Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/581692
THE TACTICAL BEARD OWNERS CLUB (TBOC) was founded in November 2011 with a fistful of members invited personally by Mike Hartmann and has grown up to 1700+ members. The fan page has existed since December 2011 and has more than 20,000 likes. Patches are available for members only. They have been counterfeited since day one, but those rip offs never reached the quality of the original ones. There will be a third patch variant soon. You will find further info on the fan page. SPARTAN.AT: Be honest: Isn't it strange that in the conflict between the western and the Muslim world both sides wear beards? Mike Hartmann: I've been waiting for this question. Thank you for letting me answer this to a broader audience. If you look closely into world history regarding „armed beard owners" you will see clearly that a beard wasn't the invention of Prophet Mohammed. Beards have existed since the beginning of humankind are a sign of manliness ever since. No matter if it were the Hoplites with the proud beards in the 4th or 5th century before Christ (and almost 1000 years before Mohammed), the wild Germanic tribes or the Vikings: male warriors always had beards. It is fact that the beard is allowed for military units in Afghanistan to get more acceptances in the Muslim world. But it is wrong to think that a beard has more meaning to a Muslim terrorist than to a TBO. It is the opposite. In regards of „manliness" those terrorists have forfeit any right to wear beards by using a conduct of war used by cowards. We don't acknowledge devious ambushes or remote controlled IEDs as a sign of well-balanced manly appearance. Not to mention other inhuman actions in the name of Islamic laws that I don't want to specify in more detail here. SPARTAN.AT: Any tip for people that don't have a beard yet and are nevertheless attracted by TBOC? Mike Hartmann: He who has no beard YET shall grow one. Every minute that you don't shave, you grow a beard. You need dedication, patience and strong nerves. That what real beard owners are made of. Those qualities are kept with the beard. We are no hipsters. We are no fashion freaks. We still will wear beards when nobody else wants to wear them... Stay calm and beard on! www.fragoutmag.com