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: Begging the Question

Winning the hearts and minds

By "Milbarge" and "Fitz-Hume"

Around the first of the year, in an impulsive moment, I bought a page-a-day calendar of survival lessons taken from some U.S. Army handbook. I was expecting cool stuff like making a compass from a shoestring and starting a fire with bubble gum. Instead, so far it's mostly been a letdown. There have been a lot of very general tips, like "Get water" and "Avoid mosquitoes." Those are undoubtedly important, but I don't need a weather man to tell me that the wind blows and that I should seek shelter. And I doubt I'm going to be trapped behind enemy lines for an appreciable amount of time.

But one from earlier this week takes the cake. The heading is "Survival With Natives: Dos and Don'ts." It really makes me wonder if this calendar is actually based on genuine Army policy; it would explain so much. If you can't read the picture, here's the text (emphasis added to my favorite line):

Let the natives contact you. Deal with the recognized headman or chief to get what you want. Show friendliness, courtesy, and patience. Don't show fright; don't display a weapon. Treat natives like human beings, and respect their local customs and manners. Respect personal property, especially their women. Don't take offense at pranks played on you -- primitive people especially are fond of practical jokes. Learn all you can from natives about woodcraft and getting food and drink. Take their advice on local hazards. Avoid physical contact without seeming to do so. Whatever you do, leave a good impression. Other men may need this help.

Maybe the natives can teach me how to start a fire.

Full post as published by Begging the Question on March 12, 2009 (boomark / email).