Wartime Memes

The duality of engineering careers captured perfectly! In peacetime, engineers are basically Squidward on a deserted island—relaxing, playing guitar, and wondering if anyone will ever need their expertise. But flip the switch to wartime, and suddenly they're King Neptune on a golden throne, surrounded by riches and importance. Nothing transforms an engineer from "budget cuts incoming" to "here's a blank check" faster than military necessity. The historical pattern is crystal clear: peaceful societies question why they need engineers; societies at war can't get enough of them. It's the ultimate career roller coaster—either stranded on an island or ruling the kingdom!

The meme juxtaposes the innocent, beautiful Studio Ghibli film "The Wind Rises" with the sardonic title "How To Justify Aiding Warcrimes As An Engineer The Movie." What looks like a romantic animated film about creativity is actually Miyazaki's complex exploration of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed Japanese fighter planes used in WWII. The film grapples with the ethical dilemma of creating beautiful machines that ultimately become instruments of death. It's the engineering equivalent of the physics community's Manhattan Project morning-after hangover, but with more watercolor sunsets and fewer mushroom clouds.