YEC and the Cognitive Dissonance Trap.

 

In general I try to avoid political posts on this blog. I try to avoid attacking the beliefs of others. This blog is about dealing with life and some of the problems that it may send against you. There are times, however, when established mindsets can come into conflict with dealing with problems. Some of you may stop reading my blog because of today’s post, which is not my intention. My intention is that this post will give you some pause for thought and change your priorities a little to give you better tools for problem management.

Every now and then I come across some meme that is trying to disprove evolution. Why does this matter?

Firstly, constantly trying to “prove” the Bible in actuality displays a lack of faith. The Bible has many useful lessons we can all learn from but constantly trying to prove it by dubious means causes people to neglect these. You are missing the important parts of the Bible and driving others away from them.

 

“They're making the mistake of linking their belief in faith, in their religion, to actual factual tenets. These are not factual stories to be taken as historical events, they're really stories about how we should live our lives. They're moral homilies. What can I personally get out of the Bible for me, today. That's what those stories are about. And to take them literally is; you're missing the point of the Bible!”

—Michael Shermer

Secondly, you do not “believe in evolution”. This is a relatively unsubtle manipulation designed to make you think in an unrealistic either/or mode. Evolution is not a religion or faith, it is a body of evidence supporting a hypothesis. Evidence denial is a very dangerous mindset. Evolution-denial is akin to holocaust-denial but more insidious since its effects are more widespread. Many of the world’s current problems are due to the encouragement of cognitive dissonance. We need leaders that make the best decisions based on available evidence, not that ignore what they do not like, understand or agree with. This is how we ourselves need to deal with what life throws at us.

Thirdly, if your support of Young Earth Creationism is that the Bible is literal you do not get to cherry pick which bits you hold to be true. If the Earth was made in six days then it is also flat, with corners, as the Bible tells you. It is the centre of the universe and the sun circles it. You do not get to eat pork, shrimp or oysters, do not get to have tattoos and are to support slavery. You must hold that certain insects have only four legs and must perform calculations using a value of 3 for π. Nuclear weapons do not exists since radioactive decay is not constant. Most sciences, including astronomy, geology, mathematics and physics are all false so you should not be using their products. You need to believe in not one, but two different creation stories as literal truth! (Chapter one and chapter two of Genesis have conflicting details!) If you are a women you should be silent, obedient, submissive and not try to teach or have authority over men.

 

Vast amounts of money, effort and time are wasted on evolution denial. Money and effort that could be put towards far better causes. Young Earth Creationism is missing the point of the Bible and  is counter-productive.

If faith or any other belief makes you a better person it is a good thing. Any belief that blinkers you to things that may harm you is not.
 

The Books

 

Soviet Soldier Simplicity

The other day I was reading an article about small unit actions. In the introduction it was explained that the men and women recruited as Soviet soldiers were used to living close to nature and tolerated and even thrived under conditions that would defeat German soldiers.

The questions that spring to mind are how was this done and how can this be applied to modern soldiers? I made a few posts on the Soviet soldier’s equipment some months back. It is apparent that the Soviet soldier of the Great Patriotic War got by with relatively little equipment. Let us start by looking at his clothing.

The basic Soviet field dress was a pull-over tunic and a pair of long breeches. This was an outfit that European fighters have used for many centuries. The Soviet tunic and loose trousers would not seem that unfamiliar to a Viking, Celt, Saxon or a medieval peasant. Like many uniforms of the Second World War it was constructed of wool, which has the advantage that it does not chill the wearer that much if wet. The Soviets also had a cotton version for summer use. The tunic and trousers were worn directly over the underwear. The underwear seems to have been a long-sleeved undershirt and long johns for both summer and winter use. Both of these items were issued in summer and winter forms. Both forms were made from cotton, the difference being the winter version was fustian with a fluffy nap on the inside. The use of cotton for both the summer and winter underwear is interesting. I suspect this may have been selected to simplify mass laundering of items. Theoretically the Soviet soldier exchanged his underwear for a fresh set every ten days.

There were relatively few items for use in subzero temperatures. Each soldier had a greatcoat, which was also used instead of a blanket when sleeping so was carried all year. When not worn the greatcoat was usually carried rolled up and worn across the chest.

The distinctive Telogreika padded jacket and Vatnie sharovari trousers were made from cotton and filled with cotton wool. It was cheap and simple to manufacture and very effective. Its thickness and wearing the garment over woollen clothing helped counter some of the disadvantages of cotton if it got wet. Below zero conditions meant that rain was seldom a problem. Telogreika and Vatnie sharovari are often seen as outermost garments but were intended to be used under the greatcoat or sheepskin coats.

