I was just watching “The 13th Warrior,†a movie I very much enjoy, and I noticed that the Norsemen were always accepting of whatever happened to them. So, me being me, I did some research.
It turns out that the predestination legend/myth that they purportedly believed in was not universal, nor did they believe that their every action was mapped out at birth (or before). The entire philosophy that they lived by was honor based much like the Samurai bushido. The one thing that they could not bear was to lose honor, because that would reflect on themselves, their family, and, surprisingly, their ancestors, as well. They attempted to live “heroic†lives and to be worthy of their forebears.
I wonder how many people try to do that today. I mean, we are so caught up in the guilt game that we have lost the entire concept of “honor.†Where is the honor in taunting someone on a sports field after you score? Or in passing the blame for a mistake on to somebody else? How about blaming parents, “the system,†or even a higher power for your own decisions?
Just today I read about someone that was struggling with a decision about whether to take the easy, advantageous, dishonorable way, or to do the right thing and take the honorable route. I am proud to say that she took the honorable route, and I am glad that she did. I am NOT saying that it is easy, simply that it is right.
We need more honor and less legality in our lives. Maybe then we, one person at a time, can change our society.
