Normal bullets used in firearms are shot, and on impact spread out, because the metal is soft. The metal spreading out causes more bleeding, which in turn, causes a quicker death. During WWI the armies changed their tactics. Using a harder metal, (i believe it was iron) the victim of a shot would not bleed as much, but lay there screaming in pain for hours on end. If they didn't die from the wound, they died from iron poisoning. This constant wailing caused healthy soldiers to run out and help the victim, by pulling him to safety. Which in turn made 3 soldiers out of commission instead of killing just one. And of course the chance of wounding another. Wounding soldiers is a much better tactic than killing soldiers. It's human nature to kill, but it's also human nature to feel sympathy. (or so i like to believe.)
Picture yourself in WWI, in the trenches, on the front line. Picture your commanding officer screaming at you, but the words are lost in the deafening explosions of mortars and machine guns firing from the distance. From the way a soldier near by is pissing his pants, you know "boss" is telling you to charge, along with 100 other young soldiers. Of course you are going to die, you've watched the soldiers do this before.
How would you react before climbing out of the trenches? How would you react running towards the multitudes of machine guns firing out. Piss your pants? Puke? Strive on the adrenaline of your last moments in this "beautiful" life? Would you play dead, and try to crawl back to safety with your tail between your legs?
I'd be a pisser and probably play dead. Or maybe not play dead at all.. I might simply faint.
This is one of many scenario's that can teach you alot about yourself. You can't say you know who you are, until you know who you are in a bad situation. How you would react when it's survival of the fittest.. Or the luckiest.
We are lucky in this day and age to not be forced in to war through conscription. But thinking, with no ego involved how you would react is a step closer to clarity.
On the topic of hitting rock bottom... I'm planning a trip this summer to hike Grey Owl's trail. I've been wanting to do this hike for 2 summers already, but this time i'm going all the way. I'm hoping to do this trek on zero food. I believe it will be a test of character. I believe it's 20 km to Grey Owl's cabin and 20 km back. I'm hoping to do the journey in 2 days. 1 day in, 1 day out. Don't worry, i'm not doing this alone. I have a few companions who have agreed to do this trip with me.. (hopefully they will stick to their word.) And of course we are going to take food with us, in case we can't make it. Each step will be a step closer to knowing who I am. Whether i make it on no food or not isn't even a concern.. Knowing that i broke down, and ate is enough for me. I will have still learnt something.
Well, it's almost 6 am here now.. I should probably start preparing for the folks who start at 7.. Hope every one has a good day.
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4 comments:
Wow, the things you can come up with at 6 AM. Me i was just doing the Michael Jackson thriller dance......and trying not to fall asleep.
That's hard to think about. I guess you wouldn't truely know unless you were faced with that reality. Going into that now, i'd probably have a breakdown and start balling. But thats why the military brainwashes you into thinking your sacrafice is worth it......
and i'm down with the hike man, I think it will be very enlightening.
I would be there in a second! But i don't think i'm that good at hiking, and would most likely hold you both back from enlightenment, so have a fucking amazing vision quest, i hope you find what you're looking for. Plus, i would have to eat lol.
As for the scenario, i dont even know. I agree with Reag's on this one, i would have to be there, faced with the decision, before i could truly know what i would do.
p.s. Stop commenting and start posting Reag's!!
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