What Could Be More Necessary?

The following is a conversation between Captain Algren and Katsumoto after they are able to escape from Tokyo successfully. Katsumoto served as the Emperor's spiritual advisor, as all leaders of the Samurai had for centuries; however, with the Emperor intent on modernizing Japan, and numerous vultures now surrounding him in his council, Katsumoto was unable to reach the Emperor.

Katsumoto: "For nine-hundred years my ancestors protected this people. Now, I have failed them."

Algren: "So you will take your own life in shame? Shame for a life of service, discipline, compassion?"

Katsumoto: "The way of the Samurai is not necessary anymore."

Algren: "Necessary...what could be more necessary?"

Pondering on this scene got me to thinking about the specified qualities listed of Katsumoto's life (service, discipline, compassion), and just how absent they are from our modern day world.

Service

First example that came to mind here would be the so-called "public servants" our elected officials in Washington are supposed to be. This group on Capitol Hill are talking about how terrible the Social Security system is, yet they hold themselves out and have their own privately funded and managed pension fund. They debate health care reform, and pretend to have our interests at heart, yet they have their own private care and health system to take care of their needs. Worse still is the fact that publicly they criticize companies' use of taxpayer bailout funds, yet order themselves 3 new private jets earlier this summer when only one was necessary according to the Pentagon who services them, and decide that their budget still needs to be increased though the rest of the world is learning how to tighten their belts. Where is the service? How much better would the world be if everyone on earth made one decision (just one) per day with someone else's interest in mind rather than their own? I truly wonder what a difference that could make.

Discipline

The following three videos show the lack of discipline in our lives: Serena Williams going ballistic after a call at the end of her semi-final match in this year's US Open, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert definitely losing it throughout their semi-final game in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and here South Carolina Senator Joe Wilson blurting out his now famous "You Lie" comment during President Obama's address on Capitol Hill. Funny thing to me is what they have to say afterwards in supposed apology. Here's Serena's initial statement after her incedent:

"Now that I have had time to gain my composure, I can see that while I don't agree with the unfair line call, in the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly."

More and more it seems that life has become a "battle", and therefore it's acceptable for anyone, at any time to just lose it. Worse still is the fact that not only has it become acceptable, but almost held in high esteem because the person was so open and honest with their feelings and emotions while expressing themselves. Whatever happened to self-discipline?







Compassion

Today's world is certainly more focused on the "me, me, me" rather than our fellow neighbors, etc. It's even to the point where many times we find it hard to celebrate someone's success; we'd rather tear that person down than actually pat them on the back to say, "Congratulations." Case in point is the CMA Awards this past week. I'm certainly not a country music fan, but my wife is so I had the opportunity to watch some of them with her. An up and coming young singer named Taylor Swift, a mere 19 years old, took the awards show by storm winning 4 different awards including the highest honor of the night: Entertainer of the Year. Rather than celebrate the accomplishment and acknowledge what Taylor has been able to do for country music, Wynonna Judd chose to cut her down. Wynonna, a legend in her own right, was asked her thoughts on Taylor's win, and this is what she had to say: "You want my honest comment? It's too much too soon. She's no where near ready for so much success." Opportunity certainly missed, and yet another sad commentary on our current state of affairs.

Worse still in regards to compassion are all the e-mails that seem to endlessly float around everyone's inbox. You know the ones I'm talking about. How many times are you forwarded e-mails that attempt to demonize an opposition's leader or mindset? If you're conservative then you've received them about Obama, Pelosi and Reid. If you're liberal then you've received them about Rush, Beck, Hannity, etc. Why must we persist in attempting to show the "other guy" is wrong just so we appear to be right? What happened to actually caring for one another, and being a part of a neighborhood, community or even a nation? Where's the love?

Just as Captain Algren asked, "What could be more necessary?" I ask you the same question. What have you done today to serve someone other than yourself? Try and refrain from outburst or anger next time someone does something to provoke you, or better still be slow to be offended. And finally let's all show more compassion one towards another. Being a lion isn't about just being tougher than another, or being stronger and conquering an opponent; rather it's about taking the time to drag one's self out of the mire, and then have the strength (or compassion) to reach back and lift another as well.