What is War?

note: I've always wanted to try and write an essay this way. it is in the form of what they call "belle lettres", meaning "beautiful language". It was a form taught in schools in the seventeen hundreds and was not necessary meant to be backed by information, but rather by cogitative thought and emotion. Let me know what you think!

            The essayist has always believed that war is an act of violence intended to compel an opponent to fulfill their will, submit their power and to force another to subject their own fealty towards they who has gained the upper hand. Conflict is necessary for the state to exist, essential for nations to rise from the ashes of another and vital for empires to maintain their fiefdom. It is an artform, ever changing with each skirmish, twisting and turning with each battle and exchanging the pendulum of zugzwang between opposing powers. This clash will continue until the bitter end until that moment when all is lost for one side, when that moment arises when there is no other choice for one general but to beg for mercy, to surrender and bend the knee to his adversary.

            This being said, no victor truly elates in their triumph. Through the struggle of maintaining a successful campaign, a nation must make many sacrifices to see through their attack plans to the end: political compromise, financial strain, casualty, munition, clothing, transportation, loss of moral from the people as well as their soldiers. Even if the war is won, the legacy of those lives lost must be remembered in such a way that, should such an engagement be embarked upon once more, the people will be more than willing to warrant it. The most delicate allotment of the art of war is not that a campaign can be duplicated but rather it is whether or not the people will allow such an operation to take place once more. 

Get Drunk on This

Sometimes, I find it necessary, for people to get drunk. Too many times in this modern world, men and women get to caught up with themselves, their lives and their problems that they find themselves so stressed out and burned down, that all that could possibly aid them, is to take a drink. Too many times people are shocked when I tell them this, believing that I am condoning someone to turn to alcoholism to solve all their problems; rest assured, that isn’t the case. Too often, I am taken out of context, but this is the absolute truth. Humanity has built a prison of a world that they thought would be a home, one where they believed we could live here in harmony instead of the loneliness which we all feel within our bones. When they here me say “have a drink” they think of the drink of loneliness they have in the shanties of their lives, the one which they have surrounded by strangers, the one which they tell themselves “it’s better than drinking alone”. The human condition shouldn’t dwell within such a dismal place but should rather be lifted up to the rafters among friends, those who actually enjoy the company of one another. One should not feel that the company of strangers is the closest thing to obtaining friendship and harmony in this life. One should be exuberant in the fulfillment of joy and splendor of the night, surrounded by those which fulfill their heart’s need for companionship. Believe me when I say “get drunk on this”, I am not saying reach for the neck of the bottle, I am saying reach for the neck of those who will lift you to the height of who you are.

A Letter to Humanity

            This is less of an essay, but is more of a conversation about overcoming the war within. No matter who you are, you understand what I am talking about. No matter where you come from, you can recall a time when you had to reach down deep and push through a conflict in your life, discovering a strength within yourself you never knew you had. No matter who you are, you can relate to the tales of Hercules, the struggles of Odysseus, the trials of Perseus, and perhaps even the toils of the mighty Colossus of Rhodes himself. Whenever there is chaos, we as survivors have found hope. In times when all seemed forsaken, we found light among the darkness and chose to liberate others instead of simply liberating ourselves. By expanding the light of our lives to the world, we gave others permission to mount chariots across the skies, bringing the light of hope to many more. As a diamond in the rough, we stand erect, choosing not to be kept erect by others, allowing brothers and sisters to do the same. I am blessed to be part of such a select few, and if you are part of such a select few, you should feel the same. One must realize that, in order to find out the secret to what makes one great, they must endure the power of struggle’s cold embrace.

                For those of you who do not know me, I am a wounded veteran of the United States Army. I suffered a terminal brain injury, as well as thirty-nine broken bones from a motorized vehicle accident on a training mission almost eight months prior to penning this current essay. Most of the doctors didn’t believe I would ever walk again, would ever be able to live a somewhat normal life or even have a somewhat functional brain after words. I never really knew what pain truly felt like until I was trying to learn how to walk again, my body brace digging into my broken ribs and shoulder, the neck brace supporting the burst fracture which took half an inch from my height. I couldn’t imagine living life trapped in a situation like that for the remainder of my days, so thus I took to writing as my escape. Today, I walk with a limp, my vertebrae healed, a crescent moon scar on the left of my head. I’ve been told I may never have the ability to run anymore, my memory much like that of an Alzheimer’s patient. Should I ever have the pleasure of meeting you for the second time and don’t recall you from the first, please don’t be offended; odds are, I cannot remember what I had for breakfast that morning.

