Welcome to the Third Degree: Tough, brief, weekly interrogations that force thinking and response. With reliance upon and respect for your instincts, knowledge, exploration and determinations, this week, we target: Measuring.

How do we take the measure of a man or a woman? Are there different measures of merit?

How do we measure feelings? Are they dependent upon intensity and longevity?

Can we measure horse sense? Is it the good judgment that horses display when they dont bet on people? Dont we have to bet on people? Is motivation a measure? Performance?

How do we measure likely? How about medium confidence? Would you drive home with me if you assessed only medium confidence or it was just likely that we would make it? Is it wise to measure the many modifiers in settled science or any projections of doom or glory?

Can we measure morality? Is moral, as Hemingway suggests, something you feel good after and immoral something you feel bad after? Is that shallow? How do you measure after?

If gerrymandered districts dont allow choice, how measureable is our vote? Is real choice a measure of and indispensable to representative accountability? How about schools?

In the concluding days of black history month, how do we measure rightful impact? Do we accept, as a today country of integrated national interests, measurements based on skin color?

Are not content of character and worthy contributions of all Americans more useful measures?

Are (insert descriptor) advantage or (insert descriptor) disadvantaged measured constants or variables? Does the equation of societal solution solve? Are there must have measures?

Can self-esteem be bestowed? Who measures self-esteem? How is bunk measured?

Do we recall that Einstein considered only two things infinite, beyond measure, the universe and human stupidity? Do we note the qualifier that he was not too sure about the universe?

Socrates reminds: The unexamined life is not worth living. Examinations will continue in The Third Degree. The answers and the actions are yours.

John Borling, major general, USAF-ret, is a highly decorated fighter pilot who served worldwide in high level command and staff positions. He was a POW in North Vietnam for over 6 years. Now, an author, speaker, civic and business leader, he is the founder of SOSA. See sosamerica.org.

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The Third Degree: If the shoe fits - Freeport Journal-Standard