Tárogató, 1941-1942 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1941-0 -01 / 3. szám
TÁROGATÓ 13 To write of courage seems almost presumptuous in these days when all that one has to do to bring superb illustration of it to mind is to think of the city of London and the other bombed cities of Britain. Since last August 30,000 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed in London and 40,000 seriously wounded. But Londoners the people of other bombed cities have shown the world that “they can take it.” Compared with the near panic of the time of the Munich crisis, the change is marvellous, The people have reached that point where they might say in scriptural language, “I will not fear what man can do unto me.” What they actually say is, “We can take it.” Sometimes when a man is plucked suddenly out of a life of tranquility and ease and thrust into a struggle of unrelieved hardship and danger the change seems like a complete disaster. But when the crisis is faced with unflinching courage, the discovery is made that life is not without its compensations, and that the human spirit has resources sometimes undreamed of till put to the test. And then it learns the truth of the words that George Moore wrote: “So long as one doesn’t look upon life bitterly, so long as one doesn’t despair, things work out fairly well in the end. Where there’s a will there’s a way.” A writer in the Atlantic Monthly relates that not long ago when King George was walking about the streets of London inspecting the damage done by air raids a cabby recognized him and shouted, “You are a great King, sir!” To which the King replied heartily, “And you are a great people.” So they are. And what has made them great is courage, a deep, abiding, enduring courage that refuses to accept defeat in a cause that is just. The common people of Britain by their stubborn resistance and their heroic and cheerful endurance have shown that even this sophisticated, disillusioned and cyncial twentieth century can be transformed into a new heroic age.” Courage is not an instinct, it is an acquired characteristic. Fear is a protective instinct leading men to shun danger till disciplined courage has taught them how to face it. Courage comes through knowledge, but more through faith and self-discipline. The highest courage is that which endures certain loss and limitation, defeat and disaster, and yet does not lose faith in the ultimate triumph of spiritual realities. It is that faith which has given the British people the tenacity to hold when their allies deserted them and their friends counted them all but lost. They did not whine nor grow fainthearted, they took what came to them with heads bloody but unbowed, they ran their flag to the mast and have kept it, and will keep it, flying there. One reason why Britons are exhibiting a courage that has created a new respect for humankind is that, all unconsciously perhaps, they have Dived out a great Christian truth; namely, “He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.” Those who lose their lives in larger causes than themselves discover their own finest possibilities. “Bombing has knit Londoners into one great brotherhood,” says one writer. “People pulling the dead and wounded out of bombed houses don’t wait to be introduced to one another. There is a real comradeship.” One forgets fear when he forgets self. When Goering’s legions rain down death upon the great city, neighbors help neighbors. They stand together like soldiers in the front line. And though all the horrors of ruthless scientific warfare is poured upon them they do not flinch. They make valor both commonplace and glorious. Britain could have had peace for the asking, and with peace she would have saved her ancient buildings with all their storied splendors. She could have been spared suffering, waste and loss. But she would have lost her soul at the price of any peace she could obtain. An old saying barred the way, “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the’ whole world, and lose his own OUR ENGLISH SECTION. COURAGE
