If anyone tells you he is never afraid, he is a liar or he is a Gurkha.
Sam ManekshawRead
I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.
Interpretation
The quote satirizes the lack of understanding and competence among political leaders in military matters.
In this quote, Sam Manekshaw humorously critiques the capability of political leaders tasked with national defense, questioning whether they truly possess the knowledge necessary to differentiate between key military terms and concepts. The jest draws attention to the potential incompetence of those in power, highlighting concerns about their ability to protect the country effectively.
In practice
This quote is perfect for a speech criticizing government inefficiencies.
As long as in this territory west of the Jordan river there is only one political entity called Israel, it is going to be either non-Jewish or non-democratic. If this bloc of millions of Palestinians cannot vote, that will be an apartheid state.
Five decades ago, as India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, began visibly ailing, the nation and the world were consumed by the question: 'After Nehru, who?' The inexpressible fear lay in the subtext to the question: 'After Nehru, what?'
People seem to know about May Day everywhere except where it began, here in the United States of America. That's because those in power have done everything they can to erase its real meaning.
Now that the House of Commons is trying to become useful, it does a great deal of harm.
The Iranian government is undoubtedly a severe danger to its own population, but not beyond that.
In my mind, President Snow should be viewed in front of marble pillars hung with oversized flags. It's jarring to see him surrounded by the ordinary objects in the room. Like taking the lid off a pot and finding a fanged viper instead of stew.
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