Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 5: 17 "Orderly disorder is based on careful division; courageous fear, on potential energy; strong weakness, on troop dispositions."

Deployment. Who does what, where? Delegation. Who holds the charge to get what done? We can see that Master Sun is reviewing both yesterday's verse 5: 16, and this chapter's first verse 5: 1. "Managing many is the same as managing few; it is a question of division."

Orderly disorder. Do you have an office? Do you let other people make it neat and clean, or is there order inside the mess and sprawl of your papers and books, files and reports? Any person struggling to keep desk clean and neat should understand orderly disorder.

Careful division. Who is strong this way, but weak that way? Who's capabilities indicate this mission, but not that one? Fierce vs cunning? Might vs maneuverability? What kind of mission is this, calling for whom? Which unit is most likely to succeed right now?

Courageous fear. Why do we need fear? We need it to wake up, to be alert to the dangers we face. Why do we need courage, to get out of bed and get to work. We need to courage to overcome our fear. Where do we find this courageous fear? We find it in...

Potential energy. Say what? Every situation offers advantages for waiting, non-action, and also, advantages for stepping forward, action. Every situation offers opportunity. Weak? Step back. Strong? Step forward. The Skillful Warrior feels all this in a moment and decides.

Strong weakness. This is perhaps the most important strategic skill of all. Where strong, appear weak. Can you say spiritual discipline? Can you say the suppression of ego need? You're so mighty. You must appear bumbling. Will your ego allow it? It must.

Troop dispositions. Each unit has a front and a rear. Does the rear support the front? Is it ready to step forward to be in front? Does the front have the strength to hold the line? Can the unit divide into two, and create new formations with strength?

Let's return to the idea of potential energy. No, not physics, although the physics version is as powerful as can be. Our man Minford appears to feel that this one concept - the Chinese term 'shi,' which is evidently pronounced 'shir' - may be the ultimate concept we need.

Step forward and win. Or, step forward and lose. Step backward and win. Or, step backward and lose. For me, the idea of potential energy, shi, means being 100% fully present in the moment to decide. Forward to victory, or defeat? Backward to victory, or defeat.

We might say the same about left or right, or stand together and fight, or split up and evade. Allow me to use a local school board decision to illustrate, again. Do we all show up in force at the meeting? Or, do we all employ our friendships outside the meeting?

In a school board decision, what are the flanks? Left and right. Liberal and conservative. How do you speak to the left flank? How do you speak to the right? The left is most like already organized. How do you organize the right flank? Seriously. Tactically. How?

Can you call a meeting? Who will show up? Can you host it in your home? Can you organize it at someone else's home, or at a neutral location like a restaurant or a hall? Coffee shops are great. Diners, too. And also bars and taverns. Where will you meet? When?

Dive into the potential energy more deeply. We know that things start weak and grow strong. We know they stay stable until they begin to grow unstable. We know that things grow old and weak. Things? A combat situation or a local policy, everything begins, survives, dies.

Here's another example of potential energy. Consider the 40 Republicans who, in 2018, decided to give up their seats in Congress. They were swamp creatures, deciding to pack it in. Sure, they gave their seats to Democrats. This is what change looks like, at first.

Not a single newly elected Democrat is safe. We can take them out in 2020 if we choose. The potential is there. Do we have the energy? Can we take charge and lead? Can we organize order out of the disorder? Can we complete a careful division of labor?

Can we overcome fear with courage, our own, our friends, our communities? You, leader person, can you feel the energy? Can you tap into the potential? If you will surrender to Master Sun's concept of potential energy, there is no limit as to what you can accomplish.

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

105 verses completed, 317 to go. And also, be sure to purchase John Minford's translation, here:

amazon.com/Art-War-Pengui…

The local MAGA leader’s library needs three other books. The first is by my great friend, hero, and today’s greatest constitutional scholar, @shestokas. His most important work so far is:

amazon.com/Creating-Decla…

The second is available free. It is the combined Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

uscis.gov/sites/default/…

Last is my own book. I'll give you the link here, and then conclude with its ten MAGA principles:

amazon.com/America-First-…

1. Remember The Forgotten Americans
2. Rule Of Law
3. American Jobs
4. Quality Of Life For Every American
5. Heal Our Cities
6. Build The Wall
7. Make America Wealthy Again
8. Make America Strong Again
9. Make America Safe Again
10. Make America Great Again