A Code of Courage

“In order to live, man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to make choices, he must define a code of values; in order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is - i.e. he must know his own nature (including his means of knowledge) and the nature of the universe in which he acts - i.e. he needs metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, which means: philosophy. He cannot escape from this need; his only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance.” Ayn Rand

The Gorean Philosophy and its actions that provide us with a basic set of living skills is not by chance, it is by choice. We who believe make that choice daily with great courage. It leads me to only one thought this month, and that is that the code of courage exists.

“Gorean morality encourages honor, courage, hardness and strength.” John Norman, Marauders of Gor, p.8

I have written over the past few months about the basic tenets and foundational codes that have been developed from the Philosophy in Norman’s Gor. In defining these codes, I have stressed the absolute need of applying these principles to your life under the curtain of Gorean Philosophy by following a reality rather than a fiction in the application of these ideals to your daily lives.

Courage is an act that brings out the brave, fearless, and honorable in all of us. It is a difficult task in some cases to exhibit such a code.

“Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness.” Ayn Rand

Norman describes a world that is not unlike our own in the past, and yes, there is a catch. Norman’s world does not have the luxury of evolving past the simple. We, on the other hand, evolve daily, monthly, and yearly in science and in social aspects. The diversity between the two worlds is a fact vs fiction set of ideals. Norman was able to allow his characters brave and courageous measures in which to live and die in his world. Our courage as a society is far more rare than our feeding our families or our providing for our offspring. We do not strive each moment to see another day, that is a given. We do not worry that our children will be stolen, or that our cities will be taken. Those freedoms were given to us from generations before. The courage of our military provides us with the security of living far from war and far from pain. Perhaps that is why we all look up from our complicated lives now and then and pay absolute attention to those who do define an act of courage in these times.

The inspiration of this month’s declaration of courage is simple. We need it, and we also need to act upon it. It takes courage to raise a child. It takes courage to get up and decide that we should “do” rather than merely “say.” The greatest speakers in the world can inflame our hearts and motivate us for the moment, but the truth of all tests is to follow through with action. The action defined this month is the code of courage.

Courage is not a speech, nor is it limited to some dictionary definition. Courage is an action, a do-able description of who we can be and of how we will define our lives.

Courage in the end is as simple and barbaric as Norman’s world. If you delve through all the fantastic knowledge, all of the information we are given without cost and dig deep into the basic, you will find it. Courage has never left us, nor has it moved from our reach. It is a tool that is simply waiting patiently for us to take. You either strive for it, or you do not. To remove it, to forget it ... is fatal.

“Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it.” Mark Twain

I wish you well,

Nyre

Copy@righted August 2004