The Way It Happens

I found this in my files:

Start with a cage containing five apes.

In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it. Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water.

After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result--all the apes are sprayed with cold water. This continues through several more attempts. Pretty soon, when another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes all try to prevent it.

Now turn off the cold water. Remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes, which have been sprayed with cold water, have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?

Because that's the way they've always do it and that's the way it's always been around here.

And so goes some Army policy and traditions...

the tag

My friend Rob Dolby called me an "the tag in the new pair of underwear. Sure it is a pain in your backside at first", he said "but sooner or later you get used it. If you dont' get used to it and deside to cut it out the underwear will begin to unravel and you will be standing naked."

Now I don't know what all that symbolism means...but it sounds cool.

Booth-Tucker Institute Thoughts

From Can You Hear Me by Brad Jersak:

Mercy is like the ambulance at the bottom of a cliff ready to help those who fall. Justice builds a fence at the top of the cliff to protect the them from falling in the first place.

Mercy wipes the tears from the eyes. Justice asks, 'why are you crying?'

Mercy welcomes the hungry to gather around God's banqueting table. Justice addresses why some are under the table aching of hunger while others are sitting on top of the table aching from gluttony.

Mercy seeks and saves those lost in the darkness. Justice asks 'why is it dark? Who is keeping it dark? Who is benefiting from this darkness?' Is it me Lord?

Elaine Gillingham gives the following breakdown of mercy and justice:

Mercy--demonstrating the loving kindness of God.

Justice--Invoking the righteousness of God on earth.

seeking to love mercy and do justice : primitivesalvo

BTI

Some stuff to come shortly on Booth-Tucker Institute.

And the four quotes were: Chairman Mao Zedong. I didn't reall want to say but, I made you guess.