Loyalties Part 3 *

2003-03-01 9:39 p.m.

Just before he died at Tel Hai, the Jewish Hero Joseph Trumpeldor said, "Never mind, it is good to die for our country." In his poem, Dulce Et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen wrote" My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum Est Pro patria mori." (or "It is sweet and honourable to die for one's country.") Rupert Brooke however stated that," If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England."The question is: who are we to believe, Owen or Trumpeldor and Brooke?

Loyalty to our country. A subject that pops up time a time again. During World War Two, Nazi soldiers and fanatics fought till their death defending the fatherland. in the Pacific, Japanese kamikaze pilots offered tosacrifice their own lives for their Emperor and country by smahing into Allied warships. In peace, we hear stories of how spies would rather commit suicide then risk betraying their nation. Would you die for your country?

Such a question cannot be easily answered. Some would say that your country has given so much, why not pay it back in return? To echo Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." Others will just turn and run away. Violent protests broke out during the Vietnam War and many resorted to all sorts of methods to avoid being drafted into the army. Now we face another war, a war with Iraq. To the Average American teenager in army uniform, would you die for America?

Perhaps it's not so much a death for the state but for the leaders. I strongly agree with Von Clausewitz's statement that "war is a continuation of politics by other means." However, returning to the subject matter at hand, it is hard to decide whether we should die for our country. Loyalty to our nation may not be shown only in that way. We could support it through other means. Many Jews live in other cities around the world, yet they still remain loyal to Israel and support it through donations.

Loyalty. Death. Just last year, a group of students including me worked on a scenario where a fictitious country was invaded. Some of us took one the side of citizens that would stay and fight while another group acted as those who would run away. A debate ensued and no clear winner was found. Yet, it left a puzzling question on our minds. After that, we attended a Seminar, which focused on staying loyal to our country.A Singaporean MP remarked once, "I have three sons. I'm prepared to send my children, all sons, to fight for Singapore, to die if necessary." Should we follow that remark?

I leave a few questions for all. 1) What is your definition of loyalty to your country? 2) Would you ever die for your country? 3) How do you show your support for your country?

I end off with WB Yeats'An Irish Airman foresees his Death, one of my favourite poems

I know that I shall meet my fate

Somewhere among the clouds above;

Those that I fight I do not hate

Those that I guard I do not love;

My country is Kiltartan Cross,

My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,

No likely end could bring them loss

Or leave them happier than before.

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,

Nor public man, nor cheering crowds,

A lonely impulse of delight

Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

I balanced all, brought all to mind,

The years to come seemed waste of breath,

A waste of breath the years behind

In balance with this life, this death

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