Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:42:11 GMT

I vow to hold true to the principle of courage: to think and act clearly in the presence of fear. I vow to acknowledge my fear as part of being human, but I will not allow it to control me.

I will control my fear.

I will not be paralysed or panicked by barbarian bombers, by suicidal saboteurs, by homicidal criminals with explosives. I refuse to call them terrorists because I refuse to allow them to terrorize me.

I vow to fight these individuals with a clear head even though I may feel fear.

I vow to fight them with the weapon of superior principles:

truth,
liberty for all,
justice for all,
freedom of religion for all,
freedom of speech for all,
freedom of dissent for all,
freedom of privacy for all,
freedom to vote for all,
and a government that responds to the people.

I vow to apply these principles to all humankind.

If clear thinking determines that action is needed to enforce these principles, then I vow to take action.

I vow to act from these principles, from the strength of character that makes me better than the barbarians and better than the cowards.

I vow not to act from anger, vengeance, or hatred. I vow not to act from fear, panic, or terror. I vow not to fight simply based on physical strength. I vow not to encourage others to succumb to their fear.

I vow not to surrender my principles.

I vow to call a coward anyone who would surrender my principles because they have succumbed to fear.

I vow to call a coward those who see enemies in every shadow, who lash out at the innocent and uninvolved, who surrender my principles, all in an attempt to fight their own fear.

I vow to call a coward anyone who tries to hide their fear with false bravado or with unprincipled acts of violence, including attacks on civilians, kidnappings, cruel and unusual punishments, or torture.

I vow to call a coward anyone who says we cannot win unless we sacrifice my principles. Without my principles, the only difference between me and the barbarians is the colour of the uniform and the type of weapon used.

I am better than them only so long as my principles are better.

I vow to hold true to all my principles in the presence of fear.

I vow myself to courage.

There is a web site of this affirmation, but it's full of politically biased links - which is a shame, as it hurts a message that should be bipartisan. Consider copying this into your own LJ, if you believe the message.

T.B.

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Wed, 27 Sep 2006 03:33:59 GMT

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Journal for Peter Gresham

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