This has always been a stupid idea on the part of the US Navy. I experienced it in 1975,when, in order to win a scholarship- I had to Major in Mathematics, a field of study I hated, so as to become a Naval Officer. The only benefit therein to doing so was that it allowed me to study History and Political Science; then my true love-as a Minor. Thus I was allowed to experience Liberal Larry’s Constitutional Law class-one of the highlights of my educational career.
At the Naval Academy, the academic program is focused especially on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), in order to meet the current and future highly technical needs of the Navy. Graduates who are proficient in scientific inquiry, logical reasoning and problem-solving will provide an officer corps ready to lead in each warfare community of the Navy and Marine Corps.
F*cking blow me! As a future Naval Officer, STEM classes were required. I had to take Physics, Chemistry, E&M Theory ( and no, that does not mean erotic and masturbation theory). All of those classes sucked and I exited with the requisite “C” and or “B” in these courses. I did, however, enjoy the wonders of History of Western Civilization, Major British Writers and as I mentioned before Constitutional Law. Not to mention learning the basics of a language now that I use ever day going to work. ( God rest your soul, Col Gundel).
The Navy does a fine job teaching the technical details. They were able to teach me radar, were they not? So much so that I could teach to other people? But it did a lousy job of helping me to understand why I was being asked to risk getting killed off the catapult at night in the North Atlantic. Or in the Persian Gulf. Or any one of a 100 other places.
They certainly did not teach me about the “why’s” of being asked to make such a sacrifice-all they were concerned about was how to actually get you to do it. And nothing in their educational program prepared me for the idea of having to be shoved off to do nothing at all of value, solely to fill an Army requirement in such hellholes as Iraq and Afghanistan.
So here is a little reminder of what it is really all about. Fans of Ross Douthat should take note.
The purpose of life is not to work till you die-it is to savor the adventure of being in a sensual, physical, beautiful world.