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Ok if “life is not fair” is too trite of a statement, how about something like this? Men are imperfect and their imperfections cause systems to be flawed. Flawed systems result in unfairness. Men act in their self-interest which sometimes/often results in unfairness. Men and systems make up our society as we know it. It is not utopia.
What would you tell him, Shiloh? The admission system sucks, you were screwed by an attempt to rectify past wrongs, USNA grads and their big rings have an inherent advantage in the fleet, etc. If so, you are contributing to a person who is going to be bitter, cynical and disenchanted when the breaks go against him on his life journey.
If “life” is so indiscriminate, explain such things as jury nullification, officiating mistakes in sports that cause teams that deserve to win the game to lose, improper command influence in the military (example, a General exerting his influence to pull his son from a unit preparing to deploy into a combat operations area), entertainers who are scum of the earth types but raking in millions of dollars and the list could go on.
There are some things that we just can’t control. What we can control are our attitude and effort and that’s where our focus should be---not on feeling sorry for ourselves because the system is flawed/unfair.
And I am totally opposed to the admissions policy that Fleming has exposed, Whistle Pig has eviscerated and that navy07 has so eloquently described from a minority perspective. But, another platitude for you—“it is what it is”. Go back 50-100 years and the system was flawed because getting a SA appointment was all about knowing/having access/providing “funding” to your congressman. Imagine the legitimate howls of outrage that would have been heard on chat boards if they existed in that era.
Since your friend has some time on his hands because he is not going through plebe summer, perhaps you can introduce him to Stockdale’s THOUGHTS OF A PHILOSOPHICAL FIGHTER PILOT which deals with how man can act with honor and dignity in the face of adversity and unfairness.
Semper Fi, my friend, perhaps we can share a cold beverage during I-Day festivities.
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