A Discussion On Honor

In Wikipedia there is an extensive definition, I will refine it to this:

Honour or honor (from the Latin word honos, honoris) is the evaluation of a person’s social status as judged by that individual’s community. Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honour, and that of the society at large.  Dr Samuel Johnson, in his A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), defined honour as having several senses, the first of which was “nobility of soul, magnanimity, and a scorn of meanness.” This sort of honour derives from the perceived virtuousconduct and personal integrity of the person endowed with it. On the other hand, Johnson also defined honour in relationship to ”reputation” and ”fame“; to ”privileges of rank or birth”, and as ”respect” of the kind which “places an individual socially and determines his right to precedence.” This sort of honour is not so much a function of moral or ethical excellence, as it is a consequence of power. Finally, with respect to women, honour may be synonymous with “chastity” or ”virginity“, or in case of a married woman, “fidelity“.

Thats a mouthful but for today’s entry lets just talk about the element of trust and fidelity today.

How we honor ourselves and others speaks for us

I will tell you two stories:

First is a story of dishonor

David Perrin (picture purposely omitted)  was born of good parents. He appeared somewhat backwards, but he was able to finish school, and like most young men he got a job, continuing to live with his parents. His parents moved to Denver, Co, and he and his sister moved with them. Their father got sick and eventually had to be moved to a nursing home. David continued to live with his parents, not taking much responsibility or care for the added burden he presented to his now widowed mother.

One day after many events his mother also began to be sick. After coming back from a harrowing event at the hospital, his sister found that he had been cleaning our mother’s wallet, writing checks fragulently and looking for other valuables to steal. Eventually there was nothing that could be done but to kick him out and let him find his way, it was necessary for the Sister to be the ”bad guy” because the brother had no honor.

Second story; The Meaning of Honor:

Lt. Col. Davison was always an honorable man. He served first in the Army before WWII and then later because he was a pilot was in the newly formed Air Force. He was a career officer until his retirement in the 70′s. At the time of his death he was still serving as a consultant for the Sheriff’s Department of Roswell, NM. He and his wife Glady’s were married for over 50 years before she died, about two years before he died. They raised three children together and they were honorable people and taught those values to their children.

We don’t talk much about that word Honor, but its the thread that runs through high-standing people. In particular today as we honor Veterans of the Services, it is what makes them who they are. They stand for principles, and they never back down from those principles. Its not in them to take advantage and use others.

This was my Grandfather, my mother’s father. He lived honor. He would have never dreamed of doing anything that would hurt another, he never even had the temptation to cheat or lie. He lived a wonderful life. Maybe he was never rich, but he was in many ways money cannot buy. I am proud to have known him, and I strive to live the way he did. How he lived taught me more than any words he might have said, he showed it by his everyday example.

I hope that gives you food for thought today!

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