First, a ‘tip of my hat’ to Jimmy Carter…he is a fine person who could have made some different decisions…could not we all in our own past?

I just attended a STARS and STRIPES Concert, a salute to our city’s veterans…and I feel that others will agree that President Carter, a Military Man, deserved to be honored as well.

The President does not awaken every day anymore, but when he does it would be nice for him to know he was honored in the City of New Iberia…I am pretty sure of that.

Today, Sunday, we honored the living and those no longer living men and women of our Armed Services with recognition and music and song. The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra led by Mariusz Smolij played, two vocalists, Ray Boudreaux and Sarah Russo, sang and our Veterans stood when their names were called. The acoustics were fine and some folks met their old friends…a ‘regular’ free event presented by generous patrons, Iberia Cultural Resources Assoc. and the LHC GROUP and sponsored by 7 entities.

These concerts remind me exactly why I live in New Iberia.

Although WAR is a part of all this, it ITSELF is NOT what was being celebrated. In a word; WAR is HELL.

Mankind, for reasons of it’s own, has chosen WAR to settle ‘things’ I suppose?

Homicide on the ‘small’ end, Genocide on the ‘large’ one. Our own country felt it necessary to ‘deal’ with the natives as they pushed Westward with activities like Little Big Horn and others cluttering the path. Even much later Wounded Knee happened in my lifetime.

Due to WAR hysteria, an innocent racial group of folks were ‘given’ free housing for a while.

And of course there was that Civil War thing and other ‘incidents’ we engaged in….

And, in seeking to ‘right’ some ‘wrongs’, the world seems to have caused, perhaps, bigger problems yet!…unless you don’t count the possibility of WWIII much of a problem…?

I recently asked “When will it ever end?” and NO-ONE has answered yet.

I was taught that “we learn from our mistakes” and if we first study History, we won’t be ‘doomed’ to repeat it…hmmmm.

Many…TOO many…have ‘given up’ and accept a lot of things as ‘givens’ ain’t gonna change…ever. I understand their viewpoint, I just don’t agree that it HAS to be that way.

I still cling to the notion that “ALL things are POSSIBLE”…some just are NOT likely to do that.

People have read and followed ‘great’ thinkers…or not.

For over 2500 years, Sun Tzu’s ‘Instruction Manual”, The ART of WAR has helped countless leaders (Military and not) pursue their goals. Great little book of great advice on how to WIN whatever. I think both, or ALL?, sides are using this book right now. Best little ‘Do it Yourself’ book on the shelf…especially if you like WAR. Lessons directing you ‘outta dere’ if things aren’t working out and ‘Planning Ahead is a GOOD idea…PRICELESS notions!!!

It is interesting to learn that this Art Book is used in the Corporate World too…to WIN!

You know you NEVER really know….a distant relative of Sun Tzu might write The ART of PEACE someday soon…that day couldn’t come soon enough for me….

Richard Phillips

New Iberia