My Manifesto: The Incoherent Ramblings of a Madman

A scene from "A Few Good Structural Engineers"



Engineer: ( Jack Nicholson ): You want answers?


Architect: (Tom Cruise): I think I'm entitled to them.


Engineer: You want answers?


Architect: I want the truth!!


Engineer : You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has
FLOORS. And those FLOORS have to be SUPPORTED BY COLUMNS. Who's gonna
DESIGN THEM? You? You, MR. ARCHITECT? I have a greater responsibility
than you can possibly fathom. You weep for LOST FLOOR SPACE and you
curse the COLUMNS. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not
knowing what I know: that THOSE COLUMNS, while tragic, probably saved
lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you,
saves lives...


You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk
about at parties, you want me on that DESIGN TEAM. You need me on that
DESIGN TEAM.


We use words like DESIGN, code, ANALYSIS...we use these words as the
backbone to a life spent SUPPORTING something. You use 'em as a
punchline.


I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain my DESIGN to a
man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very STRUCTURES I
provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you
just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick
up a STEEL MANUAL and DESIGN a post. Either way, I don't give a damn
what you think you're entitled to!


Architect : Did you SCHEDULE THE COLUMNS?


Engineer : (quietly) I did the job you HIRED me to do.


Architect : Did you SCHEDULE THE COLUMNS?!!


Engineer : You're goddamn right I did!!