"Having the idea is not living the reality, of anything. There is no courage in the idea of battle." ~ Rumi
Many in our culture seem too often consumed with the idea of things. The idea of peace is nice as a bumper sticker but not really as a real way to live. The idea that "we do not torture" is nice also unless we are scared than suddenly we don't believe that ideal is viable in the "real" world. We have these fear and war mongers who LOVE the idea of torture, of retribution, of crushing our enemies under our feet but that is the crux of it, it is simply an idea to them. A theoretical philosophy to debate and defend because they have never lived it, they just like the idea of it.
"There is no courage in the idea of battle." I love this line because it sums up every pundit, every Cheny, Limbaugh, Levin, Savage and Hannity, every mouth piece for torture and war before diplomacy. They love the idea of battle, honor, sacrafice..etc but the truth is it is only an idea to them. They have never served nor sacraficed anything. It makes them "feel" courages and tough but they have no actual courage. They have never had to live the reality of war or God forbid torture. The one man in their party who has lived the reality of war and torture, John McCain, they make fun of, disregard, and call weak. Limbaugh says it "broke him" which proves it works.
We are fortunate that we live in a country where we do not have to face the reality of us or our loved ones being tortured. We are fortunate to be able to chose....yes actually chose...if we want to go to war or serve in the military but part of me thinks if ever the majority of us had to LIVE the reality of either of these our views would change radically and we would be a wiser nation for it.