On 12/1/2013 8:27 PM, Andrew Fildes wrote:
> Bollocks.
I have no interest in engaging in this one. :-)
> ... - achievement awards of dubious origin and intent tend to go to teachers
> pets - perhaps because they're friendly, useful and obedient. Arrogant and
> gifted gets passed over.
Reminds me of when I was in US Coast Guard boot camp. For seven weeks, we were
treated to standing in ranks while a
class graduated and various performance awards were made.
As my company approached graduation, a list of awards was posted. Unlike the
seven preceding classes, there was no
Academic Award. I knew why. The iconoclast (and smartass smart enough to never
get caught) is never appreciated,
especially in such an environment.
I went to the Company Commander, a spit and polish lifer and veteran of the
USCG's brief, but bloody, participation in
Vietnam. I appealed to his sense of fairness. I said I understood why I was not
much liked by the student officers and
many others, but was sure I had far the highest grades in academic* classes.
Perhaps, as he had probably always been the shortest guy in any posting, he
understood being set apart.** He didn't say
what he would decide. At graduation, I got my award, and it's still around here
- somewhere. A cheap key chain, but
engraved with my name and award. :-)
Storied Moose
* By academic, I mean taught in a classroom. Scraping and painting ships was
one. I had a lot of practice later. Classes
like shipboard firefighting, real fires, real smoke inhalation for those with
faulty OBAs, were less academic. Way less,
when the lead hose man breaks and runs, leaving burning diesel fuel to start
floating under our catwalk. Apparently, my
survival instinct has presence of mind. I stepped up, grabbed the nozzle and
resumed the task of pushing the flames back.
** I wondered if he survived the high casualty river patrols because they shot
over his head. ;-)
--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
--
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