"Elders, NPTB - Shoot the Donkey" by (Anonymous) - 4.17.17

Entry Submitted Anonymously at 3:56 PM EDT on April 17, 2017

Shoot the Donkey



https://youtu.be/Ls-YVHO9Uzw (warning: violence depicted in movie)

“Jackasses? You let a whole column get stalled and strafed on account of a couple of jackasses? What the hell’s the matter with you?” General Patton.

WHAT IT MEANS

The term “Shoot the Donkey” refers to a classic scene in the movie “Patton” (based upon a true life event) where the Third Army gets critically held up in battle on a bridge, by a cart-pulling donkey that had stopped and refused to budge, totally blocking the bridge. Life and death are at stake. An MP struggles with the donkey and the owner, trying to get them out of the way. But with no success. The entire Third Army halts for this recalcitrant donkey.

General George Patton roars up, leaps out of his jeep, whips out his pistols, shoots the donkey, and immediately has it hurled off the bridge, removing the obstacle.

THE GREAT LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE

That classic scene embodies the great leadership principle of taking decisive action to remove all obstacles to fulfill one’s mission.

Patton later had to address the situation himself. “It was either have my men strafed and killed or me shoot the mules.”

Pretty clear cut to me. But …

[We have had enough. Get this finished. Shoot the Donkey.]