Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (107749)	8/26/2005 4:41:26 PM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 108807

I went through basic training in the 1950s and would vigorously dispute your characterization of "brainwashing." On the contrary, one of the prime goals of training in our armed forces has always been "individual initiative." That prized quality of our troops has distinguished our military from its adversaries in every war we have fought, whether it be the Germans, the Japanese, the Chinese, or the Iraquis. Warfare is inherently chaotic. Men are separated from their units, officers are killed, plans go awry, and often individual soldiers find themselves alone with no one to tell them what to do. Soldiers who have been brainwashed as if in a cult are helpless in such situations, as was often illustrated by our enemies. The examples are legion of American soldiers in such circumstances acting on their own initiative, taking control, improvising, and the like. Tom Brokaw in "The Greatest Generation" asserted that this independent quality was the key factor in American citizen-soldiers defeating the enemy even when vastly outgunned and outnumbered. You are badly confusing the installation of esprit de corps and teamwork with mind-tampering.