Valor is one of the great but too often unspoken human virtues. It is neither a divine nor superhuman power that magically gives us the false security of another safe night. Valor can only be authentic when it is derived from flesh and blood, when it is blended with both terror and trust, and when valorant rank is chronicled by the penmanship of danger and daring.
Valor seeks no camera, video, YouTube, twitter or linked-in to make its mark. For publicity is not in the handbook of valor.
Perhaps this is most vividly pointed out in the marvelous Broadway Musical, WICKED. When Alphaba is confronted, she defies gravity. She has witnessed a great injustice and will not allow it to go unnoticed. In her rebellion against the powers that be, she is labeled the enemy, the evil one and she meets the crossroads. She makes her turn, but not right or left. She moves UPWARD to the sky, ironically displaying the essence of valor by singing with incredible passion, “I may fly solo, but at least I’ll fly free.” Without awareness, she is providing the earmark of true valor. It is an act of pure and total individuality. It seeks neither liberal nor conservative signs to follow. She is following her conscience and swimming against the tide of, if you will, both Fox and MSNBC.
