Names have been removed for privacy - a big thanks to those who have shared their thoughts

Warrior is a matter of energy. It the wholehearted application of energy towards matters of significance or importance. It is not defined by methods, or actions, but by the charisma that is exuded when these actions are undertaken.
Honour is a matter of being true to oneself. One cannot act honourably if one is acting against the nature of who you are.

Just a thought about your use of his/him through your piece - which has some good things I have yet to finish thinking about.
I started to substitute a feminine pronoun in some of those sections and found that they just didn't work. This would suggest that the language we use, and thereby the symbols and archetypes evoked are "not allowable" in that they produce great dissonance to the cadence of the sentences when they are constructed to fit a female protagonist.
That women can be loyal, honourable and duty-bound is so far _within_ my experience that when I read something like this that uses phrases from things that I am used to reading to describe things that I think are applicable to me and my life (I am, if you hadn't guessed, female *G*) that I needs must draw the conclusion that either I have been raised on a different planet, or that writing on such a topic it is too easy to remain in the "traditional voice"...
That there is a lack of female imagery that implies loyalty, honour, justice, duty is just so far from where many women live their lives today or during the times when "warriors" and "codes of chivalry and honour" were supposed to be the norm, that it makes me wonder about the reason there was so much talk about it on the principal that "... methinks he doth protest too much" to misquote the Bard *smile*
Anyway, you did ask *twinkle* and I appreciate being given interesting thinks to think. Thanks for the thinking material too!  

I have found many times in my life that I wish I had acted honourably, by speaking the truth and keeping a promise
However, it is hard to act that way when others around me lie and break promises to me. At least I don't cheat or steal, that is only as much as I can be proud of.
I don't forgive myself, I wish I had acted honourably always in the first place, so I have nothing to be guilty of.
I guess honour is something you should keep to yourself, by demonstrating honour to others, not just with words claiming to have it.
However, there are too many people out there that would take advantage of someone they know to be "honourable", and when you refuse to be taken advantage of they then spread about that you are dishonourable, even though this is exactly what they are themselves.
I guess the one person to whom honour should mean something to is yourself.
Your honour should not be possessed and owed to another, unless it is to a person more honourable or just as honourable as yourself.

P.S. I mean, you should treat everybody else with honour, assuming they are honourable also, until you see they are dishonourable (if they are), but not fully trust them until you know their character.
I know you should live by example and show others the way, but I see it is wasted effort on one who has chosen to lie, cheat and steal, as once they have done this, they are more likely to do so again than a person who has never done this

Purely and simply it is better to honour yourself. I don't see the point in lying to someone else to "appear" honourable. What honour is there in that?

Dishonourable to seek death? Tuff question... You believe that a warrior is someone with honour. I agree. I also agree that they strive for excellence in anything they chose to do. So why would such a warrior search for death?
My thoughts... A warrior doesn't give up when things aren't so bright.
They continue when there is no hope left. Honour is very important and some so claimed warriors would rather die than be dishonoured. But everything can correct itself.
Yes, honour can be regained.
Warrior to you means honour. Warrior to me means strength. Not so in the psychical form but in the spiritual and mental. Honour is gained through those strengths. Therefore if a warrior invited death they wouldn't be honouring life. They would be giving up on all chances for reconciliation with themselves, their family, the earth... To be dishonoured is worse than death? Yet only someone with true strength could stand and face that dishonour. A true warrior wouldn't accept that nothing can be achieved. Therefore in answer to your question: Yes it is dishonourable to seek death. It is dishonourable to themselves and their family. What honour is there in inviting death and giving up?

Wouldn't a "warrior" gain more through trying to mend wrongs and continue with life? Wouldn't a "warrior" know that death is an escape. And escape is for the weak?

Would an honourable person forget the honour they carry and say "fight dirty" just because they are against someone without honour? Does this give them the right to carry the title "warrior" and disclaim the honour they have? No. I don't think so. Honour cannot just be detached like that. Yes they would have the disadvantage. But this is the choice one has to make to become a "warrior" Right?

If one chooses to live life a different way than another than that is simply their own choice. It doesn't mean they are any less honourable. And yes. One should honour a promise to someone else. Weather that person is dishonourable or not. Honour lies within oneself. And I believe you are dishonouring yourself, by not honouring the promises you've made.

Would you leave your family or community in danger rather than be dishonoured? Personally... I would not. Even if I was a warrior, and I had my own codes of Honour. I would definitely make a vow to honour my family. My death certainly wouldn't achieve that.

Loyalty... Is something i highly respect. I have never broken my word to someone, or when i have pledged my loyalty to someone then it remains for life. I always keep my word.

Do you think you have the right to judge whether injustice has been delivered? And do you think you have the right to act upon it? What action would you take?

Do You believe that if "you" are not shown respect, that gives you the right to not respect that same person?

You spoke of once that attacking from behind is not dishonourable for others shall do so... Yet doesn't it say that to possess honour you shouldn't attack from behind? And also shouldn't use a weapon that's not equal to the attack?

I believe that death would be an easy escape and it would bring more dishonour to die when actions could still be taken and the greatest dishonour would be to leave my family alone (though they would not be without protection or resources)

please remember that honour is not limited to warriors...being a warrior implies honour but also some level of physical prowess or ability

for me i believe that honour remains a personal thing and that in even striving to regain honour is honourable...but one must first refind the honour within oneself before it can be regained from others

the right to judge and act...this is very difficult...if my family or community (can be the same thing really) are harmed then I tend not to judge...I act first to stop that threat or injury...and then heal the wounds

for a long time i acted (and sometimes stil do act) in a way which was veryaggressive towards those I felt threatened my family (in the larger sense) however now that I am married and with kids I think very carefully now about the outcomes of my actions before I do anything...I still tend to act but in such a way that my actions do not result in further harm to those around me that I have the duty to care for

I believe in giving respect to all until they prove unworthy of it...same with trust etc...however of course I limit the amount of trust etc that I give until that person earns it...shows me they deserve my trust et...of course I do not mistrust or direspect automatically...although my intuition leads me true much of the time...I tend to be a good judge of character

the concept of attacking from behind is difficult...and i think depends on the situation...honour implies that one should not...that is part of honour and what makes it a great virtue...a true warrior should have the skills to not need to "fight dirty"...this is also difficult since what about the warrior who's code says it is ok to "fight dirty"...he is still honouring his own code...and what if you need to fight dirty if it is the only way to protect your family?

A Warrior can walk away from a fight and go to spend time playing with his children and family.

When does honour become pointless...when it become more important than certain other things, when honour is at the top of the list of priorities in ones life at the expense of all other things...such as family...when honour becomes all important and more a matter of ego and pride rather.
A Warrior should be so not for himself but for his family and community, striving for ideals and excellence not just for himself (ego) but for the benefit and betterment of his whole community (as a source of protection, teaching, wisdom, leadership and example

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