Generals

I remember the time when I visited a certain general in prison back in the mid 90's. Looking ever the bit like Douglas MacArthur, he calmly told me not to worry about him as he was accustomed to going in and out of jails... that they have become almost like his second home.

It wasn't hard to see why his soldiers respected him and why they would readily lay down their lives on his command.

Here was a general that wasn't all about honorific titles.

I have met many wannabe "generals" in my lifetime that have the qualifications, big titles on their namecards and bask in being addressed as such in public.

But I have since learned one FACT about generals... reals ones, that is.

How they manage and command under fire, at the lowest ebb in their lives is what separates the real generals from the wannabes.

For it isn't hard to prance around with one's chest lifted high in peacetime. Even monkeys do that!

But a real general commands his men and his own life when he is at the lowest point of despair.

One last thing.

A general rules with the respect of his men which cannot be garnered through fear or the thumping of fists for they display nothing more than contempt and a desperate attempt at showing "strength".

Respect from his men comes from them knowing that he is honourable and trustworthy, someone who is also a soldier at heart.