WQ #21: May 24: HONORABLE – bringing or worthy of honor. Used as a title indicating eminence or distinction, given especially to judges and certain high officials.
Happy Wednesday, and welcome to #WQ (Wednesday Quotes). Here’s your chance to showcase your photos, poems, thoughts, and stories about the honorable person or idea of your choice. All you need is one awesome quote. Feel free to skim, but don’t skip the very end where your posts are highlighted! Please read at least a few of the other links in this party.
Memorial Day Honors the Fallen
It’s hard to believe that Memorial Day, May 29th, is almost here. The year is almost half gone.
“To honor with hymns and panegyrics those who are still alive is not safe; a man should run his course and make a fair ending, and then we will praise him; and let praise be given equally to women as well as men who have been distinguished in virtue.”
-Plato
Plato would probably approve of Memorial Day as our most important holiday.
This week Vince and I watched the 2017 movie, “The Yellow Birds” the other night. The protagonists were two young men, Bartle and Murph and their sergeant who fought together in Iraq. Their youthfulness and innocence hit me viscerally. Their expressions crumbled when a soldier shot an innocent woman, or they saw friends dying and being wounded. Then they raised their rifles and trudged on.
“…Bartle realizes that ordinary conceptions of human justice is unable to account for the horrors that he has witnessed or taken part in, he becomes convinced that such actions are not necessarily individuals’ fault, but can be seen as the product of war itself.” LitCharts
Running to Feed the Hungry
“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”
– Calvin Coolidge
They would tell you they had fun, not that they raised money for hunger or beat everyone else’s times for the event.
An Eye for an Eye or Not!
“No revenge is more honorable than the one not taken.”
-Spanish Proverb
I’ve been reading the book of Samuel in the Old Testament about King Saul’s bitter jealousy of David, who had been anointed to take his place. Many times Saul took thousands of soldiers and tried to track down and kill David.
On two of those occasions, David caught Saul unaware. Once, he cut off a small piece of Saul’s robe. Another time he took his sword while he was sleeping. On both occasions, Saul was sheepish and recognized that David behaved more honorably than he had. On those two occasions, Saul went home and quit chasing him for a while.
Can We Blame Catastrophes On Ourselves?
“When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable, punishes virtue and rewards vice, encourages what is harmful and discourages what is useful, applauds falsehood and smothers truth under indifference or insult, a nation turns its back on progress and can be restored only by the terrible lessons of catastrophe.”
– Frederic Bastiat – French economist and political philosopher who lived in the 19th century
Some things never change. The catastrophes this winter in Prescott were mild compared to other parts of the country even a few miles north of us in Flagstaff.
Admonishing is a Double-Edged Sword
“The one who admonishes his brother secretly, he has advised sincerely and has honored him. If he does it outwardly (among others) then he has dishonored and shamed him.”
– Al-Shafi‘i – an 8th century Islamic jurist and theologian
Who could dishonor this adorable little blond boy? His sister, of course. I remember the first time I did it right.
We were teens, and he had been misbehaving at school. Mom had threatened him, and I believed she would carry out her threat. For the first time, I imagined my life without him. I begged him to take Mom seriously and straighten up. Amazingly, he listened to me and finished high school without any more incidents.
Honorable Poetry
Honorablity takes self-contol. Once you've faced your fears, it's easier. None the less, don't conjure scenarios, Or let your imagination scare you. Rely on your gut to get you through. Access the power of God to help you. Believe in the value of honor. Live like the person in need is you. Emote after trouncing malevolence. ©Marsha Ingrao 2023
To participate in this week’s Tanka Tuesday poetry, write an acrostic syllabic poem with 8-10 syllables per line using some fantasy words. Check out her post for the words to use.
Your Purpose
This quote reminds me of Cindy Georgekas’ new book, Re-Create and Celebrate which I have been reading to participate in her book launch. You don’t have to wait for my review to get the book.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do you agree with Emerson? Which is more important to you being happy or doing the right thing?
Coach Ainley was still teaching at age 72 because he had a lot of values to teach high school students. They loved him. By his middle 80s, when these pictures were taken, he volunteered at school and community events. His message was the same, “Always act with honor.” Even now, he still mails me notes on cards asking how we are doing from time to time. He is one of the most caring and honorable men I know.
Honoring Others with Public Art
“Honor the hands that harvest your crops.”
-Delores Huerta
Does this midcentury workplace seem like a 19th-century school?
“Male and female citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, must be equally admitted to all honors, positions, and public employment according to their capacity and without other distinctions besides those of their virtues and talents.”
-— Olympe de Gouges – 18th Century French playwright
Is It More Honorable to Let Your Pet Die Naturally or Not?
You feel a little bit like God when you take your pet into the vet with the decision in mind that you are probably going to put it down instead of continuing to treat it. You wonder if you did all you could do for it.
I’ve had many pets, and all of them but one has died. I felt guilty about every one, both the ones who died naturally and the ones who didn’t. Except Mama Kitty. She lived to be 18-19 or more. Went for a walk with Puppy Girl and I. We found her lying on the grass later in the day. She was down to about 1 pound, most of it hair.
Until the last minute, she talked to us, loved us, and was the kindest, most gentle cat I knew. She was an outdoor cat, so we didn’t know if she was sick often, but she didn’t seem to be. She just got old and died.
So the question is, what is the honorable way for your pet’s life to end?
Last Week’s Featured Mother’s Day Bloggers
- A FRESH CUP OF COFFEE – LIVING MUSEUMS
- DENZIL NATURE – A WEEK OF BUTTERFLIES
- KEEP IT ALIVE – WORLDWIDE MUSEUM VISITS
- LADY LEE – MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD SOME WILL MAKE YOU CRY
- LOVING LIFE – A LOOK AT MUSEUMS AND KIRSTIN’S HERITAGE – LOTS OF COOKS!
- PICTURES IMPERFECT – ODE TO A LOCAL HERO
- SECOND WIND LEISURE – WALKING/SURFING DOWN HERITAGE LANE
- WHERE THE WILD THINGS WERE – DINOSAURS
Your Museum Post Goes Here
Try Mr. Linky to link your post or to read other posts. It’s easier than waiting for me! 🙂 Try it, you’ll like it.
- A FRESH CUP OF COFFEE
- EKLASTIC
- GARY A. WILSON STORIES
- KEEP IT ALIVE
- LADY LEE
- LOVING LIFE
- SECOND WIND LEISURE
- SERENDIPITY SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE
INSPIRED BY
- Tanka Tuesday #321 – Fantasy Acrostic
- Cellpic Sunday – An amazing cell pic save!
- Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share and Photographing Public Art Challenge – coming Friday
- Second Wind Leisure – Pets and Playgrounds
Upcoming and Ongoing on Always Write
Lots of love to all of you and best wishes for a wonderful week.
- WQ Page
- WQ #22: May 31: MIDPOINT/WRITER’S CHOICE/DOUBLE DIP CHALLENGES
- Book Tour – June 2nd Introducing Re-Create and Celebrate by Cindy Georgekas
- #DICKENSCHALLENGE started February 7th. Join Yvette Prior, Trent McDonald, and me in reading ONE – not THREE Dickens’ novellas by June 9th. Donna from Retirement Reflections posted an excellent review on her challenge, What’s On Your Bookshelf this month.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 