In 1519, Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes had an idea.

He was going to recruit an army.

With that army, he was going to seize a treasure that had been impenetrable and unseizable.

To get that treasure, he was going to have to defeat a massive, undefeated opposing army.

He began going around modern day Cuba, telling stories and legends of this treasure, recruiting as many men as he could. He promised them adventure, riches, and glory. Many began to sign up. Most had no combat experience, including Cortes himself.

He told them how the treasure had never been taken, and how many men had tried before, but had failed. But this time would be different. The small army of 1000 men were motivated to do what it took to ensure what it took to ensure a good life for their families back home.

Morale was at the highest when they set sail for Vera Cruz (modern day Mexico). The men trained with their weapons on ship, and told stories and jokes how they would spend their soon to be wealth. Cortes watched.

As the journey began to go on, men began having seconds thoughts.

They thought their families back home.

They nervously talked about the size of this undefeated fearless veteran army that wait patiently for them.

They wondered was dying for treasure worth it?

Cortes watched.

Some of the other men began listening to these warry men.
The listeners became the speakers, repeating the same concerns.
More men began to listen.
Morale was dwindling.

Cortes watched.

As the boats got closer to shore, the look in the once energized force of motivated men was the look of hopelessness, self-doubt, and fear. This was an impossible task, with impossible odds. What were they thinking following this man?

Cortes watched.

When the boats landed, Cortes had his troops disembark and gathered them on the shore. He reaffirmed their concerns.

This was an undefeated army of warriors.
They outnumbered them by 20x.
This was an unwinable task with impossible odds.

The men listened and dwelled, horrified,

Upon finishing his less than reaffirming pre-battle speech, Cortes looked at his Lieutenants and gave an order that shocked and stunned his army, that caused an outcry and made them feel even more hopeless in this dire situation.

Cortes told his Lieutenants,
"Burn the Ships."

Why would this man, who had told them tales of fortune and glory, promised them all of, now destroy their only hope of getting back home safely??

Cortes told his men that if they wanted to home to their families, they would be taking their boats home.

He put their backs against the wall.
The only way was forward.
Only victory meant survival.
It was their only choice.

So why am I telling you this story?
To glorify war, death, a man in history, fame, adventure, or money?
No.
This is synonymous where you are at this point in time, in this moment in our history.

You began this journey as this men did.
Listening to a man promise hope and change.
(And an anonymous man who did the same)
You signed up.
It was for God and Country.
Many of you had no experience in combat.
The enemy was vast and merciless.
But the risk was worth the reward.

Some of you got on the boat early.
Some of you got on the boat late.
Doubts and concerns were given a voice.
Some listened.
Others repeated.
Some of the biggest voices have jumped overboard.
You feel nervous, and dwell on the possibility of defeat.
Defeat means certain death.

Here we are, standing on the beach.
The noise is deafening from the concerns in the ranks, and the war drums of the enemy.
You wonder if you made the right choice.
We're you tricked?
You wish you could just go back.

All hope seems to be lost.
There's no way we can win this.

Those men on that beach that day, as they watched their ships burn in the water, accepted their situation. They knew that if they didn't give it everything from that point om, their was no future.

No one foot in, one foot out.
The only way was forward.
The only way was to win.

That force of 1000 men gave it every thing they had, decimated the Aztecs who vastly outnumbered them, and conquered the impossible.

You are here.
This is no different.

It has been been an honor shitposting with you ladies and gentlemen.

Patriots...
WWG1WGA

BURN THE SHIPS