The Way of the Warrior: Holding Space for The Fourfold Way

[Barry Owen]

Chris,

Firstly, I must apologize for posting and running (a new daughter limits my
time at the computer) . . .

There are "soldiers" and there are "Warriors" - even BOTH in the armed
forces of the US and the world.

You Said:

"He is the only soldier I know well, and the only one that was in a
branch of the US armed forces, so my knowledge of soldiers comes only
from that miniscule contact with the culture of soldiering.  But it
occurs to me that there is a possibility that the young men and women
Harrison is talking about are soldiers and maybe not Warriors.  I feel
very scared for them, because they are about to be put in harm's way, to
possibly face death and if not, to return to a life that may never make
sense for them again."

I believe your context is Tremendously skewed. I served in the US Army 12
years. I know MORE people who served with me who I consider to be WARRIORS
than SOLDIERS (as you define the words). Most of the people I know who fit
the description of your friend are veterans who saw brutal combat in the
"soldier" role. I could not continue to lurk while such broad "profiling"
happens. These folks are NOT the typical armed forces personnel. Believe it
or not, the military is not entirely made up of "war mongers" and "cogs in
the wheels of the machine" . . . There are many many WARRIORS whose first
choice would be to stand firm without killing and who WILL kill when and if
killing is necessary (when their country is attacked and the safety and
freedom of their people is at risk).

I agree ENTIRELY with you assessment of Angeles Arrien's Way of the Warrior.
There are MANY such people in ALL facets of the United State's Armed forces.

In my own humble opinion (I often am overwhelmed by all that comes across
this listserve and feel less than "qualified" to jump in and contribute too
much), These terrorists are getting EXACTLY what they wanted. In the short
term, all talk in the US is of "UNITED WE STAND" . . . in the long haul
(this is what the terrorists are banking on), there is and will be discord .
. . even on this list. From a military standpoint, these people have
launched the picture perfect assault on our country . . . and believe it or
not, they are WINNING. They only had to do the first wave assault . . . The
citizens and government of the US will "finish" it through "in-fighting."
This is a cancer that has been planted in our "pristine virgin never been
attacked" country.

My hope is that the discord I am seeing replacing the "United we stand" can
be turned around before too much damage is done. Our country is under attack
internally AND externally. We are our own worst enemy.

Please note: I am NOT taking a position on how I believe we should respond
militarily . . . I am only throwing in my 2 cents from the perspective of US
Army officer of 12 years.

Be well all . . . back to changing diapers.

b

Barry Owen


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