Jump to content

ROBERT HEINLEIN’S 1973 ADDRESS TO MIDSHIPMEN AT ANNAPOLIS:


Draggingtree

Recommended Posts

My Daily Kona

OCTOBER 26, 2015

ROBERT HEINLEIN’S 1973 ADDRESS TO MIDSHIPMEN AT ANNAPOLIS:

 

As one drives through the bushveldt of East Africa it is easy to spot herds of baboons grazing on the ground. But not by looking at the ground. Instead you look up and spot the lookout, an adult male posted on a limb of a tree where he has a clear view all around him – which is why you can spot him; he has to be where he can see a leopard in time to give the alarm. On the ground a leopard can catch a baboon… but if a baboon is warned in time to reach the trees, he can out-climb a leopard. The lookout is a young male assigned to that duty and there he will stay, until the bull of the herd sends up another male to relieve him. Keep your eye on that baboon; we’ll be back to him.

 

Today, in the United States, it is popular among self-styled ‘intellectuals’ to sneer at patriotism. They seem to think that it is axiomatic that any civilized man is a pacifist, and they treat the military profession with contempt. ‘Warmongers’ – ‘Imperialists’ – ‘Hired killers in uniform’ – you have all heard such sneers and you will hear them again. Scissors-32x32.pnghttp://www.mydailykona.blogspot.com/2015/10/robert-heinlein-speech-to-usna-1973.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Draggingtree

 

1. Good Stuff!

.

 

Today, in the United States, it is popular among self-styled 'intellectuals' to sneer at patriotism. They seem to think that it is axiomatic that any civilized man is a pacifist, and they treat the military profession with contempt. 'Warmongers' - 'Imperialists' - 'Hired killers in uniform' - you have all heard such sneers and you will hear them again. One of their favorite quotations is: 'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.' What they never mention is that the man who made that sneering remark was a fat, gluttonous slob who was pursued all his life by a pathological fear of death.

 

2. It really brings me no joy to say this, but War (in one form or another) is what we do. You could ask these pacifists to name one 10 year period in the last 6,000 years of recorded history when one group of people have not been killing another group of people with merry abandon. So we are left with 2 conclusions either we (Human Beings) really like war and will start one for any or no reason OR We're really really horribly bad at this whole peace thing.

 

And yet I remain in spite of all evidence to the contrary Optimistic.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • 1711700596
×
×
  • Create New...