Dubyazuke Bushimi -

"To retreat before victory would be an act of recklessness and dishonor, and I will not allow it."

Death before dishonor!

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From Sigmund Freud:

"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."

Explains a lot, don't it? (hat tip to The Conservative UAW Guy)

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Samurai Warlord Peter Pace, new nominee for Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked about if our specialized approach to caves and tunnels is like that in WWII and Vietnam. He was to have replied:

Our specialized approach to caves and tunnels is to put 500-pound bombs in the entrance.

(Respectful bow to Jay Nordlinger)

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So said The New Pope:

Christianity is not "our" work; it is a Revelation; it is a message that has been consigned to us, and we have no right to reconstruct it as we like or choose.

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From the great samurai philosopher Dr. Seuss:

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead,
and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat.
I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

Reflect on this and be at peace.

(much praise to my Silly Sister Sarah for sending me this quote)

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80-year-old Rashid Majid of Iraq on the day of voting:

We have freedom now, we have human rights, we have democracy. We will invite the insurgents to take part in our system. If they do, we will welcome them. If they don't, we will kill them.

Now that there is some American spirit.

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As master samurai Miyamoto Musashi professed, true wisdom come from the void. In comtemplating it, all will be known. Thus, today, as special treat, I give you blogging of the void.

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Vice President John Garner was to have said of the Vice Presidency:

An office not worth a bucket of warm spit.

So, what is the Vice Presidential Debate worth then?

I think it's not worth staying up to watch.

What do you think?

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Master Reagan was to have said:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

Liberty is not a destination, but a constant battle. Ponder this well.

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Samurai Benjamin Takeshi Franklin was known to say:

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

And

If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.

So, if your head is made of wax, you must stay worried and full of stress. Ponder this well.

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Master Reagan was to have said:

Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.

The enemy may harm us as they did three years ago today, but they can never destroy us for we are a people who cannot be defeated.

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Current samurai lord George W. Bush was to have said:

We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the worst threats before they emerge.

That there's strategery!

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Master samurai General George Sakyo Patton Jr. was to have said:

War is an art and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula.

As is humor. Also, it's art that isn't boring.

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Samurai P.J. O'Rourke was to written in his tome Give War a Chance this wisdom about the Middle East:

Until 1918 the Arabian peninsula was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, so called because it had the same amount of intelligence and energy as a footstool. When the Turks backed the wrong horse in World War I, the French and English divvied up the region in a manner both completely self-serving and unbelievably haphazard, like monkeys at a salad bar. The huge, senseless notch in Jordan's border with Saudi Arabia, for instance, is known as 'Winston's Hiccup' because the then head of the British Colonial Office, Winston Churchill, is supposed to have drawn this line on a map after a very long lunch.

Okay, I only quoted that because I like the phrase "like monkeys at a salad bar."

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Dark Helmet, who is a parody of a character whose helmet is based on samurai gear, was to have said:

Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb.

Beware: this is the motto of the muckadoos! Do not be drawn in by their dark call... for they are dumb! Always keep in mind the most important thing: Merchandising!

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Samurai philosopher Geroge Orwell was to have said:

All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.

A fool may as well be a blind man.

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Todays' wisdom is from great samurai general George Washington:

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.

Your trust and your confidence is a prize that must be won through great hardship.

BTW, I'd like a list of some other great samurai I should be looking up quotes from.

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Today's wisdom comes from honorable samurai philosopher Dave Barry:

The weightlifting competition I saw was the women's 63 kg class. I'm not sure whether this means the actual women weighed 63 kg or the weights they lifted weighed 63 kg. Or possibly the temperature in the weightlifting hall was 63 kg. There's no way to know for sure without finding out what a ''kg'' is, and my belief, as an American, is that if I have to start understanding the metric system, then the terrorists have won.

Thanks to Best of the Web for pointing this one out.

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American Shogun Harry S Truman was to have said:

Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive. And don't ever apologize for anything.

Listen to Truman, 'cause he'll bomb yer ass.

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These words are from A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by the great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi:

Holding the Long Sword

Grip the long sword with a rather floating feeling in your thumb and forefinger, with the middle finger neither tight nor slack, and with the last two fingers tight. It is bad to have play in your hands.

When you take up a sword, you must feel intent on cutting the enemy. As you cut an enemy you must not change your grip, and your hands must not "cower". When you dash the enemy's sword aside, or ward it off, or force it down, you must slightly change the feeling in your thumb and forefinger. Above all, you must be intent on cutting the enemy in the way you grip the sword.

The grip for combat and for sword-testing is the same. There is no such thing as a "man-cutting grip".

Generally, I dislike fixedness in both long swords and hands. Fixedness means a dead hand. Pliability is a living hand. You must bear this in mind.

