and cost the team a possession or a score. That feeling was far worse than an individual failing. When you are alone and miss a turn in the pool or lag 5 seconds off your lap time, all you are is disappointed in yourself. When you mess up in a team, you have all those other individuals that are relying on you and eachother to succeed, and thus, it motivated you more to be at your best. The joys of a team victory I feel are far superior for a more fulfilling feeling without the selfish nature of self contained ego boosting. You have the chance to celebrate as a whole, with everyone contributing their best efforts towards a common goal. Seeing that smile of victory on your compadres faces is priceless. You bond with them. they are your sisters and brothers. Everyone's experience is unique, but yet communal. As if you are you're own snowflakes falling on the same log in the forest.

A good example, as in the Beijing Olympic games back in 2008. When Michael Phelps got his record number of golds, I was able to watch each of his gold medal races, but by far, the most exciting matches were the group relays. That included his last race for his record medal. I was relating more to them in those moments than on his world record individual gold races. It's the team dynamic that allowed him to get the record golds, not so much just himself. The ecstasy of celebration was far more enveloping than an individual standing solo on the winner's platform.

Group competition brings everyone together. No matter one's country, gender, race, creed, age or background. It is a unifying force that amplifies as the competition gets larger that compels the individual and the group to perform to their highest potentials despite the outcome.

back in my younger days, I had an Olympic dream. I dreamed on being on the US team and competing for the whole. for my country, for my team, for my family. Myself was mostly an afterthought. With the onset of the 2010 Vancouver winter games, the team dynamic is fully vested in the Olympic spirit. Above all else, camaraderie and brotherhood is the focus of the games. The Olympic creed has always been a favorite quote of mine, and I think perfectly states the essence of a team dynamic over an individual one.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."

The quote does not center on individual glory, but instead, hints that the individual pursuit of an endeavor is far nobler than the conquest. That in itself is the sole benefit of individual competition. In my opinion, that spirit is far better formed with group goals, albeit potentially easier on the surface.

I hope I was able to answer this question in a not so confusing way.