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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (20385)	6/15/2005 9:53:51 AM
From: Oeconomicus	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

"I said esprit de corps needs to be rethought if it makes men want to go risk their lives for dead bodies." Rethink esprit de corps? I don't think you understand the term or what is at issue. If the idea that one's body might be mutilated, dragged through the streets or hung from a bridge before a cheering crowd and TV cameras causes a soldier or Marine to hesitate even the slightest bit in doing his job, whether their concern is religious or over how it might affect their family back home upon seeing or hearing of it, then he could put the whole unit at risk. That's the practical need for esprit de corps, which more generally involves such abstract concepts as honor, loyalty, motivation and tradition. Reinforcing these abstract notions is important for the effectiveness of a fighting unit, but on the more practical level again, having his fellows promise not to leave him behind should he be killed would alleviate the concern that might otherwise cause him to hesitate. Hope that helps.

To: epicure who wrote (20385)	6/15/2005 1:51:40 PM
From: TigerPaw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

I said esprit de corps needs to be rethought if it makes men want to go risk their lives for dead bodies. I have heard much on this subject from relations of mine in the services. I think the primary motivation for retrieving the bodies from the field is that it shows that the force had possession and control of the field after the battle. Some religious elements within the service do try to place religious motives on every practice and action, but the practice of retreiving the dead (and mutilating the dead of the enemy) predates any current religion. TP