What's with the your blog name?

Let's start with a literary reference. My blogger page title is an homage to the Alexandre Dumas's classic The Three Musketeers. In a time of chivalry and honor, the gluttonous Porthos, the devout Aramis, and the brooding Athos, along with their fiery Gascon companion, D'Artagnan, are anything but honorable when it comes to relationships. Indeed their marks are (too) often married women. Yet, there is an innate and indisputable honor among the four men.

Why should such an old tale matter now?

Now more than ever there is very little honor. It's an outdated idea. Something incompatible with the 21st century. Seemingly unapproachable in America. Yes, there are moments in which honor is demonstrated. But to live a life connected by moments of honorable actions is not to live honorably. "HONOR" is an ideal, the perfection of which is limited by our own humanity. Even the revered Medal of Honor recognizes those whose acts are "over and above" the call of duty, actions that are not the actions of everyday living. The challenge is to intentionally live with honor rather than accidentally having disconnected moments of honor.

It is tempting to define HONOR as a synonym of RESPECT. It is not. Respect can be passive. HONOR demands that you actively practice a personal code of conduct. An active response to all of those around us, not just the ones we know or like. But even our enemies. So many times in The Three Musketeers the four find themselves in heated duels. But even in defeat, there is a respect for the enemy that is actively demonstrated through mercy.

Fictional characters can be colored in any way. The living can only emulate great role models. What greater role model of compassion is there than one that shows restraint in their own dominance? What greater role model of wisdom is there than one that shows the discipline to stand strong in the face of opposition while recognizing the merits of the opposition's argument? What greater role model of respect is there than one who responds to others deliberately and with kindness.

I don't claim to come close to these ideals. I ask only that this blog and responses emulate some of my literary heroes, The Three Musketeers.