The Better Angels

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Posted by blamethebanjo on Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Men are brought up with the notion that in order to be a real man you have to be tough. Not all men but most of the ones I know. Including myself. I heard stories of my dad fist fighting as a young man from my uncle while I was growing up. We were Irish and hot headed. Ready to spring into action at the drop of a hat.

Something in me didn't follow that way of thinking. Oh, as a kid and teen I got in to my share of fights and did as well as my opponant. Sometimes better. But you know, I was a reluctant warrior when it came to trivial arguments that couldn't be hashed out peacefully. I never walked away from a battle that didn't leave me sorry for inflicting pain on someone else.

For a time in my early teens I began to seriously consider my faith and how quarelling fit in the picture. I came to the conclusion that it was against what I professed to believe and tried to avoid conflicts that would require me to defend myself with my hands. After all these hands were meant to produce something good. Not to be bloodied.

There was a price to pay for soon much smaller kids, trying to prove something would pick on me because they knew I would not throw a punch. There were some who called me chicken and coward. That hurt and I wanted to waylay them in the worst way. It was the worst way I believe. I soon found myself back in the same mode. Fighting and then regretting it.

There was one thing that I knew that should have been the reason to end all the sparring once and for all. The fact that I knew in my heart that I was not a coward. In fact I had acted with bravery many times. This should have been enough. There would have been some instances where I could not avoid defending myself but more that I could have walked away from.

I know that there are times to fight and defend yourself and others. War for instance is an example where I would fight for my Country. I would defend my family at all costs. Pick your fights carefully because you can't take back the punch you already threw.

6 comments on “The Better Angels”