First of all I have to apologize to all of you for neither being up-to-date with my blogs, nor visiting yours often enough, nor even answering my mails...
The thing is we've been abroad a couple of times and I've been really really pushing it on the renovations, because right now is the time where we can really make a lot of progress and this is - like most things in the physical universe - only a small window of opportunity, which will close far too soon. So we need to get ahead in the race and get done what we can do - as fast as possible!
But back to you guys and why I am posting now.
I think it's really nice that so many of you have not only accepted the invitation, but several of you have even found the time already to post or/and comment on something. This is both important and relevant to all of us and that I want to thank you and let you know how much I appreciate it.
Recent events and a new author - Ex-Ranger - who will be joining us soon on this blog here, made me think of a German term: "Zivilcourage".
Actually "civil courage" is a term that does exist in the English language as well, even though it might often be referred to as "social courage". But tell me, how often do we hear it being used? Further more: how many times can you recall someone actually applying it or living by such standards?
Let's take a look at background, history and definition.
Apparently the French have used these specific definitions since 1835:
- "courage civil" (the individual coming up with the clarity and strength to have his own opinion) and "courage civique" (meaning the courage to act as a responsible, honorable citizen).
The German term became known in 1864 when Otto von Bismark accused a relative of not supporting him in "congress" (Preussischer Landtag) with the words "... you will find that courage on the battlefield is common, but you will unforunately not find many respectable people who have civil courage..."
While courage in general is by different philosophers defined as "being willing and determined to to cause something against any and all odds and opposition", you will find that the Tao Te Ching states that courage is derived from... yes, surprisingly: love!!!
It is said that one of courage, with audacity, will kill;
one with courage, but gentle, will spare life.
And it is from these two kinds of courage that harm and benefit arise.
Looking at how courage is mentioned in philosophy and religion one can't miss the connection to both ethics and honor.
In the western world we might take a rather sceptical attitude towards the Islamic population who sees it as an important attribute to combat evil and expects one to make the sacrifices required within that line of action.
But it isn't really that long ago that there were Christian martyrs as well... so really no matter what faith you look at and on which lats and longs you may find yourself... the traces are everywhere! - It was there, once apon a time somebody came up with a noble set of rules for us, encouraging man to act his best - under all curcumstances, in order to guarantee mankind's ultimate survival.
What happened after that was the usual story: As soon as the original prophet or philosopher died or even during his time some people did what they couldn't stop themselves from doing: destroyed and twisted the original theses and writings and man was once again left in a maze of suppressive rules, confusing legends and misunderstood ideals.
But talking about ideals - they are still there - all of them, right here within our very own spirit, our minds and hearts! The finests thoughts and many a noble person's idealistic visions have never really been erased, nor dead and buried... they just had gotten a little dusty and difficult to spot in the middle of all the general confusion... but they have been there for us all along and all this time!
So neither Jesus, nor Aristoteles died in vain, their visions and guidance have never been invisible or out of reach for those who truely did care about bringing out the best in themselves and reaching for higher ground.
Looking both at history, mythology and life lived - right now, here on earth... it becomes clear that courage calls for special attributes in a person.
First of all you've got to care - both about yourself and your surroundings.
Then you've got to be able to "just be here in present time" and notice stuff - That would be things that go on, anything at all and reviewing your experiences you would without error divide between simularities and differences by naturally observing what really did and does happen.
Soon it will be obvious to any genuinely intererested observer whose vision isn't corrupted by prejudices that what goes around comes around and that no matter how much you might feel troubled by your fellow man's unthoughtful actions, there is no escape at all - everybody's fate is interactively connected to everybody elses. In plain English: no matter how much the jerk next door screws up, if he goes down, you're down as well! So you better do start looking beyond your front door and caring about what shouldn't have to be your business... because as usually the only way out is the way through!
In some countries civil courage is even enforced by law. There you become guilty yourself by witnessing a crime and neither reporting it nor doing everything you can to stop it. It can be discussed if such an enforcement adds to higher values within the individual or society or if it is just plain suppressiveness - down to the bone!
Personally I have never found much use in any enforced ideal - as desirable as it might be otherwise.
You just don't get noble-acting citizens by threatning, forcing or fooling them. Attitude and vision can only emerge from understanding, not from the fear of consequences and the lack of voluntarily taken responsibility.
While responsibility seems to be something that most people would like to be free of... those who do feel that way, do unfortunately not realize that responsibility in itself is neither a heavy burden, nor a sour duty, but in fact a free ticket or a even blank cheque - if you wanna look at it in that way - over a huge amount of possibilities. Not limitations, not rubbed-in-accusations, no the one who chooses to take responsibility for whatever area he wants to be in charge of will truly be the ruler of that kingdom! Because he pulls all the strings and decides the name of the game!
Here is how easy it is to act responsible and apply civil courage in all areas of life:
- See things the way they really are
- Observe objectively
- See the differences and the simularities without fooling yourself, be honest at all times
- Decide on higher goals and ideals to follow
- Come up with your own personal code of honour, what you find acceptable to live with and then always act accordingly
- Don't ever compromise on what you know to be right and true and don't desert those deserving of your support. Be loyal and act honorably at all times by doing only what is for the greatest good
- Don't care about opposition, threats and other means of suppression. Which doesn't mean you should become a martyr. That isn't smart at all and usually not for the greatest good either... it just means see to that you stay on the path you have chosen and remain faithful to yourself and your own ideals and convictions.
