An essay on the warrior and our times, by Cian

These are the words of Faramir, one of the sons of the Lord of Minas Tirith and they can be found in The Two Towers in the chapter called The Window on The West.

These words are Truth. Swords, arrows, spears, shields, and the clothing and parts and pieces which we put together as our raiment... these are the things which we show like the feathers of a bird... things which enhance the way that we feel about ourselves.

Glory in battle is an earned thing. Glory is a condition, a state of being. Glory is not something you earn by losing. It is not earned by fearing to go where you may die. It is not the Glory of Battle that makes a Warrior great. It is the humanity which is enshrouded within him. He is a weapon, he doesn't particularly need a weapon to be dangerous, but he is more than that. He is a human who feels deep into his soul. The Warrior who fights only for Glory has no soul. No humanity. This, alas is true of Cuchullain. The hound fought only for Glory.. he never really cared during the Tain Bo Cualgne that he might be killed and that Maeve would carry away all the cattle... he only cared that he fight with Glory and win win win win... so that when the others arrived, he would be covered in praise, glory and adoration. Perhaps we have not always been so wise. Each of us may have thought time and again of the glory of battle. But now, our real battle is in the reclaiming of that which is nearly lost, the knowledge that we are somebody. That we are not part of a polyester culture which revolves around Madonna and Brad Pitt. That we are not part of a culture which lays down and takes a bunch of crap from anyone. These things are being forgotten, and people are becoming part of that melted down polyester resin which others wish us all to be. Our battle is in saving ourselves and our heritage... not for glory, but for love. Love of our ancestors, love of our children and our children's children. That is part of what a Warrior is. He defends his progeny, he defends his way of life, and he serves his own heart.