[LMB] Aral's size vs. presence

[anmar mirza]

On 3/4/08, Stewart Dean <sdean7855 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> I go back to Harry Truman's line:  It's not the size of the dog, it's
> the size of the fight in the dog.


Command presence and the aura of power counts for a whole
lot.  I'm not particularly tall (5'7") though I have a similar build to
Aral,
stocky, 200# with not a lot of fat.  I'm not
particularly handsome, though most of the people around me have
told me that the energy I have and the intelligence make me very attractive
to those who take the time to notice.  One of the highest compliments
I can pay to someone is to call them competent.  I value competence
and it is something I liked a lot in both SoH and Barrayar: Cordelia and
Aral both have a high degree of competence, each in their own way.
They are not perfect, nor do I pretend to be, but each strives to live their

lives according to their moral codes.

I don't particularly identify with Aral, but my partners both tell me that
when they read Soh and Barrayar, I was who Aral reminded them of.


OTOH, it's always been my luck (thank you God) and my intent to be
> somewhere else when things get nasty.  It's a rare fight that's worth
> the damage and collateral effects.


I agree completely.  The first rule of self defense is to avoid the
problem in the first place.  I liked the last rule for taking a guarded
wormhole:  shoot the officer who suggested it (the Cetagandans
would probably get around to that too...).  I don't like the concept
of a fair fight.  If you have to fight, make sure you can win with
overwhelming odds.


-- 
Anmar Mirza EMT, N9ISY, Central Region NCRC Coordinator
Owner Lost Creek Packs, blog.myspace.com/anmarmirza