capri0mni | The most noble of warriors

With the impending war with Iraq, there has been much public talk lately about the nobility of the Warrior Tradition: The willingness to go directly into the teeth of Death, to fight for some cause greater than yourself, to free the world from terror, and make the world safe for democracy.

The seven who died today were trained as warriors and scientists, and they, too, willingly flew into the teeth of Death. One of those warriors was from Isreal -- a nation heart-breakingly ravaged from war, where hope for peace is almost gone.

But neither he, nor the other 6 who flew with him, went forth for the cause of war, to battle over borders, or right or wrong governments. They went forth to expand the scope of our human understanding of ourselves and our small, blue, fragile and shimmering home, and to view that home from a vantage-point where the only borders are the mountains, rivers and oceans. They flew into the teeth of Death, so that we who are left behind might more fully live up to the potential of our own true Selves. They faced Death without jealousy, blame or malice. They faced Death for the cause of Peace.

I pray that someday soon, this will be the mission for all Earth's noble warriors.