How Would You Define Honor?
Can the power of vague propaganda be combated with specificity? It seems I was not alone in seeing and hearing the Nazi-reminiscent word choices and themes in the “Restoring Honor” event on Saturday.
Patrick from Palingates raised a very good point:
…events like the one which happened today are crossing a line, and more importantly, many Americans don’t seem to notice it – probably because there is a lack of "sensitivity" to certain keywords, methods and images.
This is different in Europe, especially in Germany. It’s starts already with the title of the event: "Restoring honor."
It would be impossible that one of the main political parties in Germany to choose such a title for an event – because "honor" (in German: "Ehre") was one of the keywords of Nazi-ideology.
The word "honor" was used (and abused) by the Nazis for good reason. It’s very vague, can be interpreted in many ways and somehow appeals to patriotic emotions – but it’s quite difficult to establish what exactly it is, how it can be damaged, and how it can be restored.
However, one thing is clear: Nobody wants to be "without honor."
Perhaps the way to combat such propaganda is to make specific that which is vague. Sarah Palin, according to her speech, would have us define honor as birthing soldiers or being a soldier.
Is the only path to honor through the military?
There is no reason that we need to let the Tea Party or even the Republican Party define honor. The dictionary defines honor as “honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions.”
Culturally, there does seem to be an element of sacrifice to the word “honor,” doesn’t there?
When I look to my own life and think of honorable people, I think of my father first. Yes, he was a soldier in the Korean war—two or three purple hearts—but if he’d ever been asked what the most honorable deeds of his life were, I’m fairly certain he would not have put war on his list. I do know that he withdrew from school to take care of his dying mother, sacrificing a dream to be a teacher in order to take care of family.
Perhaps I would define honor as “sacrificing in order to be honest, fair, and maintain integrity—even when it’s dangerous or inconvenient.”
I think of respecting the dignity of every human being, of every race, religion, and sexuality. I think of a social responsibility not just to protect our people through the use of military, but also to protect them from ignorance and crime through education, ill heath through accessible health care, and to honor each individual’s choice of religion—even if it may not be my own.
Even so, that definition is still too vague.
How do we know when we’ve achieved honor? I say it’s when every man and woman in the country has health care. When our five freedoms are consistently upheld. When all are free to marry. When our politics are not based upon racism. When the speeches of our politicians do not encourage hatred. When we don’t allow the greed of capitalism to let health institutions and food companies to cause ill health in our populace. When our international policies do not cause poverty in another country.
There is another definition of honor: “high public esteem.”
To that, I would hope that the United States would be once again known as an international PEACEmaker (and not through war), an example of tolerance and diversity, and an example of human freedoms (including freedom of religion).
How would you define honor? And if we are truly to set about “restoring honor,” what specific things would make you think we’ve restored our honor? What did I forget?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I think that restoring honor is one of those sound bites that means “you’re honorable if you think the way we do.” I don’t worry about being honorable, I just want to do the right thing when I get the chance. I can’t think in sound bites.
And everything you mentioned should be done without a second thought and without any political party bullshit.
LOL, Edie! “I can’t think in sound bites.” I agree. I’m pretty sure doing the right thing is being honorable.
I’m with Edie! I think an honorable person treats others with respect and tolerance, and doesn’t go throwing around the word “honor” too much. It’s “the lady doth protest too much” thing. If you say “honor” too much, you probably don’t have much.
Robin, I agree! I’m still loathe to let others define it, though, because of the power it has.
I agree though, totally!
Who said we lost our honor in the first place? My beef is with a woman or a party who’s calling all of us dishonorable and trying to get us to go along with these hasty and ignorant assertions. Are they projecting their own loss of honor onto the rest of us? How RUDE. How unearned. Because I consider myself honorable most of the time, with or without their approbation. I sure don’t need their criticism or their lame attempts at fixing the unbroken by imposing one religion and thought system on a highly multi-cultural people. Who and what are they actually talking about? Methinks it is their own consciences catching up with them.
GREAT point, Amy! Very good point. Awesome.
natasha, great post! i hope you’ll become a contributer @ palingates as well.
i have to agree with you and with the above comments. i don’t think we lost it as much as sold it and our integrity. our country has become obsessed with money, our politicians with power, and the two have combined to make our great country look heartless. people in other countries (patrick included) are flabbergasted that we pay so much for healthcare, to the point that it’s the number one bankrupter of american families. but why do we pay? because big corporations want to earn money off us every way they can. it’s sad and pitiful. who are we to define what freedoms go to whom? who are we to say who can and can’t marry, who can and can’t have a place of gathering and worship in a particular place, who can and can’t have good health? we’re no one. my right to marry should be extended to homosexuals because they’re people like me. they have feelings, dreams, hopes, and they deserve to have a chance to live all out their hopes and dreams, especially if it includes marriage. when 50% of heterosexual marriages end in divorce, i don’t think we have so much room to talk about “the sanctity of marriage.” people are more concerned about control than fairness. and i think we’re learning that the hard way, especially with the midterm elections coming up.
Lexcade, you’re right. I feel the same way. As long as it harms none, I’m not about to deny anyone the right to their happiness!
“Restoring Honor” is so laughable. And scary. Palin, Beck and the rest of the goose-steppers are too ignorant for words. And that’s exactly why so many are following in their goose-steps. Ignorance breeds intolerance. How blind are those lemmings who believe in what the teabaggers say, rather than seek truth on their own? Ignorance is not bliss.
Great post, girlfriend!
You’re right, Kath: ignorance is not bliss! I do wish people would seek truth.
Words have great power. I’m not giving up the word “honor” to folks like Beck. I’m taking it back for myself. It’s like with patriotism. Some people use them as a weapon but we can also use them as a shield. Unfortunately, the right wing isn’t the only one who throws around words unfortunately. The left uses the term Nazi like a whip too and it is the same problem on that side.
Patriotism is a word that’s been abused badly of late.
And this is true: it’s from both sides. It’s a pity to spoil such noble words.
Wonderful essay. You can define honor as just the opposite of Glenn Beck and his ilk. Are living in Germany in the early thirties or what?
Exactly, Eric!
For me, honor is being true to your word. A friend of mine has a sign in her foyer that says, “Return with honor.” I love that.
That is so neat, Jewel!
I agree with you about the U.S. being a peacemaker. I don’t hold my breath, of course, but one can always wish…
Yes, I wish!
I think honor is staying true to your own beliefs while always respecting the beliefs of others. It’s also keeping your mind open to other perspectives, knowing that everyone you meet has the potential to be your teacher, and you theirs.
I don’t reject folks like Beck or Palin for their beliefs, however extreme; I reject them for calling anyone who disagrees with them “unamerican.”
That is the hardest part: respecting the beliefs of others and keeping one’s mind open. There are a few beliefs I have trouble respecting, but I will listen, at least.