11.09.2009
Quite an Understatement…
“Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.”
— Martin Luther King
Filed under: Overheard
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A chisel, you say?
King, more than 100,000 of our brave, young men and women are buried throughout Europe in places like Flanders Fields, Normandy, and the Ardennes.
As we approach Veteran’s Day, I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other dumb bastard die for his country.
It appears the only war you ever saw was in a movie. You, sir, are dismissed.
Comment by George Patton, Ret. — 11.09.2009 @ 11:31 pm
Actually, the larger the chisel, the bigger the groove it makes in in which to comfortably move about. Carry a big chisel, an equally big hammer, and the world usually tends to stay out of your way. History has made clear that Chamberlin’s argument to have neither hammer or chisel was a very costly mistake that resulted in the loss of millions of lives through war and genocide. Apparently, MLK was reading the same material.
I often point to the quote by A. Einstein, who once said something to the effect, “You cannot simultaneously prepare for peace and war.” I disagree. You must ALWAYS prepare for peace by simultaneously preparing for a war and letting everyone know you are doing both.
How? Create a really large chisel, the resolution to wield its mate, the hammer, and know how to use both very well.
I nod to the reincarnation of Patton above, but slightly modify the quote to fit our times: “…no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other dumb bastard die for his religion.”
Comment by Missing the Point — 11.10.2009 @ 9:01 am
Unfortunately, the \"slight modification\" to the Pattin quote makes the idea even more ludicrous. It is a rather amateur, and very short sighted, costly, error to believe that winning a war about religion is ever really possible — it is a loosing proposition — we would do well to remember that.
Comment by Sandy Carey — 11.10.2009 @ 9:41 am