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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2010)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, June 3, 2010 Has the concept of honor become too difficult to understand? by Robert Wilson With the morning mist still on the Hudson River, and the sun just kissing the cliff tops of the New Jersey Palisade, Aaron Burr, Vice President of the Unit- ed States shot and killed former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Political opponents for years, the du- elists faced each other after Burr sent these words to Hamil- ton: “Political opposition can never absolve gentlemen from the necessity of a rigid adher- ence to the laws of honor.” Once upon a time people were motivated by honor. Ac- quiring it, maintaining it, de- fending it. Bitter duels were fought in its name. I don’t hear much talk about honor any- more. Could it be the concept of honor is too difficult to under- stand? Is it truly ineffable – im- possible to define – to the point that no one really knows what it means? As a virtue, it has cer- tainly taken a beating when some cultures identify the mur- der of family members as an “honor killing,” and when crimi- nals such as the Mafia call themselves “men of honor.” I looked it up in the Webster Dictionary and found the words “reputation” and “integrity.” But, honor seems to be more than that. It is similar to the definition of character which is: “what you do when no one is watching.” Again, it must be more than that. So, I researched what some historical figures said about it. Most of them de- scribed honor by what it is not. Thomas Jefferson said, “No- body can acquire honor by do- ing what is wrong.” OK, we’ll assume he means you must do what is right or good. The prob- lem may be that by today’s standards those are up for de- bate. The ancient Greek play- wright, Sophocles, also tells us what not to do, but at the same time defines what is wrong: “Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” Which reminds me of my fa- vorite quote from The Kite Run- ner by Khaled Hosseini: “There Please see page 22 Tony Johnson Construction DALE WOODWORKING N I A .CO NT U O SPECIALIZING IN REMODEL & REPAIR M M Service Directory C ABINET D ESIGN & M ANUFACTURING S INCE 1976 J OEL T EMPLIN CCB #43965 503-429-5504 503-429-5436 V ERNONIA , O R 97064 FALL CREEK WOODWORKING WOOD FLOORS INSTALLED & REFINISHED 503-429-4351 Cory Colburn 11561 Keasey Road, Vernonia, OR 97064 • CCB #79876 • • • • • • Excavating Septic Systems Site Prep Underground Utilities Driveways & Roads Trenching PO. Box 65 Vernonia CCB 166815 DEQ 38649 UTILITY SHEDS GARAGES CAR PORTS ADDITIONS DRYROT DRYWALL VINYL “Have Tools Will Travel” WINDOWS & DOORS POLE BUILDINGS ROOFING FENCING SIDING DECKS TILE CCB #85280 Office (503) 429-7009 • Cell (503) 989-9109 P OPPINO P AINTING FREE ESTIMATES Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB No. 90548 503-429-7101 New Construction and Remodeling St. Helens-Scappoose Septic Tank Pumping & Drain Cleaning Office 503-397-3172 Cell 503-396-1408 or 503-396-1409 P.O. Box 203 • St. Helens, OR 97051 Additions, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile, Finish Carpentry & More! Jim Morrison Jr. General Contractor (503) 429-0154 Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB# 112057 DENNIS ELECTRIC, INC. FREE ESTIMATES 503-429-8930 Reliable Commercial and Residential Service David Johnson Construcon Gutter, Window & Siding Specialist Serving the area for 16+ years 503-318-7989 CCB# 90586 Emergency Generator Transfer Switches Now New Technology allows for easy “Plug-in” for most home applications Only $950.00 the Hottest new thing in candles™ Licensed & Bonded • CCB No. 19808 Nancy Johnson Vernonia, OR 503-550-8817 nancyjohnson8@yahoo.com www.scentsy.com/nancyj Dennis & Schann Nelson • P.O. Box 310 • Vernonia, OR 97064 BUY • HOST • JOIN