<p>Today at work a man from another part of my building comes by my desk. He sees my West Point screensaver and asks about it. I tell him my son will attend next year after a year of prep. Then, with a smile, he says: I was in school during the Vietnam era and I think they should create a peace academy to teach diplomacy and negotiation instead of war. I stood there for a moment speechless trying to think of what I could say that would be appropriate in a work environment. Before I could open my mouth, another person walked up and interrupted us (lucky for him). I never got to respond to him. :mad:</p>
<p>Now I wish I had gone after him and asked: Do you honestly think negotiation or diplomacy is going to work with al-qaida? It disgusts me that some people think you can reason with fanatics and madmen. He is just lucky there are people willing to protect his make-love-not-war ass!</p>
<p>There's an ancient Roman saying that goes something like this:</p>
<p>"If you love peace prepare for war". Perhaps one of our more astute readers can provide the source for this quote which is also the orgin of the word parabellum (prepare for war).</p>
<p>By that standard West Point is the world's foremost academy for peace and the place were America's best and brightest contribute to world peace by scaring the bejebus out of our brighter enemies with their constant vigilance and preparation for our irresistible style of waging total war against those who would consider attacking us.</p>
<p>I'm also reminded, though not before I posted the previous post, of the 8th Airforce's version of the peace symbol. It's what looks like a B-52 bomber within a circle surrounded with the words "Peace the old fashioned way". Here are some examples:</p>
<p>In the West Point Museum there is a quote on a wall. I'm going to qualify this because it's been a while, but I believe it is by Theucidides and is something like this:</p>
<p>"Peace is the pause between wars."</p>
<p>I sure hope somebody can check it next week and post the accurate quote and author.</p>
<p>The guy clearly doesn't get the nexus between diplomacy and military strength. There is a reason that all the senior career diplomats at State spend considerable time at the services War Colleges. </p>
<p>The US diplomat who faced down Milosevic and now is charged with managing the six party talks regarding disarming N. Korea started his career in the Peace Corps, but also this spring was honored as the first non-military distinguished graduate of the Naval War College. </p>
<p>He told me all the negotiating skills in the world would not have done him a bit of good without the real threat of force backing it up. Diplomacy works, but its only one part of the whole package of keeping the peace.</p>
<p>BTW, when was the last time we heard anything from Khadafi in Libya? If I recall correctly, it was right after we sent his buddy scurrying into a hole somewhere hiding like a rat. And when we did hear from him he announced he was disarming and would play by the world's rules. That was some serious diplomacy.</p>
<p>Tell your coworker its better to say nothing and be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.</p>
<p>LFWBDad ~ I love it. WAMom, tell that guy to come visit us here. We'd like to meet him! LOL </p>
<p>I am so sorry that you had to actually listen to something so simple-minded & idiotic directed at you. That had to be so upsetting. Hope that guy gets his tie caught in the shredder at work. If he does, we want photos. :)</p>
<p>or maybe you could just ask him what he meant?
Perhaps, just perhaps, he did not mean a peace academy to the exlusion of the military academy or in lieu of military force to back up negotiation.</p>
<p>Maybe that is the problem this country has as a whole, we don't take the time to understand what people mean. [Well, actually, I don't think most people take the time to understand what THEY mean themselves when they speak, but that's a different problem all together.] We don't ask, we just assume.</p>
<p>The peace symbol is merely the footprint of the American Chicken. </p>
<p>You might also wish to point out to that idiot the following: </p>
<p>
[quote]
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decay and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. - John Stewart Mill
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Frankly, just ignore him. If he continues to annoy you, take him to HR for creating a hostile work environment.</p>
<p>Now, I would have given you flak about a West Point screensaver for a completely different reason. :D</p>
<p>
[quote]
"If you love peace prepare for war". Perhaps one of our more astute readers can provide the source for this quote which is also the orgin of the word parabellum (prepare for war).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It is attributed to Flavius Renatus Vegetius, a military writer in 4th century Rome. The expression is, "If you want peace, prepare for war" and comes from his book "Epitoma Rei Militaris". </p>
<p>The Latin is: "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum." It is also known as: "Si vis pacem, para bellum."</p>
<p>He was (and continues to be) spot-on right.</p>
<p>I thought about Bill's comments for a nano second. I DID, I promise I did! (Its happy hour now though) Depending on WAMom's quoting abilities, I dunno, sounded like a slam to me. I've gotten a few of those & they're upsetting. I know a few of you other guys have to. Diplomacy, negotiation and yes, its a must: war. Hmmmm. I thought that WAS the education that was going on. Some people sadly equate WP = War. The comment, if it was truly meant the way it sounded just speaks of uneducation on our service academies. Kinda like me making comments on how to do brain surgery. I usually stay away from that one since I don't know anything about it. Course I could think of a few heads I'd like to get into & tinker around with. Confused could be my first project. If he's game, I am. I think I could fix it with one more glass of wine and a scapel. Who wants to assist? Anyhow, I just hate it that these comments are made. Its bothersome. Thats my story & I'm stickin' to it.</p>
<p>"The state that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools." Thucydides. I guess from your comment that you must have done a lot of thinking in college.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the great replies. I have been hit with other stupid questions regarding why my son would go to a military academy, but this was a new one for me. I was unprepared for what he said but I wont be the next time! I am going to keep all the quotes handy, some I have heard before but had forgotten about, like SHUTUP FOOL.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Jamzmom that there are a lot of people out there that know nothing about the service academies. </p>
<p>Bill -- I did think about what he said after I calmed down. The way he said it and past history with him indicates he meant it as a slam. He implied replacing our military with negotiation and diplomacy. When it is possible I am all for attaining peace by means other than war, so I would have agreed with him if he had said it differently. My conclusion he is a moron and I will avoid him when possible.</p>
<p>Zaphod -- When he first asked about my screensaver I did think "okay here is comes, he's probably ex-Navy". I wish it had been that simple. Go Army!!! :D</p>
<p>Being the extremely proud father of a soon to be New Cadet (you mothers and fathers know all about this) I've probably told three or four hundred people my boy's going to attend West Point.<br>
From all those people I've not heard a single disparaging remark and for those who know anything about the service academies the remarks have been full of praise and admiration for my sons decision to serve his nation as an Army officer; for the record we live in Northern California.
Its probably a good thing someone hasnt said anything stupid to me because I would probably have had to retaliate in the same spirit. For those of you who keep your cool around morons you have my sincere admiration.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Zaphod -- When he first asked about my screensaver I did think "okay here is comes, he's probably ex-Navy". I wish it had been that simple. Go Army!!!
