Sunday, October 16, 2011

Charge of the Light Brigade

Some events transpired today which immediately brought this poem to my mind and also Michael Oher's essay on the same from the movie "The Blind Side".
Poem - http://www.nationalcenter.org/ChargeoftheLightBrigade.html
Here's the essay  - 
“Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or a mistake, but you’re not supposed to question adults, or your coach, or your teacher because they make the rules. Maybe they know best but maybe they don’t. It all depends on who you are, where you come from. Didn’t at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up and joining with the other side? I mean, Valley of Death, that’s pretty salty stuff. That’s why courage is tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you’re doing something. I mean, any fool can have courage. But honor, that’s the real reason you either do something or you don’t. It’s who you want to be. If you die trying for something important then you have both honor and courage and that’s pretty good. I think that’s what the writer was saying; that you should try for courage and hope for honor. And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some, too.”
One of my very close friends, taught me the actual meaning of these words to me today. Until now I was living in an illusion I had created for myself, but hearing him brought me back to reality. 
I know it is going to be a tough road ahead for you, but I will always be by your side. Thank you for showing me the true meaning of both Courage and Honour. You are both personified and it has been a privilege to be your friend.


P.S. - Thanks Hostel. You were right. I'll always remember today's lunch  but for very different reasons. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you soo much for understanding & introducing me the amazing peom & the essay. Unlike those 600men, i am not that corageous just a mere mortal, but we all have are wars big/small we need to fight. to stand for ourselves. its a privilege to have you with me all along :)
:D