                I’ve been told often that I should be grateful for all that the Army has done for me, for the medical insurance, for still being alive. Truly, I am grateful for all three of these things, as they have been a great blessing to me in an hour of need. However, what those who make these comments don’t realize is this: no matter what the Army does to help me right now, it will not undo the damage caused by sheer callous negligence from one individual. In addition, I would like to point out that, as much as I would like to say that I am being treated for my pain, the medications prescribed to treat my pain isn’t helping. The only thing that truly got the edge off was Percocet, just 5mg or so, enough to put me to sleep or get the pain down to a tolerable level. Then again, due to the “Opioid Epidemic” (which, in my opinion, is being blown way out of proportion), most doctors won’t give out Opioids to someone with a missing limb, much less someone with forty-five major injuries sustained eight months ago. Instead, lets give them half a dozen meds that don’t work! I know that these doctors are looking out for their best interests, I get that. I suppose that it would be nice if someone would just come out and say that instead of telling me about how I will become addicted to 5mg of Percocet and start a downward spiral to becoming a junkie.

                I suppose that, if this trial has taught me anything, it is this: it’s truly amazing how little help we are given when we truly need it.

On Weakness

                Sometimes, the greatest obstacle in our lives, is ourselves. When one makes the attempt towards affluence, the attempt towards greatness, their struggle is not against those who they see as their enemy, but it is against those who is staring back at them through the glass. When one is trying to make themselves king for the day, and the world is seeming to fight against you, it is usually the one who is in the reflection who is in the struggle that is engaging against you. When you are feeling all is forsaken, it is the one who is looking at you through the glass that is all to blame. It is the inner struggle, not the outer that must be tamed. With such an obstacle to overcome, one must wonder what must be done to fight against the struggle against the self. Instead of fighting against others, one must engage against their own fallacy and embrace their own weaknesses in order to achieve transcendence. Once we understand the fallacies within us and what is necessary to overcome them, we will find what is necessary to transform within us the diamond within the rough, that mighty paragon which we know is within. The human condition has the capacity to perform amazing things, create astounding inventions and perform astounding accomplishments and it is ignorant of us to think that we cannot accomplish such actions ourselves. In truth, by only bringing our foresight to fruition, we may be able to find out what our destiny may be.

On Creating Yourself

                What does it mean to truly keep one’s virtues intact? Does one perform this arduous task by adhering to the mores of society, ensuring that their every movement is in line with the world? Does one increase their devotion to their religion, their cause, their beliefs? Or does one simply absorb the virtues of those which they herald? If a man does not have a clear set of principles which govern their actions in life, then their ideas will be controlled by another, be that a government, religion or cause. Instead of man controlling his ideals, he is destined for another to perform this task for him. Men must change this concept for life or he will be the slave of another who has dedicated the time and energy to manipulate others, bending others to their will and to serve his interests. Men must strive to be the shepherd and not the sheep of the world, both serving his group and having his flock provide for the shepherd directly. There is so much servitude within this world and not enough individual ideology, creating a true pandemic in the modern era. Without individual thought, an individual’s collection of virtues established by the man himself, then he will forever serve the tyrants which he has crowned within his own mind, forever in service of another and forever place his own subconscious in doubt.

                What then can be done about this treacherous abandonment of the self? The answer is quite simple: create your own virtues which control your life, answer to them and not to others. If you are a faithful man, do only what your own beliefs will allow. In exemplum, you don’t commit adultery because it is immoral to you, though it is not illegal. You don’t lie even though the legal system says you cannot be charged for it, but because your faith won’t allow it. Create your own Cardinal Virtue which will mold your own Code of Ethics, transforming you into the man you desire to be. By establishing for yourself the way to live life, you are liberated from others who would desire to control your every move, freeing your subconscious from a slave aspect and leading to being a Master of your life.

                The writer would caution the reader when it concerns how they liberate themselves. Doing so does not excuse you from the laws of the world, but rather releases your mind from the concept of being told what to do, what to think and what to feel. In this manner, the future master of the self must search for the principles to create their Code of Conduct by finding mentors, studying their beliefs through the beliefs of wiser men and to establish oneself by attributing their mentor's codes into their life.

                Remember that life is not about finding yourself, but rather about creating yourself.

On the Human Condition

                If you’ve read my work long enough, you probably know that I adore reading the written word. For years, I have found comfort in the study of stories and thought penned by wise men through their wise books. For years, I have made the attempt of enlarging my understanding of the human existence, elevating my standing within the concepts of those who have come before me. For years, I have navigated the struggle of life through the lessons which I have absorbed through the labyrinthine echoes of my mind. Where there was conflict, I knew all too well that another had experienced it and had a system for overcoming their enemies. In any struggle, there is always hope through the examination of the human condition; for it is only through struggle that we are able to analyze the world around us and craft a system for success. Books are essentially the watchers on the wall, ensuring that we have an outlet to aid us in the examination of what we know, what we don’t and how to decrease that gap in our psyche. The non-reader is one who will never advance, never achieve greatness and will never enlarge their selves beyond the shadows which surround them. Essentially, much like a razor never touched to a whetstone, in the same manner, their mind shall wither and decay.

