Gripes go up!

Gripes go up, never down... - Stone's Soup comic strip published is so so true!
You can view the larger strip here -- http://www.shareapic.net/content.php?id=14417502&owner=ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
February 3, 2009 1:18am CST
I was watching "Saving Private Ryan" and I find this scene the most memorable. The one where the captain was having a friendly chat with his men about how gripes should be. This is what I can transcribe from the show: Private Jackson: Sir... I have an opinion on this matter. Captain Miller: Well, by all means, share it with the squad. Private Jackson: Well, from my way of thinking, sir, this entire mission is a serious misallocation of valuable military resources. Captain Miller: Yeah. Go on. Private Jackson: Well, it seems to me, sir, that God gave me a special gift, made me a fine instrument of warfare. Captain Miller: Reiben, pay attention. Now, this is the way to gripe. Continue, Jackson. [i] Private Jackson: Well, what I mean by that, sir, is... if you was to put me and this here sniper rifle anywhere up to and including one mile of Adolf Hitler with a clear line of sight, sir... pack your bags, fellas, war's over. Amen. Private Reiben: Oh, that's brilliant, bumpkin. Hey, so, Captain, what about you? I mean, you don't gripe at all? Captain Miller: I don't gripe to *you*, Reiben. I'm a captain. There's a chain of command. Gripes go up, not down. Always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officer, so on, so on, and so on. I don't gripe to you. I don't gripe in front of you. You should know that as a Ranger. Private Reiben: I'm sorry, sir, but uh... let's say you weren't a captain, or maybe I was a major. What would you say then? Captain Miller: Well, in that case... I'd say, "This is an excellent mission, sir, with an extremely valuable objective, sir, worthy of my best efforts, sir. Moreover... I feel heartfelt sorrow for the mother of Private James Ryan and am willing to lay down my life and the lives of my men - especially you, Reiben - to ease her suffering." Mellish: [chuckles] He's good. Private Caparzo: I love him. [/i] Then referring to the Stone Soup comic that was recently published, I find this to be so true. Do you agree?
2 people like this
2 responses
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
3 Feb 09
This is a very good discussion and I can see the wisdom of this in other times and not just of war. Very good, indeed!!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Feb 09
Yeah, I know. AND it applies especially to the work place as well. One thing the scene never really illustrate is how the crap flows down. Only the gripes go up. No mention of how the crap flows down!
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
3 Feb 09
lol =D That's so true and yet funny too.. hehe ^_^ ONly ple whom have been thru army will understand the Gripe of it, and the fun of it as well.. haha =D One thing i hated most is Chain of command though because it's so inefficient and a waste of time.. lol =D Furthermore, what's being gripe upwards is always totally untrue from what's started.. haha =D Everybody is only tryign to cover themselves.. hehe ^_^
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Feb 09
Well, I wouldn't say it is totally untrue. Certain gripes do go up only. And certain gripes do not flow downwards. Take for example, you ever hear your boss gripe to you about your performance? Or your mum to you about certain things like money matters when you were younger?
1 person likes this