♪♪ >> Aron: I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE: THESE ARE INTERESTING TIMES.
ONE RARELY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT ON ONE'S PRINCIPLES, WHICH IS WHAT MAKES THESE TIMES SO INTERESTING.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING ASKED TO ACT ON OUR PRINCIPLES.
I HAVE TO ACT ON MY PRINCIPLES WHEN I'M GROCERY SHOPPING, WHEN I'M WATCHING TV -- I EVEN HAVE TO ACT ON MY PRINCIPLES WHEN FINDING A BATHROOM TO USE.
BY THE BY, THIS HAS LED ME TO DEVELOP WHAT DOCTORS ARE DESCRIBING AS ETHICAL IBS; AS THE LAYMAN PUTS IT: KANTIAN CONSTIPATION.
EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY HAS BECOME AN IDEOLOGICAL BATTLEFIELD.
IT'S EXHAUSTING.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE IT ILLUSTRATES THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE IDEAS YOU BELIEVE IN AND THE IDEAS YOU WANT OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN.
IT'S FUN TO SAY, “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR” BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THINE NEIGHBOR THEN YOU'RE JUST ASKING PEOPLE TO HATE THINE-SELVES FOR LIVING JUST LIKE THEE.
I PERSONALLY LOVE MY NEIGHBORS, I JUST HATE THE LOUD MUSIC OF THY NEIGHBOR, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING.
IT'S EASY TO BRAG ABOUT HAVING THESE PROFOUND IDEAS WE SUBSCRIBE TO, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU NEVER ACT ON THEM THEN YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY A FRAUD.
THESE IDEAS COULD BE ETHICAL, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, OR EVEN PERSONAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, I HATE SOUP.
I THINK IT'S PRETENTIOUS TOILET WATER WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
NOW IMAGINE IF YOU SAW ME SLURPING DOWN A DISGUSTING BOWL OF TOMATO SWEAT, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS "BISQUE."
YOU'D THINK I WAS A LIAR.
JUST ANOTHER CHARLATAN LOOKING TO DEFINE THEMSELVES BY HIGHLIGHTING AN OBVIOUS EVIL IN THE WORLD.
IT WOULD BE DISHEARTENING BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN MY PRINCIPLES ARE FAKE.
AND IF I CAN LIE ABOUT THEM, WHY SHOULDN'T YOU?
I WON'T SCARE YOU WITH A SLIPPERY SLOPE.
INSTEAD, I'LL REASSURE YOU THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE INTO THE PERSON YOU ARE IS BY BEING HONEST.
THE SAME GOES WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
SO CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF, SEE HOW YOUR PRINCIPLES ALIGN WITH YOUR ACTIONS, AND, FOR