> > Why should the army worship "outside" masculine cults? To make them
> > fight better? They have elite women's regiments for that...
>Troops are less concerned in times of war about their position in the
>greater Esrolian doctrine... rather more their own personal safety.
And the Esrolian doctrine is that they cower behind walls and never willingly offer battle at anything less than 10:1 odds. Better than worshipping bloodthirsty deities that require oneself to be exposed to danger, methinks.
> In
>general Esrolian society, there is little need for martial theism amongst
>the male population. Therefore the question develops into how the mobilised
>men seek to gain the favour of the gods in times of war?
Given that Esrolia has been conquered numerous times (Trolls, Dara Happans, EWF, God Learners, Pharaoh etc.), the simplest answer is that they don't. At the same time, the Esrolian matriarchy has thrived.
> >Why should military service transform men into violent social
> revolutionaries
> >given that most armies in history (including incompetent ones) didn't?
>Peter, this is an example in point. I wrote 'could', Peter writes 'should'.
>I argue recognizable potential, not the procession to fact.
You actually wrote "could easily" which means that you thought the risk was common.
>Yes, military service teaches
>subservience, but it also encourages (for a great part, anyway!) a common
>bond and loyalty between the rank and file, develops protective feelings for
>those around you and teaches you to develop and focus your aggression
At the same time, most soldiers are taught not to focus their aggression against their superiors, a lesson they learn quite well (compared to not using the same aggression against civilians). So I'm skeptical of any argument which presumes that the Esrolian military is by its very nature a threat to the Esrolian matriarchy.
>- in developing this masculine clique you are giving voice, albeit in a
>matriarchially controlled manner, to 'qualities' which you might otherwise
>seek to repress.
Which presumes that the Esrolian soldiers are effective warriors, which I see little evidence for.
>Would men, allowed to display their
>proud, warlike tendencies under the Goddess, be happy in serving her thus?
Why should Esrolian soldiers be proud and warlike? Is Dad's Army proud and warlike?
--Peter Metcalfe
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