While chatting with a colleague I had this sudden vivid recollection of an experience which I had had while in the military. We were a phalanx of 60 troops on a trotting march in formation – 10 lines of 6 abreast. We were in full kit with rifles, under the command of an NCO (Staff Sergeant). I recall the rhythmic beat as our collective boots hit the ground in unison. The phalanx was a living organism with one collective mind. We were individual cogs in that machine. Looking back on that experience now, it becomes clearly apparent that in the context of that collective one would mindlessly follow orders without question or reflection. There was a sense of invincibility and a belief that we were on the right side of order and morality.
On reflection, the power was really in the hands of the commanding NCO. He was feeding off the energy of the phalanx. There was no real acknowledgement of the individual troops. The fact that the energy emanating from the phalanx as a whole was greater than the sum of its individual parts, contributed to the power and gratification derived by the NCO. But here’s the thing – in the context of that setting the individual had no individual value outside of the phalanx. In other words the ‘parts’ were interchangeable and dispensable.
There are three ways in which the organization of the phalanx would run aground:
1. The NCO is removed and not replaced
2. The phalanx becomes repeatedly exposed to other troops who are encouraged to exercise their individual roles, preferences and purpose thus challenging the existence of the phalanx
3. The individual members of the phalanx begin to question their roles and purpose
Our challenge regarding the way forward becomes clear. Work in progress!
This is a great connection, and example of what seems to be a global phenomenon.
Thanks Ian... enjoyed the analogy. Oh, and yes, it unlocked some army-days flashbacks with me as well (haha). Vasbyt Ian!