I saw a car downtown with a confusing collection of stickers

From left to right we have an Obama campaign sticker, a Bicentennial US Flag, THE STARS AND BARS (The Confederate National Flag), and a Union Jack.

I'm guessing the sticker next to the Honda emblem means they have two kids, a baby, a cat, and one child they use as a hackysack. But that's not important.

They voted for Obama. Okay. They're patriotic as well. They have a British relative, or active anglophilia. Okay.

But they're flying the Sesesh Flag, the "We Don't Need You, Yankee" flag, the banner of the House Divided. 

I'm unable to reconcile this.

Rule of Wrist 4-19-2011

There are two common motivations for studying psychology/becoming a shrink:
Trying to figure out what's wrong with one's self

or

Trying to figure out what's wrong with others.

The latter presumes that one's self needs no figuring out, meaning there's no chance of identification with most patients.

Rule of Wrist 4-17-2011

People too often say "He's my friend" about someone who is, if the facts are analyzed, not even vaguely their friend.

Friendship is a two way street. Someone who is your friend does things for you for which you are grateful. And it has to be something more than entertaining you.

If all someone does is make you laugh on occasion, but costs you money, and time, and stress without any reciprocation then perhaps they are not your friend; you are theirs. They are just someone you care about.

Rule of Wrist 4-15-2011

Your own experience is NOT a complete understanding of anything, particularly politics, society, or economics.

A Frightening Thought For Those Sane Enough To Appreciate It

What if your happiness was merely a symptom of insanity?

Walters' Rules of Wrist 04-06-2011

Expecting yourself to accomplish things that you are incapable of is not just foolish, but cruel.

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Unfair expectations of self lead to equally unfair expectations of others.

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Religion creates unfair expectations in supposing that we are divinely created and choose to act like apes, leading to great disappointment.

Science says we are apes. Therefore when we choose to act divinely it should come as a nice surprise.

I like science.

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(For 90% of humans) You are nowhere near as awesome, nor as awful as you think you are. If you were either you would be much further in life. Perhaps not in a direction you want, but further.

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Being willing to die for something, whether it be love, family, principles or patriotism is NOT a grand measure of devotion. It's impressive, don't get me wrong.

HOWEVER, what lives dies. Including you. You can't get out of that. It takes no special effort, or decision on your part; wait around and it happens.

A greater measure of devotion is a willingness to kill. Killing alters a person permanently, and for the rest of their days they will have to live with that act. Some do so well, others not. But it can't possibly leave you the same.

Dying's easy. Killing takes will.