The Sword

VS.


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VS.


First and foremost, visit my brothers blog. It will make you grin (you will need it after you're done reading this post). Here we go...

Notice the above pictures. You will see four warriors. Two are fake (Mel Gibson as William Wallace and the Alexander of Macedon painting) while the other two are real (the US infantry and the US tank). So, my comparison is flawed, but I seek the symbols behind the pictures.

Let me cut straight to the point. We obviously do not have horse and sword armies any more. Therefore we must remember them through art. Oftentimes, we forget that wars were not always won with the bigger, better guns. Wars were won with valor and hand-to-hand skill.

Now hear me out. I don't want to demean the excellent job that our soldiers are doing around the world in defense of freedom. But, to tell the truth, mankind fights a different kind of war altogether. As of five hundred years ago, warriors stood face to face against their enemies. In fact, Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front speaks of the brutal hand-to-hand combat occurring only eighty years ago in WW I.

However, in those ancient times, with the exception of range-limited bows and highly inaccurate catapults, death was literally within hands reach of every warrior. Imagine what that would have been like: standing face to face with someone who wanted to and/or had to maim or kill you. That's actually rather terrifying. Truly that would take either tremendous coercive power by the ruler to perform or great courage.

Similarly, the soldiers of the USA are encouraged to fight but usually not in a hand-to-hand situation. They place great trust in their commanders to create a scenario that favors them, and soldiers of ancient history likely held similar trust. Another aspect of this trust is training. American forces have the best technology of any in the world, so they must be prepared to use it appropriately.

Their ancient counterparts, however, were not trained in technological warfare but physical warfare. The US attacks with technology, but the ancients attacked a sword in hand. In that world only the most skilled will survive. One misplaced blow and you could be done for. Today, a random piece of flying shrapnel could end your life in seconds.

The difference lies in proximity--the distance between you and death. With this proximity comes the idea of glory. For instance, King David's Mighty Men are remembered in the book of I Samuel. Achilles is remembered in the Iliad for feats of combative prowess. William Wallace is remembered as a fierce warrior.

To sum up, in generasl terms...

• Today's way of war = valor + technology + distanced
• Yesterday's way of war = valor + skill + personal
  

Wow, that sounds like a rather calloused way of looking at it, but its true. This is why Miendur is based in "ye olde times." Plus it makes for a better story, and I don't have to base it on contemporary events.

Again, I say thank you to those in service of freedom, where ever you are in the world. My prayers are with you. Strength and Honor.