Do You Have To Serve In the Military To Understand 'Honor' ?

I heard this referenced on the debates last night. That you can't just pull out of Iraq now because that would be sacrificing the honor of America and our soldiers.

And the question I'm wondering is - do you have to serve in the military before you can completely understand what 'honor' means.

To me, it's just a word. But then again, I've never served in the military. I'd much rather have my life and no honor than honor and a coffin.

But again, that's just me.

What say you, do military vets get the whole 'honor' thing more than us civilians do?

Oh, and I know Nixon had a "Secret Plan" with all those bombs in Cambodia, but to me it's nothing but propaganda.

I honor my parents and I try to honor myself, but war mongers get none of my honor. Do military people even understand that kind of honor?

You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Keeping our soldiers in Iraq now, after sending them there under false pretenses and to pesonally enrich a handful of pirates in most pointedly dishonorable.

Honor is not just a propopanda word nor is it something only a military man can understand. A mother going off to work each day to feed her kids while cancer eats away her liver knows honor. A man fighting off an attacker to save his wife and children from attack knows honor.

I'm not sure I could ever say, I would much rather have my life and no honor than honor and a coffin, because I do honestly feel that some things are worth more than life itself. For example, if my wife were threatened with a gun I would step between her and her attacker and try my hardest, through any means available, to save her.

Military service does not automatically imbue one with either honor or the concept of honor. If the concept is not entrenched by the time one is old enough to serve in the military, I waould hazard to sat that itis likely that one will never fully understand the concept.

The best method I've ever known for understang the basic concept of honor is simple: do what you perceive to be the right thing regardless of convenience or hardship. This may often mean that your actions are not perceived as "cool" by friends or the public at large.

Many confuse heroic acts with honor. There may be some connection, but heroism alone does not make one honorable.

Are you - am I - honorable? Just look into the mirror. If you can be proud of the person you see there, you likely are an honorable person. If not, it's time for some serious soul searching.

I served in the military. Regretably, some of the people I served with were completly without honor.

on edit: After consideration, I question your concept of honor given the choices in your poll. Not a slam, just an observation.

Semper Fi


DDQM

About personal honor no, you dont have to serve. Military Honor yes you need to serve

DDQM

Neither is it old-fashioned, out-of-step, or a cliché. Bold is mine for emphasis.

honor:

1. Esteem: respect; reverence, "the honor shown to him."

2. a. Reputation: good name. b. Credit: "It was to his honor that he refused the award."

3. a. Glory: fame; distinction. b. A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction: "the place of honor at the table." c. A decoration, as the Navy Cross. d. A title conferred for achievement, as a knighthood.

4. Nobility of mind; probity; integrity

5. High rank.

6. a. The dignity accorded to position: He is awed by the honor of his office. b. One that imparts distinction by association: "He is an honor to our organization."

......

9. a. A code of principally male dignity, integrity, and pride, maintained in some societies, as in feudal Europe, by force of arms. b. Personal integrity maintained without legal or other obligation.

- American Heritage Dictionary.

In short, "honor" is a simple word with a complex set of meanings.

As you can see, there are valid meanings of the word that don't depend on its feudal connotations. Would you say that MLK, Jr had no honor? Or Medgar Evers? How about Gandhi? The ideals and pathways which they followed with honor were in no way military.

The military-industrial complex has tried to co-opt "honor". We need to keep it.

edit: There is also honor among everyday heroes. Let's not forget all the folks who keep our communities running. The folks who voluteer for Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. Teachers in the classroom day in and day out. The person who remembered your birthday when you thought everyone else had forgotten. It's that personal integrity thing. ;-)

TO UNDERSTAND THE MILITARY. *PERIOD*

Why do you always post in Capitol letters?

ANY MORE QUESTIONS??? :D


P.S. It's MAY I ask you a question - of course you CAN; you just DID. :7

wasn't in the military and never has anyone in the military behaved dishonorably :eyes:

I said to understand what honor really meant. Most people associate honor with some form of military service.

to say that only honor's military connotations have value.

edit: The question is, are you going to let yourself believe an inaccuracy?

I served in the military for 11 1/2 years. Honor is WAY more than just a propaganda word. I think my years of service helped me understand the meaning of it more completely.

That being said, military service is NOT a prerequisite to understanding honor. In fact, I believe the inverse is true; honor is a prerequistite to serving well.

"Honor" is such a vast word. It applies to so much more than wearing a uniform or even being in harm's way for your country. The parent that sacrifices self interest every day for the well being of his or her children is behaving honorably. So is the teacher who works long hours for lousy pay because he/she wants to make a difference and better our children. How about the volunteer nailing shingles to the roof of a Habitat for Humanity house, or the one handing out food at a local mission? No uniform, but a lot of honor!

I think the same can be said for a lot of the folks here at DU and across the country who are willing to stand up and question what the administration is doing, and have the courage to call a lie a lie.

Do we have to serve in the military to understand honor? No, but we need to be honorable if we wish to serve.

Just my $.02

av8rdave

...I'm only sorry that "fuck no" is not an option!

But I don't believe you must serve in the military to get it.

It is neither only for the military, nor is it a proaganda thing.

I think it gets used wrongly - ABSO-FRICKING-LUTELY by the republicans - but honor is an important part of civil commitment, of relations, and being together in community.

But there are many ways to define honor. Mlitary honor = good. Republicans idea of military honor = evil. Regular republuican idea of honor = evil. Normal person's idea of honor = good.

Honor is not a propaganda word it is an worthwhile human characteristic that we should aspire to. Honor does not mean prideful. I think it has to do with integrity, courage, incorruptability, and dignity.
At least that's what I think it means, sounds like a pretty good thing, don't you think?