Jaded

I watch everyday as the world slips deeper and deeper into the dark abyss, decaying at every level, corrupt to the very core. Politicians, police, military, laborers, the average everyday citizen so corrupt that when they see a crime or law violation being committed they are too fearful, or too apathetic to intervene, but they sure as heck will watch. The people cry out for mercy, the populace plead with their governments to crack down on the unjust, but nothing ever happens. We're satisfied with slapping the low level street thug on the wrist and allowing the masterminds to continue roaming the streets. No one cares anymore, no one gives a crap about justice. No one gives a crap about the people that are dying, the people that are abused, the people that are oppressed by the dictators that are criminals on our streets and among our people. No one gives a crap.

I even find myself drifting into the darkness. It's addictive, like a drug. It satisfies for a brief moment and then the pain creeps back into my life and I need another fix. Just a little bit to calm my nerves, but all it really does is hook me more. I've become jaded, and corrupt... just as guilty as the rest of the scum, just as filthy with the crude of my sins. It's a heavy weight to carry on my shoulders, and there's no relief in sight, there is no end. I have no atonement. I have no hope.

Hah... Even thinking about it makes me laugh at how ridiculous the idea of it is. There is no hope for this world. A world that is so quick to turn on itself, so quick to devour it's own. Even when we have heroes we do everything in our power to tear them down and destroy them. They might as well wear masks and colorful costumes and keep their identities a secret if they want to keep up the ruse of perfection. It's almost gotten to the point that this world isn't even worth saving, or worth caring about. After all why care about something that doesn't give a care about you? Why should it matter to me? Why does it matter to me? Why can't I get away from this feeling of responsibility to the world? Why do I care?

It's not like I can throw on a red cape and put an “S” on my chest and save the day, and lets be honest these nut jobs that go around in superhero costumes that think just because they picked up a little bit of litter that they are up there with the ranks of the comic book heroes are fooling themselves. You're living in a dream world. And I'm not trying belittle what you do, but if you think for one second that you are a superhero, fine then go do something to fight actual crime. Stop a mugging, find that little girl that went missing from her front yard, don't just call the police when you witness a crime DO something to stop it. Why? Cause it's your duty as a citizen. It's your responsibility as a human being. Screw this idea that we can avoid the danger by being complacent and satisfied with just making a three digit phone call. You're not making the world a better place you're doing the exact opposite by telling the criminal that he has all the power.

Yet here I am. It's pathetic... embarrassing even. How do we make a difference when our own government refuses to hear our voice? How do we make a difference when our police are so restrained by the law that they can't enforce it? What do we do? How do we provide the world with hope? How do I make a difference?

The truth is that we need that hope in the world. We need a symbol of hope, a symbol that let's us know that it's okay to take the world back from the evil men. A symbol that let's the people know that they have the power, that they are in control, not the corrupted politician in Washington. We need a symbol that lets the people know that the oppression is over and that they can come out safely in the night. Evil will always be with us in the world, but that doesn't mean that we have to let it consume us. It doesn't mean that we have to stand idly by and let it devour our children. We need a symbol of truth, a symbol of justice, a symbol of security, a symbol of deliverance. It's like the Good Book says, “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Valkyrie

Here it is July 4th and most would expect a blog about our independence or something appropriate for the holiday. Maybe a support blog for our men and women in uniform or a tribute to those who have fought so bravely to win our independence. However, I find myself thinking on other things, albeit such matters deserve discussion and rememberance. The thought for today goes to my son. I keep thinking of what I am going to teach him as he grows up and how I will impact his life. How will I contribute to his life and help him to be a better man than I?

One word keeps coming to mind.... Honor. But why? The truth is most of us don't even know what honor truly is. My father told me, "Honor is a man's gift to himself." I thought to myself, "man that sounds good." The saying comes from a movie starring Liam Neason, "Rob Roy" and while it is a good movie, and the statement sounds good and has a bit of ring to it, it doesn't hold any weight. There is absolutely no substance in it. The fact is that it couldn't be further from the truth. It was simply Hollywood's attempt to glamorize a man who while in the movie seemed to be honorable, is still a man who in the movie commits kidnapping, and covers up a murder committed by his wife. There is no honor in that.

The truth is that Honor is something that is fleeting in this day and age. Fewer people understand it's importance as the days go by and fewer still posses such qualities. We think of honor as doing the right thing at all times. Folks that's character, just as important as honor but not exactly the same thing. Honor though is being true to yourself and to those around you. Honor is being a man or woman of your word. Honor is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Honor is making a promise and then fullfilling that promise. Honor is and always has been something we have not fully understood, but it is also something that we always have needed.

There was a day when this country was full of Men of Honor. It was led by Men of Honor. Men who did what they promised to do. These were men who maintained their honor even when doing so was unpopular. Few men have such honor in these days. I want my son to be a man of honor. It will put him on the right track, it will set him up to make the right choices where I have made the wrong ones. Maybe then he will be a better man than me.

Valkyrie