The "Long March" as the new origin myth

I finished reading The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters several days ago and have had a persistent question in my head: from whence does the metaphor of the "Long March" come from? It appears to be largely a new origin myth unique to the Far East but not exclusive to it. 

In a way, this is much like the idea of a pilgrimage or haj, after which rebirth is said to follow. Hikers expect this today as they make their way on the Appalachian trail or along shorter routes - a sense of a new identity follows from the completion of the journey.

Far East - 

Mao Zedong's Long March of 1934 & 1935. Historical analysis shows it to be largely a work of political fiction.

Kim Song-il - Between 1936 and 1939 he formed the Association for the Restoration of the Fatherland, published its Ten Point Programme, won the Battle of Pochonbo, and made the 'Arduous March' from Nanpaitzu to Changpai. This is also known to be a work of political fiction.

Kim Jong-il's regime characterized the period of famine and economic decline in the mid-1990s as the "Arduous March".

In the West -  

The actions of the Continential Army retreating to Valley Forge Could be seen as a similar formative myth.

The heroic march of Patton's 3rd Army to Bastogne to reinforce the 101st Airborne Division in less than a few days.

In the Bible - 

The departure of Adam and Eve from paradise.

Abraham's departure from his homeland because God tells him to leave.

There were many times that the people of Israel went to Egypt to escape (including upon the birth of Jesus).

Moses lead his people into the desert for 40 years (which loosely means "long enough") before they could enter the holy lands.

Muslims -

Muhammad was said to have made his Night Flight to Medina. 

Archetype - however, the question still arises, from whence does this archetype arise? Many elements of the monomyth are encapsulated in the pilgrimage, especially the "Long March"-esque, which suffered many deaths, transformed the people, uniting them and leading to their eventual transcendence over the greater, prideful, foe who did not suffer the indignities the hero had to tolerate. Maybe it is just that melding of several elements of the monomyth that makes it so powerful to the identifying audience.

Hiking Dobongsan

It was a Warrior Family Day yesterday, 27 July 2012, and my wife had to study history. I am not in any courses right now, so I invited a peer who is newly arrived at Camp Red Cloud to go hiking. I was not sure where I wanted to go but knew it was between Soyosan and Dobongsan. I won't play games of suspense because the post title gives away the destination in the end.

So, Jason and I set out around 1000. We walked to the train station and took it the hand full of stops necessary to Dobongsan station. We had some confusion here. There are mountains at that stop both to the northwest and also due east. We assumed at first that we needed to go east to get to the hiking. However, we discovered we were wrong. So, if you are reading this and trying to decide whether to go to Dobongsan, go west, young man. Or, there are two simple ways to know how to get to the good hiking: first, follow the crowd of Koreans heading to the trail; and, second, there is a map just outside the station in the covered area that demonstrates where to go for the hiking.

Hiking Dobongsan is in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ("san" means mountain. So, it is more like Dobong Mountain or Soyo Mountain.) The walk to the Bukhansan National Park was through a quaint area that reminds me of many hiking towns along the AT or in the Rockies. There was hiking food, gear and booze for sale along the way. It is a small walk from the station to the park, so just walk. Don't bother with the car, which will be more of a burden than an aid getting here.

If you come in the heat of the summer, as we did, beware of the heat. It was hot enough that I went though more than three liters of water, a snack bar and 2 PB&Js. The sun won't feel so hot here but either lather up or dress appropriately, as you will burn just as easily here as in Boryeong. If you are going to peak and then walk the ridgeline, be sure to wear appropriate footwear that will grip the walk as you traverse by holding either the rail or rope that stretches along the rock face.

 Dobongsan is a great hike that will challenge you and give you incredible views. I highly recommend it!

In order to like it, you must drink the Kool Aid!

I think that it is the perpetual question of which came first; however, maybe not.

I have not been in a unit so far where you have to drink the Kool Aid to survive in the unit. Or, maybe I have been and I simply didn't know it. I have only been active duty in the Army since summer of 2007 but to this point, I have had three duty stations (including school house) and one deployment (as an individual augmentee to 101st Division BSTB). Therefore, I am currently assigned to a Division staff for my second Division staff. My first assignment was to a strategic unit.

