Java Zen:Thinking Out Loud Tuesday, 2025.11.18 
To be martial requires discipline, courage, and perseverance. It has nothing to
do with killing. People fail to look beyond this one narrow aspect of being a
warrior and so overlook all the other excellent qualities that can be gained
from training. A warrior is not a cruel murderer. A warrior is a protector of
ideals, principle, and honor. A warrior is noble and heroic.

A warrior will have many opponents in a lifetime, but the ultimate opponent is
the warrior's own self. Within a fighter's personality are a wide array of
demons to be conquered: fear, laziness, ignorance, selfishness, egotism, and so
many more. To talk of overpowering other people is inconsequential. To actually
overcome one's own defects is the true nature of victory. That is why so many
religions depict warriors in their iconography. These images are not symbols for
dominating others. Rather, they are symbols of the ferocity and determination
that we need to overcome the demons within ourselves.

		Deng Ming-Dao, "365 Tao - Daily Meditations", #189

2006.06.12

Michael Yon Still Fighting HFM, et al.

I purchased a legitimate print of this photograph, Strength and Compassion, from michaelyon-online.com and have it on prominent display in my office as a reminder of why we are fighting, what we are fighting and what it takes to be successful. The story behind the moment captured in this image of Major Mark Bieger carrying a little girl named Farah is particularly compelling. As a consequence, I have a small stake in preserving the integrity of this image as desired by Michael Yon. I therefore view the use of this image by HFM, in the manner in which they have done so, to be personally offensive.

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2006.06.19 – Sweet. Never underestimate the power in an Army of Davids.

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