March 07, 2009

Stop it, just stop it

“You can’t and shouldn’t eliminate the spiritual component in the military,” said Bruce L. Fister, a retired Air Force general who is executive director of the Officers’ Christian Fellowship, which is active on 200 bases worldwide.

General, I realize that for most of your later career you had subordinates who wouldn't dream of disagreeing with you, but I'm afraid I ain't one of them. There is no reason why "spirituality" should be a component in the military. I don't want the platoon leader leading his/her soldiers into a crossfire and suggesting "it's God's will" when they're all killed. I want the platoon leader to think about avoiding enfilading fire in the first place. Otherwise you get tragedies like The Charge of the Light Brigade.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Posted by Linkmeister at March 7, 2009 10:02 AM | TrackBack
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