Because when you don't, when you can't trust yourself anymore, when you've lost the belief in your own inner strength and the judgement of what is right and wrong... what do you have left then? Nothing! No treasures of the material world can make up for that! No promises of things to be gained in other worlds can save someone who has already sold his soul. The only way he can get it back is by buying it back the hard way, making up for every time he's been a coward and chosen the easy way out instead, where he's looked away and failed to act or acted dishonorably. And believe me, not many people do have the guts to do that, once they have already proceeded far enough on the wrong path - which would be straight down hill!
7 comments:
That was a very interesting read Sarah Sofia, I agree whole heartedly with the opinions you offer at the end of the post.
Yes I do have my own personal code of honour, I dont have to struggle with my convictions of morality, honesty, truth, humility and ideals, it is something that is there within me and I am never tempted to cross the boundaries...I know the difference between right and wrong, the choice has never been difficult for me. ♥
Thanks, Diane. And lucky you! Not too many people find it easy enouigh to stick with the right thing(s) all the time!
I on the other hand, find myself battling with the worse side of my past all the time.
I still stand close to smokers, too, so, if anyone is smoking while you're computerizing...feel free to blow smoke at the screen. I won't split hairs with you. The smoking was the hardest thing to put behind me, and, while it doesn't follow post exactly, it is similar.
Like morals...that which was written in our hearts long before we were born, being true to self is an uphill battle.
My God all of the distractions available!
And sometimes sweet things dance before our eyes, but.....we must try to overcome it.
Do the right thing.
It's almost easier defending someone else. Fear of failure seems to diminish greatly when one's concern is of another person.
For ourselves, though?
I generally try not to get too comfortable in the big soft chair. There's work to be done, eh?
Hi Berry, I've always admired you for first of all having the guts to be honest and for not being superficial (you know the on-and-on-thing...ha!)
Yep, smoking is addictive, more addictive than heroine and so it's not surpirsing the way you feel.
I never really smoked this lifetime, but before and I am still affected from that addiction... interesting, isn't it?
Yes, being true to oneself is usually an uphill battle. One thing is the battle within that you are decribing, which most people dobn't even want to consider or just straight away come up with lots and lots of excuses for why they do as they do when they really know better... another thing and that was what I was mainly thinking of in my post this time around... is the battle a sane individual faces when he is confronted with the normal every-day-insanity of society. If and when you decide to stand up to that and not go effect of those pressures, you're standing all alone, totally exposed and the price you pay is beyond believe!
Hi,
Know what you mean. I used to "fight" all the time and it took a lot out of me and made me ill. So I decided to swim against the flow by using their own currents. I don't like crowds, so I go early in the morning when it is nice and quiet and most people are just getting up.
It works with the farmers markets, stores, parks, a lot of things and places and I never go to grant openings just for a free gift, if you go around to stores in late spring, they want to get rid of a lot of their inventory from the year before and I have bought books, craft supply, toys for a few cents. They seem to be all the things I looked at at one point and said, too much, if they ever go on sale, I would buy them. The universe at work. If we ever have to go out to events or at times when everybody is out, we are amazed at all the "brain dead" people you run into and wonder how they ever managed to get there. So they must know how to drive, but they don't know how to behave. I don't worry about it too much for myself anymore, I was always an outsider and have years of experience. I just worry for my children. When I was young it seemed that most of the people still had some idea of right and wrong, now it seem like all they know is me and give me. It will be much harder for my children to find friends or like minded their own age, they seem to be almost extinct. Another thing I have started to do is to "hold up a mirrow" to someones behavior and to let them know how they come across to others and to wake them up to think about their actions. Usually it scares them away, but for a split second they seem to realize, what they are doing and maybe they will start thinking about it.
Glad to have found Sarah Sofia (while looking for a homeschooling group in Austria) and that she has the energie to start these great blogs and connect like minded people. We seem to be thousands of miles apart, but it gives hope that there are some people "like me" out there somewhere.
Thanks for the offer of posting on your new blog, that would be nice but I have enough problems trying to think up interesting posts for my own blog blog.
I can understand what Berry is saying about the cigarette smoking, my Mum liked her cigarettes and she had to quit because of a heart condition...but she loved to stand near smokers and didnt mind if some of the smoke blew her way.
I told her it was no good for her either because it was 'passive' smoking, she wasnt impressed with me for spoiling her enjoyment.
This article that you wrote is very interesting and yes I do try to make the right choices, its not luck my dear its just a matter of my inner voice speaking to me, knowing the difference between right and wrong and obeying my moral compass...probably one reason why I am still alone.
I do have faults, we all do but I try to concentrate on my strengths and the goodness in me...and I always treat others as I would have them treat me. ♥
Diane, yes, it's good to focus on the good sides of a person in order to strenthen them!
Inga, thanks for the comment, compliment and for being a part of this! Yep, you're right, it is amazing what an attitude some people have and what kind of people there are around...!
Yes it is important to strenthen the family and to be organized in small groups which still provide a safe environment.
However I realized that the post I have written here means something very different to everybody. Quite interesting!
Even though I can see all your points of view, I have to admit that I mainly am pissed about the fact, that in society there's a minority that rules, indirectly and covertly and one is just supposed to obey and follow. If you don't, they make you pay deerly and are even willing to go this far to injure and kill people and that's what I personally am having a problem with. there might be freedom of speach on paper. In reality, when you stand up for your own rights and the constitutional rights of others, you're living a very dangerous life!
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