Post by rvm45 on Jun 8, 2012 4:09:46 GMT -6
I wrote this in response to a query on another Forum.....
Nonetheless, I think that it might be of use/interest to someone.....
*************** ********************
Years ago, I checked out a Book from the library that was a collection of Eric Hoffer's writings {He was known for very short, but thought provoking Books.}
Anyway, since it was a collection, and I only read it once, at least 20 years ago, I can't tell you Which Book.....
Anyway, he developed the idea that Great Men {Or Great Villains--who are also "Great"--just in a different way...} need both aptitude, and the proper situation to really make it big.
The one example that I can recall is Lenin (not the Beatle). Lenin was a Communist, of course, and he hung around Marxist Coffeehouses all over parts of Europe, jacking his mouth and arguing endlessly about Marxist Theory.
Most contemporaries wrote him off as a goofy Coffeehouse Commando.
Then he got exiled. He'd worn out his welcome almost everywhere else--so he tried Russia.
The rest is History.
Whatever else Lenin was, he was a "Good" {i.e. Competent} Revolutionary and Iron-Fisted Dictator.....
However, with just a slightly different life curve, he would be forgotten as a very Minor Big-Mouthed Bolshevik.
Now every Loud-Mouthed Communist in Europe could Not have stepped into Lenin's shoes and replaced him--he had a "Gift".....
And Not Every Loud Mouth Gun Store Commando and Retarded Range-Redneck that you meet could step into the middle of a Post EOTWAWKI Scenario and change the Course of History.....
Many.....Most of those guys are Pure-Dee Chuckleheads.....
But there is an occasional self-styled follower of the Old-Style Bushido.
He has carefully Mastered the Handgun over a period of years. He may have attended two or three Handgun courses--like the one's taught by the Great Jeff Cooper.....
He is well versed and in current practice in one or two full-contact Martial Arts {Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Kick-Boxing, Brazilian JuJutsu, Capoeira, etc.}
He has picked up smatterings of many other Martial Arts along the way.
He Reads anything he can find on Survival, Small Unit Tactics, Marksmanship, Combat Psychology, Police Procedures--whatever.....
And he reads them critically--not like some Wild-Eyed Chucklehead.
He is also a successful Deer, Turkey and Small-Game Hunter; a good Fisherman; maybe a Trapper, and knows how to pitch a camp.....
Everyone may not have all these qualifications, but you get the idea.
This guy Is Not Perfecting Skills to Survive--He is Perfecting These Skills For Their Own Sake.
So maybe he never joined the Military or become a Law.
People argue the point, because they use different definitions....
But a "Soldier" is one thing. A "Warrior"--in the sense that the Plains Indians; Samurai or Vikings meant the term is something else.
In some cases, a Warrior can do a reasonable job as a Soldier. In other cases, insisting on being a Warrior could hinder a Military/Law Enforcement career.....
Or even keep it from ever getting Stared.....
Think of Old Chucklehead Patton's Dictum:
".....make the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..."
[That statement didn't get him the Chucklehead hat. His derogatory remarks about Mother of Pearl Grips on a Handgun did.]
And this from the Samurai:
"Cowards theorize with the Goal of Staying Alive Firmly in mind...."
Or The Indians:
"Earth and Sky Last Forever;
.Old People are Poorly Off;
.Do Not Be Afraid."
"It is Always a Good Day To Die."
This kinda Modern Day Ronin might make a most interesting and believable Character for someone's Story or Novel.
{Yes, I've known several such Warriors.....}
.....RVM45
Nonetheless, I think that it might be of use/interest to someone.....
*************** ********************
Years ago, I checked out a Book from the library that was a collection of Eric Hoffer's writings {He was known for very short, but thought provoking Books.}
Anyway, since it was a collection, and I only read it once, at least 20 years ago, I can't tell you Which Book.....
Anyway, he developed the idea that Great Men {Or Great Villains--who are also "Great"--just in a different way...} need both aptitude, and the proper situation to really make it big.
The one example that I can recall is Lenin (not the Beatle). Lenin was a Communist, of course, and he hung around Marxist Coffeehouses all over parts of Europe, jacking his mouth and arguing endlessly about Marxist Theory.
Most contemporaries wrote him off as a goofy Coffeehouse Commando.
Then he got exiled. He'd worn out his welcome almost everywhere else--so he tried Russia.
The rest is History.
Whatever else Lenin was, he was a "Good" {i.e. Competent} Revolutionary and Iron-Fisted Dictator.....
However, with just a slightly different life curve, he would be forgotten as a very Minor Big-Mouthed Bolshevik.
Now every Loud-Mouthed Communist in Europe could Not have stepped into Lenin's shoes and replaced him--he had a "Gift".....
And Not Every Loud Mouth Gun Store Commando and Retarded Range-Redneck that you meet could step into the middle of a Post EOTWAWKI Scenario and change the Course of History.....
Many.....Most of those guys are Pure-Dee Chuckleheads.....
But there is an occasional self-styled follower of the Old-Style Bushido.
He has carefully Mastered the Handgun over a period of years. He may have attended two or three Handgun courses--like the one's taught by the Great Jeff Cooper.....
He is well versed and in current practice in one or two full-contact Martial Arts {Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Kick-Boxing, Brazilian JuJutsu, Capoeira, etc.}
He has picked up smatterings of many other Martial Arts along the way.
He Reads anything he can find on Survival, Small Unit Tactics, Marksmanship, Combat Psychology, Police Procedures--whatever.....
And he reads them critically--not like some Wild-Eyed Chucklehead.
He is also a successful Deer, Turkey and Small-Game Hunter; a good Fisherman; maybe a Trapper, and knows how to pitch a camp.....
Everyone may not have all these qualifications, but you get the idea.
This guy Is Not Perfecting Skills to Survive--He is Perfecting These Skills For Their Own Sake.
So maybe he never joined the Military or become a Law.
People argue the point, because they use different definitions....
But a "Soldier" is one thing. A "Warrior"--in the sense that the Plains Indians; Samurai or Vikings meant the term is something else.
In some cases, a Warrior can do a reasonable job as a Soldier. In other cases, insisting on being a Warrior could hinder a Military/Law Enforcement career.....
Or even keep it from ever getting Stared.....
Think of Old Chucklehead Patton's Dictum:
".....make the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..."
[That statement didn't get him the Chucklehead hat. His derogatory remarks about Mother of Pearl Grips on a Handgun did.]
And this from the Samurai:
"Cowards theorize with the Goal of Staying Alive Firmly in mind...."
Or The Indians:
"Earth and Sky Last Forever;
.Old People are Poorly Off;
.Do Not Be Afraid."
"It is Always a Good Day To Die."
This kinda Modern Day Ronin might make a most interesting and believable Character for someone's Story or Novel.
{Yes, I've known several such Warriors.....}
.....RVM45
