A closer look
In 1914, French soldiers marched into battle wearing bright red trousers. Yes, in an age of machine guns. Why? National pride—they believed blue and red defined them, and uniforms shouldn’t bow to mere practicality. The result was horrifying visibility for German rifles. This isn’t just an odd fact; it’s a lesson in how symbols can blind leaders to reality. We do the same today: corporations cling to outdated logos, governments to nostalgic policies, even when harmful. History whispers: symbols feel eternal, yet survival often means letting them go before the battlefield—or balance sheet—reminds us otherwise.
