Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 3:12, 13 & 14 "12 - The general is the prop of the nation. 13 - When the prop is solid the nation is strong. 14 - When the prop is flawed, the nation is weak."

Today's focus is on verse 13.

Let me tell you a little story about my father. After lying, and volunteering to fight in WWII, he could never quite remember his age properly. He was either 16 or 17, but absolutely NOT 18, when he signed up. He could never remember which.

The story does not end well. One of the first troops into Japan, a Japanese girl broke his heart and he never recovered. His marriage to my mother didn't go well. But the truth is, his soul was broken in the Philippines, long before the lovely Japanese girl broke his heart.

It was his machine gun that broke his soul, that plus night time marches through the jungle where he knew he was about to die from treetop snipers shots. He didn't, but he might as well have. I dare not tell you about the Catholic priest in the book tent. That's almost as bad.

He found temporary reprieve peeling potatoes first, and then, finally, got promoted to the mess. For the rest of his life, that man could cook potatoes and eggs like no one else. Amazing. He never quite got his soul back, but he always loved America.

As a soldier, he was no fan of MacArthur. As a patriot, he always bragged on him and what he did. He was a strong prop of the nation, according to my dad, MacArthur was. Kind to Japan after defeating them, MacArthur is in many ways the 20th Century's unsung hero.

In our passage, what exactly is the general, that is, beyond the prop of the nation? He is its fighting spirit. "War is a grave affair of state; it is a place of life or death, a road to survival and extinction, a matter to be pondered carefully." Chapter 1:1.

After Pearl Harbor, our entire nation was ready to fight, as was my teenage father. Patriotism found its voice and the greatest generation found its spirit. Eisenhower had Europe, MacArthur the Pacific. Together, they were the prop of the nation. Who is that today?

There can be no question, it is @GenFlynn. Pay no attention to all the malarkey and hooey you hear. He is today's General. He is the fighting spirit of America. No matter if you disagree, show me your guy, that'll be fine. Who shoulders the burden of the fight? You choose.

Now consider all of Master Sun's counsel about winning without killing, without even fighting. What kind of spirit does that take? What kind of mind? A nation that has Master Sun as its prop is blessed. Its fighting spirit is great, but no waste of life or treasure results.

Let's return to the voting booth where you are the general. You are the prop of the nation. Yes, to be sure, you must show up to vote. But also, you must lead others as well, your soldiers. They too must vote.

And finally, consider the war for America herself. It has never raged more furiously. Socialism? Seriously? Yes. It has been the enemy here for over 100 years. So much of our current government is, in fact, driven by socialism. We must admit this, and amend it.

You are the general. You are the prop of our nation. Are you solid? If so, all will be well.

To return to previous sections in our #WarForAmerica2020 and #SunTzuForMAGA series, don't forget to head over to @WarForAmerica21.

54 verses completed, 388 to go.

And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…