"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -- Robert A. Heinlein
How did Robert Heinlein learn to change a diaper? What mistakes did he make before he got it right? Is his way better than mine? Why do we need to change the diaper anyway?
Where do I find the answers to my questions?
I decided to search for a Veteran Diaper Changer to teach me the 'Art of Diaper Changing'.
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The first thing I did was to seek out the advice of Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC who said:
It was the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It was the Veteran not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It was the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to fair trial.
It was the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Veteran, who salutes the flag, who served under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
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Since I already knew that I needed a Veteran Diaper Changer, I decided to see what Mr.'s Merriam and Webster had to say on the subject:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary Entry for "Veteran"Pronunciation: vet·er·an
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin veteranus, from veteranus, adjective, old, of long experience, from veter-, vetus old
Definitions:
1 a : an old soldier of long service b : a former member of the armed forces
2 : a person of long experience in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)
Synonyms: Long-timer, old hand, old-timer, vet
Related Words: expert, master, past master
Text usage: One having knowledge or ability gained through long experience
Rubies who are Veterans from every walk of life spread out over all of the globe share their experiences with us.
These experiences are the good, bad, ugly or indifferent and WE will learn from those who have knowledge and ability gained through long experience.
This place is not about failures, dusty old sea/war stories, or new miracle cures.
This is about teaching us the most important aspect of SURVIVAL -
How to gain the knowledge of those who went before, without having to make the same mistakes they made!
Sitkastan
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