Human beings are fallible creatures, and unlike the rest of nature, we have found a way to bend the world to our whim. Nature, if left to its own devices, will continue on and correct itself unfettered by human intervention. If we all were to disappear now, in 50 or so years it would be difficult to tell we were even here. Nature has a way of perfecting itself through what Darwin called “natural selection.” Besides humans, all of nature survives by the law of natural selection, we did once as well. However, somewhere along the line, human beings found a way to circumvent this process, which in my opinion is perhaps the greatest feat we have achieved as a species. Somehow, we have found a way to beat nature at its own game by removing the process of natural selection from the equation. Today, through modern medicine and the advent of many life saving techniques, many babies survive that would not have as few as 40 or 50 years ago. Add to this the social programs (welfare) offered those too lazy or stupid to survive for themselves, and you have a recipe for disaster. How then can we as a species hope to evolve beyond our current state of existence? Some would no doubt disagree with my assessment and find fault in my ideas, and that is fine. However. it does not change the fact that we have become a society full of lemmings intent on following the social norms with very little thought of our station in life and devoid of the ability to perform self audits and conduct some honest introspection No one can truly grow beyond themselves if they are incapable of truly knowing who they are.

Despite my distaste for people more concerned with how foolish Brittany looked on the MTV music awards and who is winning on American Idol, I have a deep and well meaning desire to see our species survive despite itself. On the other hand, there are those of us who know certain truths to life beyond what the masses deem important. There are people out there who live by a code, a warrior’s code, who know what the others either fail to see or refuse to recognize. I am not talking here nor pandering to any one group of people. I do not solicit the views of racist organizations, extremist groups, domestic terrorists, or the like. I am speaking to the warriors of our society. Men who were once lauded for their actions in the face of extreme adversity, shunned fear and acted according to a code. Men who let their actions flow from endless hours of training to make their weapons and their being one fluid thing. Men who take pride in family and shun foolishness and harmful vices. Men who know the difference between right and wrong and have the self respect and discipline to act on that knowledge. Men who have the ability to act out of a respect for morality and the laws of God, whoever or whatever they may find that God to be. Men who have the balls to be their own man. Are you that man? Am I? Each day I try to be that man, some days I fail and others I succeed.

These men do exist, but have been clouded over by those who walk the earth in a haze unaware of the true nature of life and what it really means to live by the warrior’s code. I know these men exist because I have the good fortune to know a small handful of them. They are not perfect and bear the scars of a life filled with scorn from those who do not understand, from battles won and lost and from the adversity of life, yet they persevere despite the hardships they endure. Perhaps that is why some cannot look these men directly in the eye without feeling and heeding the urge to look away in fear, while others are able to recognize, with silent knowledge, the gaze fixed in the eye of the warrior as a kindred spirit.