Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 7: 15 "War is founded upon deception; movement is determined by advantage; division and unity are its elements of Change."

Why does Master Sun have to tell us, yet again - and YOU can look up all his previous statements on topic! - that war is based upon deception? In answer, I have a gentle, hopefully respectful criticism. War is actually based upon killing. Killing is not fun.

Do you know the term "taboo?" There has always been a taboo against killing in our species. Oh sure, it may well be the most easily broken of all our taboos. Hell, it may be that breaking taboos is where most fun in life can be found. We do so love to be bad, don't we?

And we love our bad boys. We love our killers. We love our hunters. We love our special forces. We love our snipers sniping. We love violence and death. It must be confessed, admitted. We love our guns and our mythical swords. We love our martial arts. War defines us.

A pacifist and an anti-weaponist early in life and for many decades, low and verily, how shocked was I when I discovered my love of swords? I adore them. And, another time, we'll discuss the Samurai idea of the life-giving sword. Oh, what a glorious concept that is!

Okay, not to be coy, a bad guy has a sword. He's going to kill an innocent person. And yes, innocence does exist. The weak are often dependent upon the strong to protect them from evil strong people. The life-giving sword protects self against enemy, weak against strong.

That is the warrior ethos. I risk my life, thinking I'm strong enough to protect you. You can count on me. I'm a better warrior than the evil man who wants to kill you for his evil purposes. Here I am. I'll fight. That's the ethos.

But Master Sun doesn't talk about killing, or its taboo. He talks again and again about deception. Why is that? It makes me wonder. Could it be that lying is actually more difficult than killing? Could it be that the morality, the taboo against lying is the real issue?

Allow me to state proudly yet again, I think I'm the guy who solved the problem. It IS immoral to speak truth to enemies. My theory has been - as stated many times previously - that this was so obvious to Master Sun he never realized he needed to state it directly.

Yet, as I read Master Sun say it again and again, I'm beginning to wonder if I haven't missed something. Maybe he knew how hard it is to lie. Maybe it was as hard then as it is now. To be a good liar? We're talking skill beyond swordsmanship. I HATE saying that!

Morality once again addressed, Master Sun moves on rapidly. Embrace your own advantage, he teaches us. No self-sacrifice is allowed in war. No shallow honor giving your enemy a "fair" shot. Nay! Movement is determined by advantage. What is battle if not movement?

Pause with me here. Are you truly your own friend? Are you truly your enemy's enemy? Can you see it? In today's world we are so often our enemy's friend. We so often oppose ourselves, our own interest. We make ourselves small. We make other factors large. Yeah enemy!

Somehow, we have been trained to support our enemy, suppress our own advantage. Phenomenal. Yet so true. And I say...? STOP!!! Stop allowing enemy's advantage to express moral goodness. Hear our master. ALL movement is determined by advantage. Agree if you can.

I must press further. I believe in sacrifice for the greater good, and believe I demonstrate that virtue regularly. Yet, I do so at will, personally, purposefully. And, what's more, I dream to make great gain, great good fortune from my endeavors. I dream.

I believe that Mother America offers me hope of dream for myself. She allows me to be me, she allows there to be an I in my dream, where I hope for myself. Advantage. I am allowed. Morality in fact demands I seek it out. Shall I refer to Adam Smith? Another time.

Aha! How do I gain advantage against my enemies? Master Sun answers with delighted joy. Unity and division are the answers. Where my enemy is united, evade. Where divided, attack. Where I wish to deflect my enemy's attack, unite. Where I wish to invite it, divide.

What a turn of phrase our translator has given us. What is an "element of Change?" And why is the word "Change" capitalized? War is about change. An enemy must embrace the change I will for him. His unity defends against me. His division is my weapon, my sword.

But we must be 100% clear. The purpose of war is persuasion. Change will occur, and it WILL be the change we determine. Now, let's return to the art of deception, tactically. Where strong we appear weak. Where weak, strong. We deceive our enemies thereby.

What is new belief? It is previous certainty broken. Oh, we thought they were weak but shock of shocks, they are strong. Thus, the Russia Collusion Hoax. The Democrats thought @realDonaldTrump had no chance, weak. These years in, they cannot admit they were wrong.

We still fight on. We must regain the House. We must increase our hold upon the Senate. And we MUST rewin the White House. So, let us let the other side think we're weak when we're not. Let us allow them their foolish idiocy. Amen. But, let us hear our Master speak!

Let us determine every movement by advantage, and most of all, let us employ division and unity to accomplish Change. Why is Change capitalized? The way of war is the art of deception. But why? In order to accomplish Change. Change is the ultimate objective.

What Change? What Changes? This question brings us to the very heart of the #MAGA movement. Why did we elect @realDonaldTrump? Why do we believe in him? Where are we going as a people? How exactly will we make America great again? The ten tenets that follow ARE THE CHANGE!

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

Pick one. Identify your enemy, your opponent. Be ready to do what it takes to defeat him. Determine advantageous movement and proceed. Employ his division against him and evade his unity; use your unity to win, back away where you are divided. This is the art of war, for #MAGA.

168 verses completed, 254 to go.

To return to previous sections in our #WarForAmerica2020 and #SunTzuForMAGA series, don't forget to head over to @WarForAmerica21. You'll find the digital table of contents for this series, there. Please retweet each entry you enjoy.