>See "Helm's deep" in Two Towers for great examples of men fighting
stoically for their homes.
>I imagine there were a few farmers, crafters, butchers, tanners ,dairymen
and the like in the trenches >during WW1 don't you?
Well, actually, both your examples are flawed (at least as I see them...) At Helms Deep, *everyone* gets swept up in the flight to HD - old women, babies, etc. When they get there and realize that there's not enough men to man the battlements, *then* the old & young * farmers are conscripted. During the modern era, conscription is pretty universal for some age groups, with *some* occupations granted partial or full immunity. Sure, there was a lot of patriotism and the "Friesnds Regiments" and all that, but those guys volunteered to be there. And by joining the army (there weren't a lot of mercenaries in the trenches...) they joined the equivalent of a "fighting cult" - they were taught drill, and marksmanship, and other "modern magics" that make up a soldier.
From my reading of the WW situation, those people that didn't want to stay went away - all that was left were the people *intending* to fight, in what they knew was possibly a hopeless cause. Rather like the defenders of Masada, really.
>Fighting cult? Well, their PEOPLE have become the fighting cult, wether out
of choice or not.
The People don't provide those useful Combat magics.
RR
C'est par mon ordre et pour le bien de l'Etat que le porteur du pr�sent a
fait ce qu'il a fait.
- Richelieu
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