Comments on: The Five Secret Purposes of War http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/ Martial arts for personal development Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:32:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Watch “The Men Who Stare At Goats” Free Online http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-10967 Watch “The Men Who Stare At Goats” Free Online Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:01:27 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-10967 [...] how Stubblebine’s coveted army of super-soldiers could possibly bring an end to all war–the most absurd claim in this entire program. (Psychic ability is almost mundane by comparison, and has been covered here [...] [...] how Stubblebine’s coveted army of super-soldiers could possibly bring an end to all war–the most absurd claim in this entire program. (Psychic ability is almost mundane by comparison, and has been covered here [...]

]]> By: joshuahyoung http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9599 joshuahyoung Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:25:49 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9599 I should mention that I like strategy... that last line above about Gandhi was a bit disingenuous, to me a loathsome strategist is one whose goal is to defeat others, whereas a nobler cause is found in self conquest. I should mention that I like strategy… that last line above about Gandhi was a bit disingenuous, to me a loathsome strategist is one whose goal is to defeat others, whereas a nobler cause is found in self conquest.

]]> By: joshuahyoung http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9598 joshuahyoung Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:11:31 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9598 I think that Gandhi was a pacifist, and a strategist. India has a strong warrior caste tradition and Gandhi rejected this, people might label him this or that later, but his own contexts and lifestyle speak very clearly. You can compete with others, or you can do something harder and compete with yourself and approach self mastery. It takes more strength to not be competitive than to be competitive, We all have the same drives, some people indulge the violent in fantasy and attempt to justify it with bullshit rhetoric about being a samurai or a noble spiritual warrior. I find it wanting of any real power, strategy or nobility. Then again I abhor the idea of the warrior, it is a big social joke to me. Great for kids and adults who think they are some type of jedi master. I avoid teaching anything with real content to warrior and conflict oriented mentalities and I test them with provocation to gauge what their inner content is . There is just as much tolerance as intolerance in nature. There is just as much cooperation as there is conflict. We should not seek to justify our actions with empty rhetoric, but instead have a foundation for action, Gandhi knew his foundation and acted. he was a good brave and strong man, but no loathsome warrior or strategist. Most people I know who want to be warriors just repeat things they read and hear from people they think are what they want to be. I feel sorry for many of them. I think that Gandhi was a pacifist, and a strategist.
India has a strong warrior caste tradition and Gandhi rejected this, people might label him this or that later, but his own contexts and lifestyle speak very clearly.
You can compete with others, or you can do something harder and compete with yourself and approach self mastery. It takes more strength to not be competitive than to be competitive, We all have the same drives, some people indulge the violent in fantasy and attempt to justify it with bullshit rhetoric about being a samurai or a noble spiritual warrior. I find it wanting of any real power, strategy or nobility.
Then again I abhor the idea of the warrior, it is a big social joke to me. Great for kids and adults who think they are some type of jedi master. I avoid teaching anything with real content to warrior and conflict oriented mentalities and I test them with provocation to gauge what their inner content is .

There is just as much tolerance as intolerance in nature.
There is just as much cooperation as there is conflict.
We should not seek to justify our actions with empty rhetoric, but instead have a foundation for action, Gandhi knew his foundation and acted. he was a good brave and strong man, but no loathsome warrior or strategist.

Most people I know who want to be warriors just repeat things they read and hear from people they think are what they want to be. I feel sorry for many of them.

]]> By: elf_man http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9597 elf_man Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:56:25 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9597 Heh, looks like Nietzsche was right. Again. :P Heh, looks like Nietzsche was right. Again. :P

]]> By: Chris http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9596 Chris Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:23:58 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9596 Sydney, Isn't it curious that Gandhi is remembered as a pacifist, rather than as a strategist? Sydney,
Isn’t it curious that Gandhi is remembered as a pacifist, rather than as a strategist?

]]> By: Chris http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9595 Chris Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:20:38 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9595 Rick, I would go further to say that competition is nature--not just human nature. Nature is not "broken", and does not need to be fixed by mankind. Many other species of animals, from primates to insects, fight wars. I say this not to excuse or glorify state warfare, but I suspect that it is here to stay. Pondering war as the natural state of affairs (rather than a temporary "disorder") gives an interesting spin to individual martial arts. It really is the study of existence itself. Rick,
I would go further to say that competition is nature–not just human nature. Nature is not “broken”, and does not need to be fixed by mankind.

Many other species of animals, from primates to insects, fight wars. I say this not to excuse or glorify state warfare, but I suspect that it is here to stay.

Pondering war as the natural state of affairs (rather than a temporary “disorder”) gives an interesting spin to individual martial arts. It really is the study of existence itself.

]]> By: Sydney Familiar http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9588 Sydney Familiar Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:39:23 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9588 I agree with you Rick and your comment seems to me to be the logical foundation of the book, Pacifism as Pathology. Simply, going out and just letting your head get severely beat in, either literally or figuratively, is not going to help much in your own survival (or those close). This selection did give me pause to think about what always astounds me in the news, unimpeded growth in defense budgets, esp. now when stuff is hitting the proverbial fan. One of Buckminster Fuller’s more germane observations about social systems is that we cannot afford to just complain, but to actively create a new system that supersedes the older, more corrupt one. The hope is that people will recognize “the emperor has no clothes” and join the newer ranks on their own accord. I move that this process will need to occur over and over again, and more importantly, with the non-Hegelian caveat that there might be no utopia ever. I think people in the transition town/permaculture movement are attempting to create this alternative and revolutionary system. I agree with you Rick and your comment seems to me to be the logical foundation of the book, Pacifism as Pathology. Simply, going out and just letting your head get severely beat in, either literally or figuratively, is not going to help much in your own survival (or those close).

This selection did give me pause to think about what always astounds me in the news, unimpeded growth in defense budgets, esp. now when stuff is hitting the proverbial fan. One of Buckminster Fuller’s more germane observations about social systems is that we cannot afford to just complain, but to actively create a new system that supersedes the older, more corrupt one. The hope is that people will recognize “the emperor has no clothes” and join the newer ranks on their own accord. I move that this process will need to occur over and over again, and more importantly, with the non-Hegelian caveat that there might be no utopia ever. I think people in the transition town/permaculture movement are attempting to create this alternative and revolutionary system.

]]> By: Rick Matz http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/secret-purposes-of-organized-warfare/comment-page-1/#comment-9579 Rick Matz Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:58:16 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=521#comment-9579 I think the urge to contend, to assert oneself over others, is simply human nature. I think the urge to contend, to assert oneself over others, is simply human nature.

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