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Sensei Winston Churchill was to have said:

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.

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Today's wisdom comes from an eight-year-old Shyna who is well on his path to being a wise samurai:

There should be no monkeys in the world.

Ken Wheaton has the full context.

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From Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

Because of some business, Morooka Hikoemon was called upon to swear before the gods concerning the truth of a certain matter. But he said, "A samurai's word is harder that metal. Since I have impressed this fact upon myself, what more can the gods and Buddhas do?" and the swearing was cancelled.

Be of sound virtue, and never stand being questioned of it.

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Samurai General and American Shogun Dwight D. Eisenhower was to have said:

What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.

True strength comes from the heart... not that fast twitch muscles don't help.

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Today's wisdom comes from Socrates... who I think pre-dates samurai... and might have been made up by Plato. Anyhoo:

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

The true samurai is what he appears to be (and thus probably not a politician).

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Samurai Benjamin Takeshi Franklin was known to say:

Well done is better than well said.

Facta non verba.

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Today's wisdom is from samurai Shiba Yoshimasa:

Many men feel that they should act according to the time or the moment they are facing, and thus are in confusion when something goes beyond this and some difficulty arises.

The man whose profession is arms should calm his mind and look into the depths of others. Doing so is likely the best of the martial arts.

Yes, touchy-feely crap can help you kill others.

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Learned samurai James Madison was known to say:

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.

So I am the only guardian of true liberty. Me!

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Heed these words from A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by the great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi:

Stance in Strategy

Adopt a stance with the head erect, neither hanging down, nor looking up, nor twisted. Your forehead and the space between your eyes should not be wrinkled. Do not roll your eyes nor allow them to blink, but slightly narrow them. With your features composed, keep the line of your nose straight with a feeling of slightly flaring your nostrils. Hold the line of the rear of the neck straight: instil vigour into your hairline, and in the same way from the shoulders down through your entire body. Lower both shoulders and, without the buttocks jutting out, put strength into your legs from the knees to the tops of your toes. Brace your abdomen so that you do not bend at the hips. Wedge your companion sword in your belt against your abdomen, so that your belt is not slack - this is called "wedging in".

In all forms of strategy, it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance. You must research this well.

The true warrior is prepared every moment for battle.

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From Master Reagan:

History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.

Let the enemy know how expensive it is to cross us.

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Today's wisdom is from venerable samurai Thomas Paine:

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Man, I thought I was original in calling government a necessary evil. Stupid people before me already having the good ideas before I even get a chance.

Anyway, as I always said, one should consider using government to achieve an end with the same gravity as considering burning down an orphanage to achieve an end.

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From samurai General Douglas MacArthur:

There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity.

The meek may inherit the earth, but it'll be a long time until we're done with it.

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From Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

If you cut a face lengthwise, urinate on it, and trample on it with straw sandals, it is said that the skin will come off. This was heard by the priest Gyojaku when he was in Kyoto. It is information to be treasured.

What this means is... Holy crap! What was in this guy's sake?

Eww...

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Let us once again consult Sun Tzu:

Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.

Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him.

We must hold the offensive to succeed.

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Today's wisdom comes from maniac samurai G.K. Chesterton:

A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.

Reflect upon its meaning and reach enlightenment.

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Today's wisdom comes from Master Samurai and former leader of America, Theodore Toshiro Roosevelt:

Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft!

A true samurai chooses his battles wisely and decisively.

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Today's wisdom comes from A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by the great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi:

Spiritual Bearing in Strategy

In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased. Even when your spirit is calm do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken. Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body influenced by your spirit. Be neither insufficiently spirited nor over spirited. An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. Do not let the enemy see your spirit.

Small people must be completely familiar with the spirit of large people, and large people must be familiar with the spirit of small people. Whatever your size, do not be misled by the reactions of your own body. With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view. You must cultivate your wisdom and spirit. Polish your wisdom: learn public justice, distinguish between good and evil, study the Ways of different arts one by one. When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realized the wisdom of strategy.

The wisdom of strategy is different from other things. On the battlefield, even when you are hard-pressed, you should ceaselessly research the principles of strategy so that you can develop a steady spirit.

Know your spirit and learn to perceive the spirit of others. If a spirit is particularly good, drink it while eating some cheese cubes.

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Today's thought comes from Sensei Winston Churchill:

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

The fight for freedom will never end, so take pleasure in the battle.

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By my jet-lagged mind, I got into work at 5:45am (and woke up a little past 3am) and am in the middle of catching up (hey, my daily Dilbert calendar says July 2nd; I'll have to fix that). Still, a samurai must adapt to all conditions, so here is your daily wisdom, this one from Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

No matter what it is, there is nothing that cannot be done. If one manifests the determination, he can move heaven and earth as he pleases. But because man is pluckless, he cannot set his mind to it. Moving heaven and earth without putting forth effort is simply a matter of concentration.

