Cowardly Scholars and Foolish Warriors
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"The nation that makes too great a distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have scholars who are cowards and warriors who are fools" - Marine Corps training manual.
How far do you guys agree? -
well, scholars fight with their brains, while non-schoolars fight with their brawn.
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i think this is a very childish and shallow way of looking at things. You're be amazed at how many of the non-scholars have the street smarts and skills to be a good leader. Converesly not all your scholars are mamas boy who are as weak as daisys. I'm willing to bet a good deal of them are more brawny than 80% of the ppl in this forum. remember, scholars are not just choosen for academics.Originally posted by Gordonator:well, scholars fight with their brains, while non-schoolars fight with their brawn.
Generalisations like this only serve to drive the stake further between your scholars and non scholars. -
you will never know until they really fight.
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Something abt the marine corp, based on reading of books like "Making of the Corp" & "The March Up".
the corp is an exclusive society with its unique set of values and culture quite different from its larger society (the US military)... it's a culture where top enchelon generals still see themselves as riflemen at heart... whether you are an aviator, mechanic, storeman or tankee, you are a marine, and a marine is essentially a rifleman. If you have read the writings of Bing West, ex-marine and ex- US asst defense secretary and author of a bunch of marine books, you will realize that they view themselves as modern day 'roman legions" .
SAF, being a conscript force, is a reflection of it's larger society and hence, those values. Unlike the Zahal or IDF, since independence we never have to face neighbors hell-bent on our destruction, hence the SAF evolved accordingly. If you look at the top management of the zahal or even the country's highest political office, there's a high proportion of them with spec warrior background and experience. In the SAF, other then the 1st & 2nd CDFs, SAF's chief executives have been premier scholars.
Having said that, getting the cream of the crop of our peacetime society to run the SAF is not a bad thing - especially if we have scholars who are devoted to the art of war fighting. Perhaps its about getting the right people at the right time to do the right thing. So if, God forbid, we ever have to wage a war of survival, may a General Patton arise from SAF ranks! -
I just hope the same too.Only then we shall see if our policies are vindicated.Originally posted by IAF:Something abt the marine corp, based on reading of books like "Making of the Corp" & "The March Up".
the corp is an exclusive society with its unique set of values and culture quite different from its larger society (the US military)... it's a culture where top enchelon generals still see themselves as riflemen at heart... whether you are an aviator, mechanic, storeman or tankee, you are a marine, and a marine is essentially a rifleman. If you have read the writings of Bing West, ex-marine and ex- US asst defense secretary and author of a bunch of marine books, you will realize that they view themselves as modern day 'roman legions" .
SAF, being a conscript force, is a reflection of it's larger society and hence, those values. Unlike the Zahal or IDF, since independence we never have to face neighbors hell-bent on our destruction, hence the SAF evolved accordingly. If you look at the top management of the zahal or even the country's highest political office, there's a high proportion of them with spec warrior background and experience. In the SAF, other then the 1st & 2nd CDFs, SAF's chief executives have been premier scholars.
Having said that, getting the cream of the crop of our peacetime society to run the SAF is not a bad thing - especially if we have scholars who are devoted to the art of war fighting. Perhaps its about getting the right people at the right time to do the right thing. So if, God forbid, we ever have to wage a war of survival, may a General Patton arise from SAF ranks! -
Agreed.Originally posted by react81:i think this is a very childish and shallow way of looking at things. You're be amazed at how many of the non-scholars have the street smarts and skills to be a good leader. Converesly not all your scholars are mamas boy who are as weak as daisys. I'm willing to bet a good deal of them are more brawny than 80% of the ppl in this forum. remember, scholars are not just choosen for academics.
Generalisations like this only serve to drive the stake further between your scholars and non scholars.