Friday, January 27, 2012

    "While we have strength we must discharge our duty. Neither taunts nor blandishments should move us from it."
      --Winston Churchill

   "I do not know the dignity of their birth but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them--Duty-Honor-Country; always their blood and sweat and tears as we sought the way and the light and the truth."
      --General Douglas MacArthur

   Duty and Honor are terms that are often scoffed and maligned. However, they are not just terms, but are sacred concepts of life. The pundits, the scoffers, the simple-minded may deride the devotion to duty and honor, but to the person who understands they are principles of life. Thomas Paine put it this way: "I love the man who can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."
   Duty and Honor are bound together by sacrifice. A person, when forced with a decision, should not have to stop and think what has to be done; no, honor has already decided and duty carries it out.
   --Duty is the requirement; Honor is seeing it accomplished.
   --Duty is the standard; Honor is raising it and holding it high.
   --Duty does not seek a reward for Honor is the reward.
   --Duty is the responsibility; Honor is the accountability.
   --Duty cries, "here I am"; Honor whispers, "it is done."
   --Duty demands allegiance; Honor assures it.
   --Duty demands that hard choices are met and times of crisis are faced; Honor makes sure that duty is not shirked.
   --Duty calls; Honor answers.
   Both duty and honor are bound in sacrifice. It is important that a person understands it is sacrifice, not martyrdom. Sacrifice is the giving of one's self for a particular reason. Sacrifice has the significant elements of giving and selflessness. Martyrdom has the element of pride. Martyrdom is not sacrifice for a cause, but an act of pride, of immortality, of self-seeking glory. Duty and Honor revolve around sacrifice. It may simply be the extra time put in on the job, or doing something special for friends, family, or country. It may be the constant pouring out of self--the living sacrifice. Or it may be the ultimate, the giving of one's life.    That, however, is not martyrdom.
                                                                            Ira Paine

   "How happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times."
--Psalm 106:3 (HCSB)