tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post7095333789222046757..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: How Can This Be, In The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts?Darrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-7609590357414098142011-08-21T23:10:52.657-07:002011-08-21T23:10:52.657-07:00You remind me of my friend Daryl down in Florida w...You remind me of my friend Daryl down in Florida who thinks its irresponsible to not carry a gun. The Peoples Republic portion of Massachuesttss does not extend more than 20 miles west of boston, although there are outpost in Amherst and Northhampton. You need to fine-tune the psychic geography LOL.<br /><br />Sorry to go off-topic, but I'm working on a piece and I'm asking for your insight as a West Point graduate. In the movie From Here to Eterntiy the charachter Prewitt is even more stubborn than in the novel. In one scene someone explains to him he should complain to the inspector general. The biggest plot change in the movie is that Dynamite Holmes is unmasked as a bad officer and cashired. In the novel which has a darker view of the Army hierarchy he is promoted.<br /><br />Now my own exposure to military training is laughable. Four years in the Junior ROTC - go ahead laugh. Nonetheless, it made a profound impression on me. Our military scinece classes were "blocks of instruction" rather than having the same instructor for the whole year. Senior year one of the blocks was the Psychology of Leadership. I remember quite a bit from that but the one thing that totally sticks in my mind is "the mission and the men". I've remembered that when I've had responsibility for managing people. It makes it much more rewarding, you have high morale and a much better team. It is also more stressful than using people to further your own ends.<br /><br />The other thing I remember, although I don't remember from where, probably a novel is the saying that there is no such thing as bad troops, only bad officers.<br /><br />Regardless, Holmes was a bad officer in a very profound way and I'd like to think that his outcome in the movie was more realistic than the novel.Peter Reillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01473701483727808782noreply@blogger.com