Honor

What is it to be honorable?

Honor is a central concept to warriors throughout history. Wariors aren't honorable because they fear a wrathful God. They are honorable because it's a practical requirement of their profession. Being honorable is a powerful way to live. To live without honor is to be cowardly.

When hundreds or thousands of lives are at stake, honor is essential. Superiors must know that their subordinates are absolutely reliable. They m,ust trust them and have their unfailing loyalty. They must know that their warriors will march into battle upon command and die if necessary to defend their comrades, their society and their ideals.

Non-warriors must also rely upon the honor of warriors because they can be the most dangerous people in the world. They are the fittest and best trained people, and they weild the most awesome of weapons. Warriors without honor can quickly become tyrants.

Whether one is a warrior or not, personal honor is just as important. Without the moral compass that honor provides, personal actions can have harmful side effects upon those around you. Honor is not just a matter of being truthful, having self-restraint, loyalty, and other virtues. The kind of honor that warriors have is based on Obligation, Justice, and Courage.

By Obligation is meant the principle of meeting one's obligations as a member of human society. For example, in Japanese society when someone helps you, provides a service, or does a favor, you acquire an obligation or burdon to repay  the action in a manner commensurate with what they did for you. Obligation to society is the glue that binds honorable men together. But, obligation without Justice is hollow and meaningless.

Justice lies at the heart of honor. Fulfilling an obligation is not honorable if by fulfilling it an injustice is done. Justice is simply a matter of knowing what is right or wrong, and then doing what is right. In each situation, we need to weight the alternatives on the scale of honor and choose the course that is most right. Above all, we should avoid becoming obligated to dishonorable people.

Courage is the virtue most associated with being a warrior. Moral courage is the fortitude it takes to do what is right, no matter what the personal cost. Part of having moral courage is to openly admit when mistakes have been made. Courage doesn't mean that one doesn't feel fear. fear is a natural human emotion. One that helps you focus on the real threats. Your level of courage is determined by how you handle fear. Warriors face it, get control of themselves and do what needs to be done; cowards run.

Recommended reading: "Living The Martial Way" by Forrest E. Morgan, Maj. USAF