There was no pre-made Kool Aid to be found.

But, during one of the regular post-work day discussions I was having with my section OIC and NCOIC, my NCOIC stated that you have to drink the Kool Aid no matter where you are. I thought this was odd, and said as much, because it seemed to me that many units do not have any Kool Aid to drink. SFC S proceeded to tell me how every unit has its own flavor and it is essential, especially in our line of work as perpetual staff officers, to know the flavor of our Commander and learn to engage him with a solid understanding of it. If his flavor is "blow shit up", that is an easy one to brief: where is the shit he can blow up. If his flavor is build the alliance: here is what we are doing and can also do to further the alliance. If he wants to conduct civil affairs and humanitarian assistance: here is how we keep 'em all safe while we fill their bellies and warm their toes. In this manner, there is always a Commander's Cup of Kool Aid.

Sometimes you have to mix your own Kool Aid.

I am an introvert. According to Myers Briggs, I am an INTP. For me, mixing Kool Aid for my unit and convincing others that it is to be drank is difficult. This requires building buy in from the unit: the leaders and Soldiers alike. While I am striving to learn to do this and remain true to myself, it is a struggle and a challenge. But, it is a vital one for my personal growth as well as my growth in the military.


I came into the military originally to see the world, learn about life, and what it means as history is being made. I planned to leave the service after a stint and do something subdued, such as teach history. It is interesting how life seems to choose a course that we may not have been able to see as to started walking the path. 

I am thankful for the opportunities that I have chosen and turned down, for the Soldiers I have worked with and the units I have been a part of. I think that gratitude is a vital starting point for mixing my Kool Aid - and taking the first sip of my Commander's Kool Aid no matter where I serve.

My AFN purchase

Everyday in love, as in life, something is learned; or, we stop living. Yesterday, I learned that even if I have come to a consensus with wife about a planned purchase I must renew that agreement if any measurable length of time has passed. (That surely seems rather arbitrary- allow me to tell the story.)

So, about two weeks ago my wife and I agreed that we wanted to get AFN TV from the PX. We have Slingbox and Netflix plus all the other ways of watching shows such as Hulu or straight from the company websites (MTV, ABC, CBS, etc); however, they all suffer from their various faults. Some methods are grainy, some have slow, periodic refresh periods and Slingbox requires taking viewing time from the primary user of the DirecTV back in the states. And, when it comes time for the Olympics in a few weeks, we don't want to lose any of the experience - after all, the only thing better than the Olympics is College Football. (Go Dawgs!)

I decided yesterday, having gone to pay the rent finally and failed since they were closed for the day, to walk onto post and get the surprise gift of AFN for my wife. After some misadventures of translations difficulty with the Korean bloke who was attempting to assist me, I finally rented a receiver/decoder from the PX electronics mart. I was so pleased with myself! I knew that Aubrey would just be tickled because she is so often frustrated with the deficiencies I had enumerated above. Wow was me was me when I got home and to my surprise, she was anything but pleased. "You should have talked to me about it first!", she told me.

And she was write. There is this incredible network of spouses that has developed in Korea and particularly in Area I. (Facebook is incredible in this way. The traditional, yet widely neglected FRG that the military espouses such support for, has very effectively been supplanted by a true willingness of many to converse, share, support, mix, and mingle with the comfort of the distance that a keyboard and screen provide.) In less than twenty-four hours from that purchase I have returned that box and we have agreed to a purchase from the lady from the Facebook for about a fifth of what it would have cost to rent the box and have the antennae installed. Awesome!

Some say: If at first you don't succeed, try your wife's way. I say: check your wife first, she probably has a better idea from the get go!

In the end, I look forward to seeing the Olympics at a discounted price. Go Team USA!

Seoul: COEX and 63 Building

I went with my wife, Aubrey, to the COEX Mall yesterday. Two weeks ago, we went to the 63 Building. While it was impressive to see Seoul from what had been the tallest building in Seoul, it wasn't nearly the impressive attraction of the COEX. The aquarium, stores, food and temple just across the street give the COEX Mall many more things to see and do above and beyond the Tower. Plus, the aquarium of the Tower was just sad.

Check them both out for their unique qualities; however, if you only have time for one, skip the 63 Building.