I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and depressed.  Honestly, I think the American spirit has passed in my lifetime.  Perhaps it will make a last gasp or two in the future.  Indeed, it could prevail.  I don't think I will live to see those final moments of American doitiveness.

Our bureaucracy is to large.  We are no longer ruled by a limited and tepid government with specific mandates, but by a sprawling, unruly bureaucracy whose only interest is in maintaining their own existence.

I will never again see the day when youngsters played on the shale cliffs and built a dam across the swollen river during spring melts.  From now on it's kevlar helmets and 10 year-olds in car seats.

Young as I am, I miss the good old days.  No longer shall we learn from our mistakes.  That is, not until we repeat them.

Posted by: roggowj at 09:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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In ancient Greece, specifically Thebes, there was a military unit called the Sacred Band.  150 pairs of queers formed the unit and it was one of the most formidable hoplite units in Greece.

In fact, the Sacred Band defeated the Spartans, and guaranteed that Thebes would remain independent. Phillip of Macedon defeated them, but legend has it they stood and fought to the bitter end, with every one of the 300 men dying on the battlefield.

Hoplites looked something like this:



I suspect that Frank Herbert may have read Plato and Plutarch, because a variation of the Sacred Band was used in his book "God, Emperor of Dune."

Emperor Leto's army was composed entirely of women who would form relationships with one another rather than take out their sexual frustrations by pillaging and raping civilians (men are barbarians, doncha know).

more...

Posted by: roggowj at 05:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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