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From the Cloistered Hall, the Drumbeat Continues

By Major Mark A, Smith, US Army SF, Retired

Bangkok, Thailand

October 9, 2006

Once again the voices of academia hold forth with their studied reasons to be heard and emulated. They know more than all others. They have taken the time to study and have learned the only TRUTH. Some of us lived through the dark days, and were actually in the game. All the while we had to listen to the non-ending stream of advice and condemnation from the ivied and cloistered halls. From Cambridge to Harvard and Yale they held forth with the only TRUTH. 

Betraying country is nothing to these people because: "We have studied and thus we know." They, like many in the media, claim an unelected and non-vetted right to tell the rest of us what to do and what is right and wrong. It comes down to two distinct groups: Those who have studied and those who have lived and served.

From our greatest institutions of learning came many of our greatest heroes. But, from behind those same walls came some of the nation's greatest shame "The Traitor." After the "Cambridge Five" or was it six, can we still afford those who supply all the answers rather than teaching students to honestly seek them in the real world? I think not. What is needed today is not the voice of the all knowing book reader but, "The Man Called Intrepid."  

While teaching nonconformity to society’s rules and even laws, these self appointed guardians of TRUTH have brought us not only followers instead of leaders but, dead students in the streets and jungles. They were following the Utopian ideals, fostered behind those ivied walls, of societies now in the dustbin of history. They do not analyze the reasons for the failure of these societies, but only lament the fact the long suffering peasant class did not understand the "Workers Paradise" they had been given.

As the drumbeat of academia once more assumes its arrogant, all knowing stance, perhaps we should consider the opinions of those who have truly lived and fought in their lives. For it is from these one learns leadership and not the steady mimicking which has brought dishonor to the academic world on far too many occasions.

Like any sporting match, reality is actually on the field of endeavor and not in the seats and press boxes of those who have never played. They constantly speak of how they could do it better from the coaching to the actual athletic endeavor or politics, and even war. Well, suit on up, as your constant yammering from the sideline is proving a distraction and young minds are once again at risk.

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