So have lots of pluck, but don't go and moving heaven and earth a lot because I'll get confused if they're not where I expect them.

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Once again we consult A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by the greatest samurai warrior, Miyamoto Musashi:

When you decide to attack, keep calm and dash in quickly, forestalling the enemy. Or you can advance seemingly strongly but with a reserved spirit, forestalling him with the reserve.

Alternately, advance with as strong a spirit as possible, and when you reach the enemy move with your feet a little quicker than normal, unsettling him and overwhelming him sharply.

Or, with your spirit calm, attack with a feeling of constantly crushing the enemy, from first to last. The spirit is to win in the depths of the enemy.

These are all Ken No Sen.

Know your Ken No Sen, dude.

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Your wisdom for today is from samurai Gene Kranz who oversaw many perilous expeditions:

Failure is not an option.

When a samurai is given his task, it will be done.

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Today's wisdom comes from the learned samurai James Madison:

A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.

Continue to prepare oneself for battle daily, as you are the main defense of our liberty.

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From Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.

Accept your fate and be at peace.

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Today's wisdom comes from the fierce samurai warrior Calvin Coolidge:

If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.

The wise samurai chooses his battles carefully. Reflect on this.

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Todays' wisdom is from the final words of great samurai general George Washington:

I die hard but am not afraid to go.

The samurai must fight until his final breath and beyond, but have no fear of death.

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Today's wisdom comes from master samurai Yoda:

Do or do not; there is no "try."

When a samurai sets his mind to a task, it will be done.

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Once again, we consult Sun Tzu:

You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended. You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.

Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

Remember what the doormouse said: "Feed your head."

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This is from Master Reagan:

We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.

Follow his wisdom and the enemy can not stand against us.

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This is from A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by the great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi.

Cut and Slash

To cut and slash are two different things. Cutting, whatever form of cutting it is, is decisive, with a resolute spirit. Slashing is nothing more than touching the enemy. Even if you slash strongly, and even if the enemy dies instantly, it is slashing. When you cut, your spirit is resolved. You must appreciate this. If you first slash the enemy's hands or legs, you must then cut strongly. Slashing is in spirit the same as touching. When you realize this, they become indistinguishable. Learn this well.

Meditate on this and then defeat your enemies.

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Samurai poet Mark Shichiroji Twain says:

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear.

When your fear is conquered, you are unstoppable.

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Today's wisdom come from samurai Benjamin Takeshi Franklin whose fearsome visage protects our hundred dollar bills from evil spirits. He said:

It's all about the me's, baby!

Okay, he didn't say that. What he did say was:

Work as if you were to live a hundred years,
Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.

A true samurai keeps death in mind at all times.

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This is from Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

A warrior should not say something fainthearted even casually. He should set his mind to this beforehand. Even in trifling matters the depths of one's heart can be seen.

Heed this wisdom and show the enemy your resolve.

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From master samurai General George Sakyo Patton Jr.:

May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.

Such is the way of the warrior.

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Today's wisdom comes from Master Samurai and former leader of America, Theodore Toshiro Roosevelt:

To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to create a menace to society.

Heed his words.

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Today, we consult Sun Tzu:

Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.

Understand this and be fulfilled.

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Today we consult A Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) written by Miyamoto Musashi, considered by many to be the greatest samurai who ever lived.

The Gaze in Strategy

The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze "Perception and Sight". Perception is strong and sight weak.

In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things. It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword. You must study this. The gaze is the same for single combat and for large-scale combat.

It is necessary in strategy to be able to look to both sides without moving the eyeballs. You cannot master this ability quickly. Learn what is written here: use this gaze in everyday life and do not vary it whatever happens.

Practice this so as not be overwhelmed by the enemy.

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This wisdom comes from Master Reagan himself:

You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans.

Meditate on this until you are at peace.

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This was sent in by my brother, Joe foo' the Marine, and is from the wise P. J. O'Rourke:

Moore's new book, Dude, Where's My Country?, contains ten chapters of fulminations convincing the convinced. However, Moore does include one chapter on how to argue with a conservative. As if. Approached by someone like Michael Moore, a conservative would drop a quarter in Moore's Starbucks cup and hurriedly walk away.

Bask in its wisdom and be at peace.

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This come from Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai:

Our bodies are given life from the midst if nothingess. Existing where there is nothing is the meaning of the phrase, "Form is emptiness." That all things are provided for by nothingness is the meaning of the phrase, "Emptiness is form." One should not think that these are two separate things.

Reflect upon it.

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