Sailing To Oblivium: July 17, 2017

As far as I’m concerned, there are enough things causing friction in our lives that we don’t need to produce it knowingly. But some do.

Carl von Clausewitz, whose writings on war have affected the actions of generation after generation of generals, expounded on it in his classic work, On War. “Friction is the only conception which, in a general way, corresponds to that which distinguishes real war from war on paper.”

In other words, it all looks easy in some Chateau miles away from the trenches where men exist, under adverse weather conditions, suffer almost constant bombardment, and operate under standing orders to “report to the front and remain there in service until death, incapacitation, or the end of the war.” They know that a line drawn on paper, marking a direction of attack, doesn’t recognize the fact that, in reality, it leads through two feet of mud.

In other words, amateurs in the business, or people with nefarious motives, can get a lot of others killed. Unexpected changes in the weather, a surprise movement by the enemy, lost supplies, or a lapse of leadership on the ground can add untold friction to the best plans.

Now to our present condition in America. I seem to remember that Clausewitz also warned about creating unnecessary friction on our own part. Consider the habits of the Nazi army in mistreating civilians in captured territory, habits that generated resistance (friction). Napoleon Bonaparte didn’t create the kind of friction that Hitler did. We are told the French basically allowed a captured populace to continue operating as they had, as long as they didn’t cause trouble. Further back in history, we read of a similar practice during the so-called Pax Romana.

Okay. Okay. I’m getting to it.

With both Clausewitz and history on our minds, how the hell do we explain Donald Trump? Avoid friction? Why he arises during the early hours of the morning with one thought in mind, apparently. That is to create as much discord, distrust, and enmity among the American people as possible. Why?

Did he think governing the strongest and most important country in the world would be easy?

Does he think that making people hate him makes him powerful?

Does he think discord is the right way to progress?

Does he, even on the brightest day, imagine there are good, honest, loyal Americans that don’t share his views but who could be valuable allies when treated with understanding and a willingness to compromise?

Does he, as it appears at this point, think that we can “make America great again” by destroying everything that makes America great?

I don’t know. I’m just confused, some would say a lingering condition. I do know, however, that there are people whose political beliefs differ from mine, and that many of those people are good, honest, and loyal Americans. When we sit together in fellowship and good humor, we agree on most things and, I’m certain, could find many bridges with which to cross any gaps that do exist in our beliefs. They are not “losers.”

Nor did a much greater man than Donald Trump could even imagine—I’m talking about Abraham Lincoln—call the people of the South “losers” in April of 1865. He treated them as fellow countrymen and countrywomen. He was a man who understood the negative effects of friction.

Just thinking …