Courage

What are virtues but the values one most admires. Above all others the most commonly admired virtue must be courage.

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare.

(Mark Twain).

I think this is quite true, there are many “every day heroes” who do quite amazing things and this is a laudable character that is honoured publicly. However those with moral courage are frequently ridiculed or despised and only when it is too late are they respected for their strength of character. It is not an easy thing to refuse to back down from a principle when a whole crowd is against you. Frequently people waffle when too many speak against their position rather than defend bowing out in defeat.

There was a Stephen King mini series a few years ago called “The Storm of the Century” where the devil comes to a small town and starts terrorizing it until the townspeople give him one of their children to raise as his own. Now here’s my thought – if you are a religious person (or not), if you are confronted by a demon, wouldn’t your immediate thought be “if there is a devil there must be a God”? Ergo, why in the world would you be afraid to die if there was a god? That was what I thought without having to think further about good and evil and what is the right thing.

One would always hope to do the right thing if put to the test but to cave under taunting is sad. Remember “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”? Yet adults appear to be as afraid of ridicule as children.

How is moral courage attained? I think to some extent one is born with a certain amount of inner courage but ultimately I believe that moral courage comes from having a true sense of oneself and that sense is nurtured by loving parents. If one is raised with a solid foundation of principles, values and common sense then one ought to have the strength of character to hold fast to them in the face of “modern times”. What is true, right, good and honest will never really go out of fashion with those who really are worthwhile.