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Sample ESSAY TEXT



   The following is  like  what you would see upon using
   your chosen command with the ESSAYS System downloaded.

%ESCAPE PRISON COLLUSIVE GAME MUTUAL SELF DECEPTION 970204

     Our  survival  as  individuals  and  as   communities
depends upon resolving conflicts among our ultimate values
and ideals.

     Often  we  are  tempted to defend ourselves  only  as
individuals.   When we yield to such  temptations we drive
ourselves apart without regard for the fact that we cannot
survived in purely individualistic ways;  for personal and
communal integrity are essentially interdependent.

     Often  we  are tempted to think that we  can  survive
only  by  sacrificing  our individuality to  the  will  of
others, the community, traditions, formulas, systems, etc.
When  we  yield  to  such  temptations  we  undermine  our
communal integrity by  being  dishonest about our personal
differences  and  refusing  to  deal  honestly  with   our
differences in creative ways.

     When we are confused about and in conflict about  the
relative  importance  of high level values and  ideals  we
need to look for  experiential evidence which supports and
which  challenges  our  current notions of  what  is  most
important.     Mistakes may have been made in  regards  to
what  is  most important;  and such mistakes  need  to  be
recognized and dealt with openly and honestly---else  they
will be repeated for all eternity.

     When  we  are  confused and  in  conflict  about  the
relative  importance  of high level values and  ideals  we
need to consider some basic facts of life:

     1.  When  people  are dishonest with  themselves  and
each    other---the    people   and   their    communities
disintegrate.

     2.  Personal  integrity,   health and well being  and
communal integrity,  health and well being are essentially
interdependent; thus  neither can be sacrificed to promote
the other.

     3.  When   conflicts   fester   unresolved   to   the
satisfaction  of  all  of those  involved---all  of  those
involved   and  their  communities  disintegrate   without
satisfaction, meaning or hope.   People who do not want to
resolve conflicts thus  disintegrate.

     4.  The meaning of each message depends as much  upon
the  approach to the message by the recipient, as upon the
intentions  of  the generator of the message---so  neither
can  fully  control the meaning in any true sense.    Thus
people  who try to control the meanings of messages do not
truly communicate through open and honest dialogue.

     5.  In  a  changing universe we need to  be  cautious
about believing we know and possess any absolute reflexive
truths about us which are eternal and unchanging.  When we
are arrogant  and  believe we know  and  possess  absolute
truths---we  and our communities disintegrate through  the
tragic  consequences  of  many  alienative  relationships,
manipulations, coercions and violence.

                         (c) 1997 by Paul A. Smith in
                      "Search for Integrity and Honesty"
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)

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