Courage created the 4th of July

“He is courageous who endures and fears the right thing, for the right motive, in the right way, and at the right times.

—Aristotle (b.384 B.C.- d.322 B.C.).

Aristotle was a famous Greek philosopher, a student of Plato, and teacher of Alexander the Great. He studied science, politics, ethics, and believed in logic and reason. His ideas have influenced Western philosophy.

In honor of the 2023 celebration of the 4^th of July here in the CNMI, I would like to dedicate the following sonnets to all the men and women, civilian and military, who have kept democracy alive from the American Revolutionary War to the present.

Kudos to POTUS 35 John F. Kennedy, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, who continues the fight for freedom and democracy in his country today. JFK was a World War II war hero who was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions that saved his crew in the Solomon Islands when his ship, the PT 109, was cut in half and sunk by the Japanese. He swam through shark-infested waters with a leather strap in his teeth, towing an injured U.S. Navy sailor, a crewman on his ship, to safety on a nearby island. He subsequently wrote a book of biographies called Profiles in Courage, which was not about himself. When asked how he defined courage he responded, “In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience—the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men—each man must decide for himself the course he will follow.”

I humbly request readers of this with friends and family in our three branches of government to please refer this article to them for a refresher on “courage” that they may need, given the daunting state of economics existing here in the CNMI. These poems first appeared in the Saipan Tribune on March 31, 2022.

Diamonds of Courage

Diamonds of Courage have many shining facets

They contain other virtues in many phases

They shun lies trying to be honest as it gets

The Truth may hurt but showing Courage amazes

As scales of Justice weigh and balance information

Honesty with yourself summons Courage to fight

Facets of Kindness and Patience help the situation

Showing Empathy for those who are suffering is right

Humility helps when your lack of Courage is failing

and learn the Joy of winning the Sorrow of defeat

Out in the turbulent seas of life we all are sailing

As strong currents of emotional Courage we meet

Diamonds of Courage shine light in all directions

Use them to find the courage of your own convictions.”

Steps Toward Courage

From those first shaky steps when they’re learning to walk

toddlers show Courage

From taking their first steps when landing on the moon

astronauts show Courage

Marine scientists descending into the deep dark seas

of the Marianas Trench show Courage

Caring for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s

families show Courage

Spinal injury paralysis victims who won’t walk again

show Courage every day

Amputees, cancer survivors, school bus drivers

show Courage every day

Stephen Hawking immobile, speechless, in a wheelchair

had the Courage to study the universe!

Standing up for what you believe in, God, family and country

shows your Courage

have the Courage to say I am Proud to be me.”

Aristotle said, “ You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of mind next to honor.”