On Thought and Character

Man is literally what he thinks. Whatever forms itself into his mind, a man becomes that notion for life. Whatever a man feels in his bones will determine what he desires to accomplish in his life. Whatever a man subjects his mind to, that is what will determine what he will be. If he believes in himself, he will not be subjected to the mores of those which surround him. Where there is despair, he will find hope when he solidifies in his mind to focus on what will bring himself out of the darkness. Instead of being a prisoner in his life, a man who believes in himself and erects an image in his mind for what he ought to be will find success. He is the keystone in his own life, making his thoughts the most relevant voice of reason, subjecting himself to his own will. How glorious would it be if all thought in this manner? How many lives could be changed if only one’s thought concerning life would be rearranged?

Throughout the ages, men tend to blame others for their discursions, refusing to admit that they are responsible for their own actions. What these men do not understand is this: man creates the weapons which will destroy himself. When a man believes he is weak, he has spoken his fate into existence, causing his life to be full of trials in which will cause him despair. When a student believes they are horrible at a subject, their attitude will shift towards a path which shall lead them to the point where they will be in constant struggle with themselves. When a father believes he is a failure, he will be seen as such by his family, potentially leading his own outlook on life to become skewed. There have been whole books written upon how someone may alter what they are now, break the chains of their bad habits for a better life. The truth is quite simple. Man is the lord of his own thoughts; he has the power to make himself what he wills. Essentially, decide what you truly wish to be, carve out a blueprint towards that life, and act so that you can will that your maxim for life will be a universal law.

Discovering one’s self is determined trough application, self-analysis and experience. Once a man has determined what he wills to become, he must be vigilant in his approach towards a better life. A man must also understand that the code of manliness is not a trait which may be achieved and kept forever without holding one’s self accountable. Manliness is like a world title which must be defended. It must be looked upon as something which must be molded, which must be sculpted and when it is only beautiful for a moment. The tides of life will whither away the fine edges, the face shall become disfigured and the sculpture of this man will eventually fall away. Man cannot win such a battle, which is why it is urgent that he alters his mind and force himself to be remembered as a man with whom he would be proud to know. Every man may accomplish this, if he is diligent enough.

Finally, in order to connect the mind with the body and force it to bend to your will, man must be ready to act upon his thoughts. Action is the blossom of thought, allowing the body to surrender to the will of the subconscious, allowing the man to mold himself into who he believes he ought to be. This will lead him to what he will become and what he will be remembered by.

A man is literally what he thinks, growing through right thought, right action and the ability to understand himself.

A Thought to Ponder

                I invite you to think of a time when you were in pain. Imagine this moment and feel the intensity which surrounded you. Imagine the heartache. Imagine the disconnect which you felt between you and those closest to you. If you are reading this, then I would assume you made it through another day. Despite that moment of weakness, you found the strength within yourself to move forward. When all appeared to be lost, you found the courage to move forward. Many a man allow such an albatross to weigh them down, distort their beliefs and sometimes, end their life. I thank God that you didn’t because that means you persevered. I also thank God because you understand the truth: it takes a walk in the darkness to ignite the fire burning within you.

 All training is a sacrifice.

-          Jack Donovan

Whenever we believe all is forsaken, our souls are enduring a struggle which forces us, as human beings, to abandon something in ourselves in order to gain depth within our psyche. In order to better ourselves, we must give up the weakness in our lives in order to gain that which is needed to gain transcendence of who we are. If we refuse to give in, with all our hearts, the soul shall become stronger than it ever has been, leading to what we can be.

On Nostalgia

            Human beings need something to aspire to. We recollect the goodness of the past and the lessons we have learned from it. We recollect the power of what the past holds for our future. We recollect the wonder and splendor of what has been and hope for what could be. However, instead of creating the same experience in the present, we sometimes allow those feelings of powerful goodness to remain where they are. Instead of taking that which we have learned to the rest of the world, we keep the love to ourselves. Instead of being motivated to utilize the lessons which we have learned from our forefathers, sometimes we are depressed in the thought that we as human beings cannot give the same feeling to others. It is as if we are an insufficient buoy compared to the paragons of our mind, always changing and always being lower than the nostalgic memory of our past. This is a concept which cannot ever be the truth. In reality, since we are still living, our success in transcribing this feeling towards others is more than a possibility; it is our obligation towards mankind.

A Speech on Training

Human beings learn in two ways: conflict and pain. Despite what any "self-help" book will tell you, this is the only way humans advance. Despite what any mentor will try and say against this thought, it is what makes people who and what they are. Despite what any thought of antagonism is running through your mind at this point, there is no other way. When you are working on improving your body, you undergo the pain which will transform your appearance. The countless hours studying for a test and the conflict related to this process is rewarded with a passing grade on the exam. It is only after you work through the conflict within your company as you climb that corporate ladder that you finally achieve that position you truly desire. Instead of embracing the challenge, humans today have the motivation of a Sloth, laying around and hoping to get what they want. It is frustrating to see people, with so much potential, accepting and embracing mediocrity. All training is sacrifice, our conflicts and pains mold us, leading us to an end which is only the beginning.