Ghanima Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
atreideslioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2011-09-28 08:56 am
atreideslioness) wrote in fandomhigh2011-09-28 08:56 am
Entry tags:
The Art(s) of War and Peace; Wednesday, Second Period [ 09/28 ].
"Good morning. Today, we work with chapter four, often known as 'Tactical Dispositions'," Ghanima said, smiling at them as she hopped off her desk and walked over to the chalkboard. Shunsui, for what it was worth, was behind the desk as usual, though this time with a little bonsai tree. "Sun Tzu said: 'The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.'"
She picked the chalk up and began to write. The cantor of her writing seemed to provide the harmony to the melody of Shunsui's trimming shears. "First, he claimed that 'to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.' This is excellent advice, as it reminds us that the enemy is never perfect, and that everyone, ourselves included, has a weakness. 'Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.'"
"'Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive,'" she recited, writing quickly. "'Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.'"
"Naturally," Shunsui finally offered, "such a belief can extend beyond the art of war ♥. For example, one may seem to merely be partaking in the relaxing activity of keeping a bonsai while the more quick-minded instructor does all the hard work, only to then choose the right moment to chime in with a pointed comment about when to step on up ♥."
"So, how do we reconcile these differences?" she asked, looking at them. "One could even say that bonsai keeping is a constant war of knowing when - and how - to cut back. How can you create a plan of attack for anything, not just combat, using Tzu's ideas? Wooing a romantic partner by using almost defensive-only tactics seems doomed to failure, as does using that mindset during a business transaction. We know from our earlier lesson that a prologued engagement benefits no one in the long run, why do you then think Tzu advocates waiting here?" Ghanima set down her chalk and turned around to face them fully. "I'd like you to get in small groups of two or three and discuss this, and try to come up with a non-combat situation where this would be a viable, and indeed desirable, strategy."
"And I brought bonsais for everyone, should you like to partake yourself while you discuss ♥."
She picked the chalk up and began to write. The cantor of her writing seemed to provide the harmony to the melody of Shunsui's trimming shears. "First, he claimed that 'to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.' This is excellent advice, as it reminds us that the enemy is never perfect, and that everyone, ourselves included, has a weakness. 'Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.'"
"'Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive,'" she recited, writing quickly. "'Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.'"
"Naturally," Shunsui finally offered, "such a belief can extend beyond the art of war ♥. For example, one may seem to merely be partaking in the relaxing activity of keeping a bonsai while the more quick-minded instructor does all the hard work, only to then choose the right moment to chime in with a pointed comment about when to step on up ♥."
"So, how do we reconcile these differences?" she asked, looking at them. "One could even say that bonsai keeping is a constant war of knowing when - and how - to cut back. How can you create a plan of attack for anything, not just combat, using Tzu's ideas? Wooing a romantic partner by using almost defensive-only tactics seems doomed to failure, as does using that mindset during a business transaction. We know from our earlier lesson that a prologued engagement benefits no one in the long run, why do you then think Tzu advocates waiting here?" Ghanima set down her chalk and turned around to face them fully. "I'd like you to get in small groups of two or three and discuss this, and try to come up with a non-combat situation where this would be a viable, and indeed desirable, strategy."
"And I brought bonsais for everyone, should you like to partake yourself while you discuss ♥."
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
She considered, realizing she hadn't talked to Mercy since that time she visited the Clinic. "Do you have other things in common?" Oblique, but clear.
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
She blushed. And hedged. "Um... no. I've never met anyone else like me."
Absolutely true. Asrai was a werewolf and Mercy definitely wasn't. As had been shoved in her face many times.
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
She stepped back to look at her own bonsai, which, well, it hadn't died yet anyway. "I'm good with mechanical things - cars. Charles taught me after I crashed Bran's Porsche."
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
Re: BONSAI!!! (Small group work)
Now that was an understatement.