The Charge of the Light Brigade - The Affirmation Spot for Saturday July 25, 2009

Ray's Daily Affirmation:

"Even amid adversity, I endeavor to succeed to the maximum extent of my abilities."(Choose from 100s mp3 affirmations at The Affirmation Spot)


It's strange how we are often intrigued by those things so opposite our personalities. If you've read this blog for very long or read much of my other writing, you probably know I am a harsh critic of war.It is a barbaric means of settling differences for a species that longs to be deemed civilized. It distorts issues of right and wrong. It kills, maims, and otherwise ruins generations. It uses the exuberance and inexperience of young men and their desire for adventure against them. It fills their minds with visions of glory for the motherland, but not the costs associated with gaining it.Worst of all, it is rarely even fought for the noble purposes used to justify and excuse it. More often it is fought for greedy profits and a thirst for power and glory. War is a toxic medicine that must be choked down with the sugar pills of patriotism, duty, and honor to convince the populace to ingest it. Bluntly, it almost never serves the interests of the people who actually fight and die in wars.Yet, as a history major and history buff, war provides some of the most compelling stories in history. It pushes technologies forward, and forces us to challenge and confront our own inhumanity. In college, I read every about word ever written about General George S. Patton and many of the other generals of World War II. I've studied the strategies and personalities of nearly every Civil War battle. War, for all its evils, war intrigues.From the time I was a small boy, one of my favorite poems has always been Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Charge of the Light Brigade".The poem depicts a famous battle from the Crimean War (1853-1856) - Europe's first true continental war. British commander Lord Cardigan led a disastrous charge of British Light cavalry against Russian defenses at the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854.Tennyson immortalized the event with his famous poem. What I love about the poem - beyond its obvious references to war's paradoxes of tragedy and heroics - is that it is a metaphor for life. Our life often seems to have metaphorical "cannon to the right, cannon to the left, cannon behind us".I hope you enjoy this and that you will draw strength from it for your own "battles"."The Charge of the Light Brigade"By Alfred, Lord TennysonHalf a league, half a league, Half a league onward,All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred."Forward, the Light Brigade!"Charge for the guns!" he said:Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred."Forward, the Light Brigade!"Was there a man dismay'd?Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd:Theirs not to make reply,Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do and die:Into the valley of DeathRode the six hundred.Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon in front of themVolley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,Boldly they rode and well,Into the jaws of Death,Into the mouth of HellRode the six hundred.Flash'd all their sabres bare,Flash'd as they turn'd in air,Sabring the gunners there,Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd:Plunged in the battery-smokeRight thro' the line they broke;Cossack and RussianReel'd from the sabre stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd.Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred.Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,While horse and hero fell,They that had fought so wellCame thro' the jaws of DeathBack from the mouth of Hell,All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.When can their glory fade?O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered.Honor the charge they made,Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.Stay inspired!Ray2009 Affirmation"This year I am absolutely committed to being the person I came here to be!"