A Commentary by Karlyle Tomms There are things that the eyes may encounter that no camera can ever duplicate. Yet, there are things the camera may capture that the eyes don’t even notice. When I took the photo for the title meme of this blog post, I didn’t even realize there was a bee on the Peony bloom until I loaded it onto my computer to view it. Then, the bee was obvious, but I didn’t even perceive it through the camera lens. I was focused on getting a photo of the flow

“Five minutes after birth, they decide your name, religion, nationality, and sect. And you spend the rest of your life defending what you did not choose.” Authur Schopenhauer Who are you? I mean, who are you, really? Have you ever thought about that? What is your identity? How do you know that’s your identity? Do you identify with who you really are, your authentic self, or with the construct that was instilled in you from birth? We do not choose our names, at least not

So, what’s the big deal about sex, anyway? When I was growing up in a fundamentalist authoritarian church, all sex was basically demonized. It was only allowed during marriage, and then, you weren’t really supposed to enjoy it. It was supposed to be used only for procreation. However, there is a vast difference between human beings and animals that may go into a rut once or twice a year. Human beings are one of the few mammals capable of having sex when not “in heat.” Human b

The dictionary defines the word "paradox" as: a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but, in reality, expresses a possible truth. There are many types of paradoxes, such as “less is more” and “the slower you go, the faster you get there.” However, I would like to discuss the ultimate paradox. This is something that I have been thinking about for years, but I’ve never written about it. There are times when I go into contemplation about things like unanswerable que

Were you born speaking English? Do you remember learning English? Nope, it just happened, didn’t it?

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it! I’m leaving!” This is how we apply the concept of “cancel culture” in our personal relationships. Unfortunately, it is not very conducive to good relationships. When we shut out communication entirely, no problem gets solved. If we only listen to what we want to hear, no problem gets solved. I can tell you from experience that many people have said things that I find offensive and repugnant. However, the First Amendment of the United States

“My” is a possessive pronoun implying ownership or connection. It is one of the first pronouns we ever learn: “My toy. My Mommie, my candy,” etc. Children, as they develop their ego and concept of identity, can become quite possessive. When my nephew was about three years old, we sat across from each other while my sister prepared a meal. He sat facing me with his back to her. I said, “You see that person over there?” I pointed at my sister, and he turned to look at her. Then

Piggy banks are as old as money itself. The actual term came from Medieval Europe, when coins were stored in pots made of clay called...

The dictionary defines ethics as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it defines the meaning as: “that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.” The problem is that since the beginning of time, different people and cultures have disagreed on the concepts of right and wrong, and those concepts have changed over time. T

The dictionary defines indoctrination as “the act of indoctrinating, or teaching, or inculcating a doctrine, principle, or ideology,...

The scourge of humanity throughout its existence has been greed, selfishness, fear, and hate. Until the human fear of lack and...

I once played the Cowardly Lion in a community theatre version of The Wizard of Oz . It got awfully hot in that costume, but I was...

Currently, there are 8.2 billion people on Mother Earth, and every single one of them, myself included, is insane. This is primarily...

I awoke from a dream on Memorial Day 2024 with the first two lines of the next paragraph in my mind and knew I had to write something. On...

Sooner or later, everything, including these flesh vehicles we call bodies, ends up in a landfill. Whether our bodies are cremated or...

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The Heights of Little Rock has long been a preferred area to live and is today considered one of the most trendy and desirable neighborhoods. The neighborhood's hills rise above the city and offer spectacular views from many places. Even where there are no ornate views, there remains an exquisite neighborhood. The streets are lined with mature trees, and many end at the treelined cliffs that overhang the Arkansas River. In winter, the houses in the Heights can be seen dotting

Human beings like labels, niches, and categories, don’t we? We like to define all things, including people.

I don't remember when I didn't make up stories. I wasn't a liar except for a few lies told during childhood, but I guess it could be argued that fiction writers are creative liars. We write the lies that people want to read, at least some do, knowing up front that what they are reading is false. We just let readers know upfront; this is fiction, a creative lie. I think I was inspired to write from a very early age. After my mother died when I was a little boy, the one co

Karlyle Tomms - A Personal Story Yesterday, my aunt was laid to rest. Cold Arkansas wind sawed at our ears as we stood beside the grave site, an omen of snow to fall later. There, beneath a sagging cedar, by a rusted wire fence, she was put down next to the man who had abandoned her with five children and a hundred dollars to her name. Faithful to him always, she kept her commitment, ‘Till death do us part,’ and kept it long after he departed. She nev