Thread by @ThyConsigliori

John Minford, #SunTzu 8: 4 "On dire terrain, do not linger."

There's a clear distinction between dire and crossroads, from yesterday's verse. But, what's the difference between dire and intractable? There, the rule was do not encamp. Here, we're warned to NOT linger. Those many hours of research the other day led me to the answer!

It comes from Ames’ translation – can’t recommend it too strongly – both for his selection of terms but also for his awesome footnotes. “[The Commander} should not linger on cutoff terrain.” Interesting. What might “cutoff” indicate? In his footnote, Ames gives us the definition.

Ames tells us the definition comes from chapter 11 and is: "When you quit your own territory and lead your troops across the border, you have entered cutoff terrain." Regardless of the type of ground, you're cut off from your supplies and support.

You're now behind enemy lines and cannot replenish yourself. So, forget about camping, there's no chance of that here, at all. Rather, you don't even want to linger. Here, you march fast, push your men to their greatest velocity. Don't stop for coffee, and no pie at the diner.

A point on reading, and cross referencing. I believe Ames has done a great service on this verse. His is vastly clearer. I still prefer Minford's translation by far, overall. But, in this verse, he should have followed Ames' lead.

To be thorough, let's check Giles. "Do not linger in dangerously isolated positions." Ames does a better job, but Giles and Ames are in perfect accord here. So, when we complete our list of the guidelines, we'll use Ames' term rather than dire, it's clearer.

But I think I know why he did it, and Minford's always dangerous. What emotion arises to the word "cutoff?" Some, if you really think about it. No one wants to be cutoff. But what emotions arise to the word "dire?" Instant emotional force whelms up. You're in a DIRE straight!

Who's a Mark Knopfler fan? I wonder, might Minford have thrown a nod to a favored musician here, and his band, Dire Straits? I still give the clarity point to Ames, but for emotional power, Minford takes the day. Let's run with his for now. Have you been in dire straits?

Yesterday, we discussed alliances with children-in-law. What about parents-in-law? Have you ever been to your spouse's parents' home, and fantasized about having an emergency so you could clear out of there fast as possible? Did you feel cutoff, behind enemy lines?

We need something more dire. You realize that the stock market ADORES layoffs. They love to see a company shed employees and always reward it with rising stock prices. Their beloved term is "redundancy." Have you ever been a redundancy, lost your job and didn't know what to do?

Full disclosure, as a diehard capitalist, I don't view a corporation as a parental entity, obligated to create and make jobs safe. Yet, as a mere human, I absolutely do know and feel the plight of the displaced, most especially when it is 100% NOT their fault.

Let's go even more dire. Have any of you studied Japanese martial arts, especially swordsmanship? They have a spectacular term, zanshin. It essentially means the ability to detect danger around the corner. If you haven't seen the movie Seven Samurai, what a treat you're in for.

Far too long ago, in 1998, I took my beloved to Rio De Janeiro, yes, for carnival. If you haven't been, well, you haven't been. One night after wonderful entertainments, we were walking on the beach and then, blundered into a part of town you just didn't want to be in a 3:00 AM.

A bit enamored with me and taken in by the romance of the moment, my wife didn't notice. I looked around, saw a taxi, hailed it and without a word to Kate, opened the door for her. We got in, and I gave the name of our hotel to the driver. She still didn't know why I'd done that.

She immediately asked as I sat down, and I simply said, "Honey, look around." She grabbed my hand with both of hers and said, "Thank you." I don't know that we'd have been in dire straits, but you just don't want to take foolish risks, right? You don't linger.

Is America in dire straits? Are we cut off from safety and now behind enemy lines in our own country? Sadly, I say we are. The vast power of the Swamp has not yet been measured. Would you want to face injustice at the hands of a corrupt judge? You wouldn't want to linger.

And how about @realDonaldTrump? How cut off from support must he feel in D.C.? Why must America be made great again? Because the forces of power, here, no longer fight for America. They fight for themselves with reach and force we can't even imagine. Yes, we're in dire straits.

@realDonaldTrump So, let's not linger here. Rather, let's take up our challenge and succeed. Once we Make America Great Again, we'll have left the straits here behind, not having lingered. Will you show up to vote in 2020? Will you bring those who agree? Will you convert a few people? Please do.

@realDonaldTrump 202 verses completed, 220 to go.

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