There is honor in wives who carry their domestic burdens in silence. There is honor in men who bring the food home. There is honor in the nurse who nurses, the sweeper who sweeps, the teacher who teaches and so on and so forth.
In fact, whether or not it is followed by acknowledgement, it seems to me that honor is available for anyone who performs their duties efficiently, quietly and gratefully for the chance to serve.
The more duty performed is the more heroic an honor, no?
Hence, wouldn't it be dishonorable if one complains about their duties? Would it not be even more dishonorable to complain about the negligent government, the delayed flight, the inattentive boyfriend and other things that one has no business of and cannot make better or change?
Besides, what difference would complaining have made?
Is cheerful resignation or compliance always better than rebellion?
ReplyDeleteSome serious doubts here.
And I'm hesitant about duty and honour as well.
Is the duty of a hangman honourable? Or of a spy? Or a dictator? Or of a sniper in a regular army?
Probably honour to be obtained from a duty largely depends on who and what defines the duty. In other words on relation and situation.
Simplify, Coles. We are surround ourselves with questions that paralyze us with frustrations.
ReplyDeleteI cannot answer for snipers, tyrants, or hangmen (although I am inclined to say that nobody does their jobs without the hope that it might do someone some good).
I can answer for myself, though. That if I were sick, my duty is to have my soup and get plenty of rest. If I made a promise, my duty is to keep it. It isn't very cheery being celibate, sober and bent on the laptop screen writing every day, but I do it anyway, because I have a duty to the technology and knowledge and ideas I have chosen to invoke and take pleasure in.
Isn't duty another word for tax, something we pay for that something nice we get?
You won me over. I admire attitudes of integrity, dedication and perseverance. And (from the few remnants of my Calvinistic upbringing) I also still try (tried) to adhere to the command to relentlessly exploit one's talents.
ReplyDeleteAs for me the tax-metaphor is correct; I rejoice in paying taxes:) (No really, I do!).
Duty, duty, duty. But then perhaps the reason why these people carry on the way they do in silence is that they LOVE what they do, for many of them at least. Or sometimes, they know that it's the right thing to do.
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