I've just finished re-reading it, and I'm struck by his ability to believe that whatever needed to be done COULD be done, and then his decision regarding MAKING what could be done a reality.
OF course, I also agree with this statement:
It's difficult to take an "anti-faith" position. There's no pejorative connotation of the word faithful. The only time "faith" seems negative is when it's prefaced by the word "blind." But blind faith is the only kind of faith there is. In order for someone's faith to be meaningful, it has to be blind. Anyone can believe a hard fact that everyone already accepts. That's easy. If you can see something, you don't need faith. Faith in the seeable is meaningless. But meaningful faith is dangerous. It simplifies things that aren't simple.
The words aren't mine, they are Chuck Klostermans, and they weren't written about weapons, but about a football player. BUT, they still are true. Nothing happens without an initial faith that it CAN happen. JMB was perhaps the ultimate believer in that with regards to weapons design. He had faith that he could make it happen. That faith is the difference in what he accomplished and what EVERY other gun maker accomplished. No other gun designer has ever come up with even 5 unique designs, Winchester patented 4 or more a YEAR for the time that Winchester was his sole market, and when he moved on, he kept Remington, FN, and Colt busy producing weapons that didn't compete with each other and were unique. Everyone said no automatic, dependable weapon could be manufactured, they would destroy themselves. So he invented a machine gun that worked, then he invented another, and another. His 1917 watercooled fired 20,000 rounds without failing at the demonstration, then he fired ANOTHER 20,000 without it failing just to see if it would!
MY point is this, IF there comes a time to need 6.5 Grendel links, they will be manufactured, and they will work. It's not nuclear physics, and todays metallurgical geniuses will find a way. Heck, I have eyeglasses that have a metal temple piece that I can bend in a circle and it goes back to its correct shape, every time. It's less than 1/16" in width, I have no doubt that making disintegrating links will be nowhere as difficult as that!
I have faith it can be done, if its needed. I'll need proof when I need the links.
OF course, I also agree with this statement:
It's difficult to take an "anti-faith" position. There's no pejorative connotation of the word faithful. The only time "faith" seems negative is when it's prefaced by the word "blind." But blind faith is the only kind of faith there is. In order for someone's faith to be meaningful, it has to be blind. Anyone can believe a hard fact that everyone already accepts. That's easy. If you can see something, you don't need faith. Faith in the seeable is meaningless. But meaningful faith is dangerous. It simplifies things that aren't simple.
The words aren't mine, they are Chuck Klostermans, and they weren't written about weapons, but about a football player. BUT, they still are true. Nothing happens without an initial faith that it CAN happen. JMB was perhaps the ultimate believer in that with regards to weapons design. He had faith that he could make it happen. That faith is the difference in what he accomplished and what EVERY other gun maker accomplished. No other gun designer has ever come up with even 5 unique designs, Winchester patented 4 or more a YEAR for the time that Winchester was his sole market, and when he moved on, he kept Remington, FN, and Colt busy producing weapons that didn't compete with each other and were unique. Everyone said no automatic, dependable weapon could be manufactured, they would destroy themselves. So he invented a machine gun that worked, then he invented another, and another. His 1917 watercooled fired 20,000 rounds without failing at the demonstration, then he fired ANOTHER 20,000 without it failing just to see if it would!
MY point is this, IF there comes a time to need 6.5 Grendel links, they will be manufactured, and they will work. It's not nuclear physics, and todays metallurgical geniuses will find a way. Heck, I have eyeglasses that have a metal temple piece that I can bend in a circle and it goes back to its correct shape, every time. It's less than 1/16" in width, I have no doubt that making disintegrating links will be nowhere as difficult as that!
I have faith it can be done, if its needed. I'll need proof when I need the links.
You seek escape from pain. We seek the achievement of happiness. You exist for the sake of avoiding punishment. We exist for the sake of earning rewards. Threats will not make us function; fear is not our incentive. It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live. - John Galt