In a message dated 1/31/2005 11:30:55 AM Central Standard Time, libraryofsocialscience@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Why didn't Generals alter their battle strategy when it was evident that what they were doing did not work? Hi, Where is Lawrence Helm when you need him? <wry look> I mean...let's talk about this! I find it fascinating. Ookay...granted, that is distancing myself from the emotions of wondering about the children left behind, the fact that the person in CHARGE did not enter into the march forward--and why NOT???? What is leadership anyway?? We were talking about today about how wonderful it is NOW that those on a branch managerial level do not have to clean toilets [we did not, in the past, have enough $$ to have custodial staff--and those of us in charge used to take our turns at cleaning the rest rooms...So, if we, librarians have enough sense of responsibility to at least do the most awful of jobs <g>, then why could not the leaders of those sending people, one after another, to DIE...do it himself? Is it that those in leadership positions in the military really truly (esp then?) have no sense of the Other? Of the fact that these people were living breathing people with lives, with gifts and talents which might be of worth in the 'regular' world, with families [one of whom might, had he or she had a dad at home [presuming they were dads and not moms in this death march] been totally together enough to come up with a cure for what ails us now but because of the lack of a dad and/or a mom who lost it because dad didn't come home...was not able to do and be what she/he was supposed to do/be?) Lawrence? A reaction, please!! (or anyone else...) I do understand that to obey is greater than sacrifice...but here...they did both and for what? Did their slaughter, sacrifice, submission--whatever you might call it--end the war more quickly (which is what I hear our veterans during our Veterans Round Table have discussed while they have discussed whether or not the Atomic Bomb(s) ended WW II more quickly and with less loss of life... Puzzled, Marlena ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html