 I am unsure as to how the Telogreika and Vatnie sharovari were carried if they were not being worn. They look like they would be too bulky to carry in the soldier’s backpack. Perhaps they were rolled up inside the greatcoat. Possibly they were treated as baggage items and only issued when the winter tunics were.  Sheepskin coats might be worn in winter instead of the greatcoat. Some books claim the sheepskin coats were for cavalry and tankers but photographs prove that many other units acquired them. The greatcoat or sheepskin and telogreika were worn with ushanka fur hats, balaclavas, mittens/glove and valenki felt overboots. With these few items the Soviet soldier operated in minus 50 conditions.

• The rest of the Soviet soldier’s equipment also forms a relatively short list.

• A weapon and ammunition and grenades.

• An entrenching tool –numerous uses including as a close combat weapon.

• A canteen.

• Gas mask case and contents.

• A rain cape (plashch palatka)

• A simple haversack (myeshok).

 

The haversack contained a bag of tent pegs and a pole-section for constructing shelters.  Contents also including a mess pail, shaving kit, soap, toothbrush and weapon-cleaning kit. There is no bayonet scabbard since bayonets were always carried fixed to the weapon.

 

The rain cape might be carried folded up in the haversack. It could also be rolled around the outside of the greatcoat roll or carried as a roll instead of the greatcoat. These rolls were also used to carry items. The cape is another item that would be familiar to a Viking etc. Effectively it is a rain resistant cloak and thus could be used for warmth as well as protection from the rain. The rain cape was a heavier item than modern ponchos but was also more robust. It could be used to drag a wounded man to safety, for example. One cape could be used as a shelter and another as a groundcloth to accommodate two men, who slept together in their greatcoats. Capes could be combined to form larger shelters.

 

The haversack also carried rations. While I have found descriptions of what a Soviet soldier would carry I have yet to find indications of the quantities.

Other notable items used were one or two-piece camouflage outfits designed to be worn over the field uniform. Generally these were used by scouts, snipers and engineers. White coveralls were used for camouflage in winter.

Post war a few interesting wrinkles were added to this basic equipment. In another post I have detailed the spetsnaz use of cotton string vests and coats with a “skirt”extension piece.

The equipment listed above is very brief compared to that of a modern soldier or outdoorsman.  Part of the reason for this is that some items such as the greatcoat and raincape were multipurpose. The list above is probably incomplete. Historical sources often do not mention items such as tinderboxes and matches since it was inconceivable to the author that a peasant or outdoorsman would need to be told to carry these.

Some items we have now simply did not exist then. Personal night-vision equipment and radio communicators had not yet been developed. The use of flashlights was restricted in the Soviet army whilst the modern soldier often finds himself searching dark places. There is no compass and mapcase in the standard Soviet field kit since navigation was for NCOs and Officers. Very often the Soviet soldier did without many of the things we regard as essentials such as kipmats, blankets, sleeping bags and tents.

The last sentence brings me to another thing that should be considered. What items on your equipment list are truly essential and what are just useful and nice to have?

         If you have enjoyed this article or it has been helpful to you please feel free to show your appreciation. Thank you.
The Books

Simple Russian Ration Pack Stove.

I have just come across this article on Russian ration packs. Included in the sundries was a pouch of moist-wipes, a small pack of storm matches and a pack of fuel blocks.

 

I could not make out what the item packaged with the fuel blocks was so searched for other images. I think it is a can-opener, which would be logical given many of the ration pack items are canned. Discovered that a stove is also included in the pack of fuel blocks. A simple piece of metal that can be folded into a raised platform with pot support. Probably not that efficient, but ingenious!

 
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The Emperor’s New Clothes : The untold part…

…and after the child had cried out that the emperor had no clothes he was surrounded by the emperor’s aides and advisors.

“Are you a tailor?” asked one councillor.

“No” said the child.

“Are you a fashion designer or some such?” asked a colonel, “or perhaps have been making clothes for several decades?”

“er, no”

“A fashion writer perhaps?” suggested a major.

The child shook his head.

“Some other branch of the press…?” ventured another minister. Again, the child replied negatively.

The aides huddled together and conferred.

“The emperor does look rather cold!” Observed the child. “It is not very warm today. He really should wear something warmer.”

“Enough!” barked a councillor “We have determined that you are not an accredited subject matter expert, nor have you any experience in haute couture. Your opinion is irrelevant!”

With that, the aides walked away. The emperor was allowed to continue his procession. He contracted a nasty chill and died three days later, much to the bafflement of the aides.

The Books