When a soldier displays his patriotic fervour at the border, we say he is valiant.
When someone lives stoically through a mental trauma or tragedy, we say he is brave.
What do we say when a person is bullied and mocked at by someone and he does nothing about it? Do we call this person a coward? Definitely not. This person has just put on display his strong prudent sense and his extraordinary COURAGE!
Don’t believe me?! Fine. Let me explain. We spoke of valour, bravery and courage. What is the difference between the three? Valour is a show of physical strength and superiority, generally on the battlefront. Bravery is the mental strength to withstand torture – mental or otherwise – and to resist succumbing to one’s fears. If valour is physical and bravery is mental, then what is courage? Courage is an optimum blend of the two forms of strength.
Let us revisit the example of being bullied. Suppose X, a nasty fellow, bullies Y for no apparent reason, what would onlookers expect Y to do? Retort back, you might say. And why not?? If X punched Y in his middle, then why shouldn’t Y slap him back? That’s the difference…you say, “why shouldn’t he?” while Y thinks, “why should I?”. If Y is a person of strong will, then he will not strike back because he knows that his tolerance of their torture will tire his rivals sooner or later. It is also important that Y’s tolerance is not misunderstood as cowardice. He remains quiet not because he can’t fight but because he doesn’t want to. The same Y will stand up for his rights and even fight for them if the need arises. He is a person who believes in fighting only where it is absolutely inevitable.
This is Courage. Courage is the strength to fight and the strength to tolerate and the sense to know which should be put to use when. A person who fights simply to prove he is courageous fails dismally and ends up proving exactly the opposite! The person who knows when to fight and how to fight and does it only then and in that way is the one who is truly courageous. Courage is more than being willing to fight. It is being willing to avoid a fight and to actually avoid it!!
When someone lives stoically through a mental trauma or tragedy, we say he is brave.
What do we say when a person is bullied and mocked at by someone and he does nothing about it? Do we call this person a coward? Definitely not. This person has just put on display his strong prudent sense and his extraordinary COURAGE!
Don’t believe me?! Fine. Let me explain. We spoke of valour, bravery and courage. What is the difference between the three? Valour is a show of physical strength and superiority, generally on the battlefront. Bravery is the mental strength to withstand torture – mental or otherwise – and to resist succumbing to one’s fears. If valour is physical and bravery is mental, then what is courage? Courage is an optimum blend of the two forms of strength.
Let us revisit the example of being bullied. Suppose X, a nasty fellow, bullies Y for no apparent reason, what would onlookers expect Y to do? Retort back, you might say. And why not?? If X punched Y in his middle, then why shouldn’t Y slap him back? That’s the difference…you say, “why shouldn’t he?” while Y thinks, “why should I?”. If Y is a person of strong will, then he will not strike back because he knows that his tolerance of their torture will tire his rivals sooner or later. It is also important that Y’s tolerance is not misunderstood as cowardice. He remains quiet not because he can’t fight but because he doesn’t want to. The same Y will stand up for his rights and even fight for them if the need arises. He is a person who believes in fighting only where it is absolutely inevitable.
This is Courage. Courage is the strength to fight and the strength to tolerate and the sense to know which should be put to use when. A person who fights simply to prove he is courageous fails dismally and ends up proving exactly the opposite! The person who knows when to fight and how to fight and does it only then and in that way is the one who is truly courageous. Courage is more than being willing to fight. It is being willing to avoid a fight and to actually avoid it!!
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So those are my views on courage...........another one of my published articles!
Well, life's going on....exams coming up, just a week to go! Now that its so near, the nervousness is slowly seeping in! Oh God!!! Please, please let them go well!
And after the exams.....I'll be in Dubai........Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Dubai....I'm coming!
Anyways guyz, (and galz, for the feminist in me!!), no more for now.......more at leisure post my exams.....so slo's gonna blog only after 6th of May now.......
Take care and keep those comments coming in....as they say at McD.......I'M LOVIN IT !!!!!!!!!!!
Till next time........Tally-ho!!!!!
4 comments:
Interesting peace on courage. Actually more than courage in itself, its courage to remain silent when you are atrocised is what matters. Any carnivorous creature( sorry if i sound sadistic) always waits for its prey rather than go on an all out attack. So its more of wait and watch and then bide your time to attack which defines courage and always has defined courage .
hmmmm. . thoda zyada hi ho gaya i guess . . anyways my msn had a starting problem today morn so could not chat with ya. . anyways keep in touch thanks for the complements on at times . . have written something on reservations, do tell me what you feel
hello sloka nice thoughts i am also a fellow student dumbfounded by the astonishing news you can visit my blog just click on my name and visit both my blogs optickarma (photos) and homeless you could go into the archives if you like poetry sept. and
oct wold be it. what do you think 'bout link exchange see ya through your comment on my blog tally ho
Courage duo.....it's gr8 to read such stories.....I'm Apurv's friend.....also a college guy....and also a blogger....do visit it....
Hey Sloka aren't ur exams over yet.......Ur next visit to my blog is pending yet and u need to update ur blog too....
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