Our Sacred Honor

June 11

1 hr

Episode Description

In early July of 1776, a document was written that marked something that was in the land of De Facto, and fortified it with the forces of De Jure. War had broken out between the colonists and Great Britain, and this work put words to the movement, the struggle, the blood, the loss and the sacrifice. Of course I am talking about the Declaration of Independence. The United States wouldn’t fully be a country until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. However, the Declaration of Independence was an important step the United States had taken to be recognized as a legal entity.

Obviously this is a very moving document. It is visceral, idealistic, specific, and yes, even racist. It is a human document that is a dagger to the heart of Divine Right, but like all things human it is flawed. However, the closing line of the document has always struck a chord with me.

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

What is sacred Honor? Does it exist anymore? Does the concept? Why is Honor Capitalized?

Perhaps, it would be better if we examined life during the War for Independence.

The Revolutionary War wasn’t just a war of colonists vs Britain. It was a war of colonists vs colonists. It was Native American vs Native American. It was the Republic of Vermont vs Britain. Spain, France, and the Dutch Republic all fought against Britain. It wasn’t just about the colonists becoming American or subjects becoming citizens. It was a struggle with global implications. It was a battle of ideas turned kinetic. But, it was as then as it is now… all politics is local.

Honor is found in our convictions

All true monarchies believe that their rule is appointed by God. Only God can depose them of their position in society. Therefore, uprisings and rebellions were acts of sin. The Catholic and Anglican churches supported this view, as it allowed the Pope and religious leaders to have influence in government. This is why when a King or Queen is crowned, it is usually a bishop who places the crown on the head of the monarch. In cultures where religious attendance was all but mandatory, the amount of influence this act had on society could not be under estimated.

The Declaration of Independence challenged this with its second sentence.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

A step towards sacred honor is having convictions such as this. The conviction must core, it must be rooted in the center of your morality. It must be of conscience. It is both intellectual and morally centered.

Honor is found in the strength of those convictions

It is not enough to have convictions. Those convictions must remain steadfast when tested. When George Washington lost New York, neither his principles nor the conviction of his men fell away. These convictions endured the famine of Valley Forge after Washington lost the city of Philadelphia in 1777. Convictions can not waiver when things do not go right, nor when adversity rears its ugly head.

Possibly even worse than that, true convictions do not waiver when your peers oppose you. Colonists were not unified in their support of the newly formed Nation. In 1774 loyalist regiments had formed in Massachusetts. They kept order in Boston after it fell from the Battle of Bunker Hill. A loyalist regiment of 5,000 strong from North Carolina joined an assault on Charleston, South Carolina. Loyalists were found in every colony. Yet the convictions of Patriotism endured.

Honor is found in sacrifice

“We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

During the Battle of Yorktown, signer Thomas Nelson jr noted that Cornwallis was using his house as headquarters. He told American generals to fire on it. The house was destroyed and he died bankrupt.

It was not prudence that have him strength. It is honorable to sacrifice greatly for your principles.

Honor is found in Risk

Out of the 56 signers, 12 had their homes burned. Another 8 had their homes looted by loyalists or British soldiers. Thomas McKearn died in poverty after the British had seized his possessions and home. Carter Braxton owned a fleet of ships that was sunk by the British. He had to sell his home and possessions to pay his debts. He too died in poverty.

Honor is found in soberly and somberly knowing the risks and then acting on your convictions anyway.

Honor is found in shared purpose

The signers could not do this alone. It took a congress of representatives to form and the states to agree on who to send to represent them just to write and sign the Declaration. It took an army to form, train and all the resources that entails just to exist. Then that army had to fight, often without promised pay marching to the beat of their conviction. Allies from France and Spain had to be brought in, and the people needed to act as one. With convictions of many peoples aligned, perseverance was gained. The war would be won. Honor was found in this unity.

Honor builds for the future. Dishonor is about the present.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence had a vision. It was a vision that wasn’t there just a year earlier. That vision was to create a new nation. One with liberty and equality amongst their social class. It would have been very easy for these men of wealth, property, and power to support King George III. Their position would have been maintained and defended. Although there still would not be rights for women or minorities – slavery would still exist and Native American tribes would be viewed as inferior – the seeds were sown that would spring a crop of egalitarianism and democracy. Honor is found in working to change the present for a better future. Dishonor is found in working to keep a privileged position because it is easy or for short term gain.

Honor is found in integrity.

It could be said that honor is integrity to the extreme. Benedict Arnold is known for betraying the Patriot cause. Why did he do it? Financial reasons. His debts were large. He was facing corruption charges as he tried to pay those debts. The British payed more. To this day, anybody with a security clearance needs to submit financial documents showing they don’t have debts that could corrupt you. It could be argued that the reason goes back to Benedict Arnold.

Benedict Arnold was also petty. He was upset that he had been passed over for promotion numerous times.

Pettiness and the lack of integrity when faced with adversity lead to his dishonor. I have noted above other signers of the Declaration faced similar adversity, some dying in poverty but never wavered in their convictions.

Another aspect of integrity is honesty, Your yesses must remain yeses, and your nos must remain nos. Really, there is no need to swear. Your word is your bond if you say what you mean. For a promise kept increases the credit rating of your soul while a promise broken weakens it.

All true monarchies believe that their rule is appointed by God. Only God can depose them of their position in society. Therefore, uprisings and rebellions were acts of sin.

What makes honor sacred?

From an economist’s point of view, it is its scarcity. From a religious point of view, it goes to who you are for all eternity. From a humanist point of view, there is only one of you so who do you want to be?

All these are right and true. But in the end, honor goes to trust. And if you can not be trusted, you are a burden to those around you. People waste their energy on you. If you can be trusted, those around you are rewarded, and their energy spent on you is an investment, for you make them better.

Good people of high quality are rare. The signers knew if they lost the war, their names would be soiled for generations after they were hanged, shot, or worse.

Where is sacred Honor found today?

I saw it most recently in Minneapolis. All the protests that stood up against ICE during their raids. Those protests were rooted in moral principle. They stood up against what they viewed as tyranny. Renee Good and Alex Peretti lost their lives when it would have been easier to walk away and be complicit with silence.

I see it in those who serve in our military. They sign up to defend this country and execute its wars despite their political views. If the President is a democrat or republican, no matter. They are willing to sacrifice for this nation, and do whatever it asks.

I believe I see it in my family and my friends. We argue about politics because we care. We have each other’s backs when they need us.

But perhaps it is found outside the Declaration as well. It is also about forgiveness. We are one nation despite some of us being descended from loyalists. We are one nation despite some of us being descended from Confederates.

We have the struggles in the present and future for what is right. The mission to bring morality, ethics, and accountability to those in power will bring division. But I have faith that we will find our collective sacred Honor, and do everything in our power to bring balance to the force, young Jedi. Just understand, that sacred Honor always starts within you.

Why is Sacred Honor capitalized? Because it is that damned important.

Brian Smyers (editor) Brian Smyers

Owner and Editor of The Ascendant Project

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