Transmissions from the Bunker: Answer, "No"
Answer, "No":
Just before he faced the hangman
In his dreary prison cell
British soldiers tortured Barry
Just because he would not tell
The names of his brave companions
And other things they wished to know
"Turn informer or we'll kill you"
Kevin Barry answered, "No."
Kevin Barry was born in Dublin in 1902. At 15, he joined the Irish Volunteers. By 18, he was hanged by the British. He had a chance to save his life by giving the British information about his comrades in arms. Instead, Barry chose death over dishonor. This steadfast loyalty and unwavering devotion is the benchmark of the true comrade and the true friend. The willingness to sacrifice anything, without a thought, without pause, to aid a friend, to protect them is the measure of friendship.
This, however, is a lost ideal for most. In a society that rewards self-interest and reckless individualism, the tight-knit bonds of friendship weaken and snap under the constant strain of selfish impulses. No longer is sacrifice rewarded, but it is seen as a sign of weakness, a flaw of character. "Friends" are willing to turn on each other over the slightest thing if they see an advantage in it. If by walking over their friends, they can get ahead, they will do it without a thought. They live for themselves, friends of convenience, friends who will be there when it is in their interest and will leave you for the wolves when it isn't.
Now, a special admonishment for the guys. We owe each other better than this false friendship. We owe each other honesty, trust, and a willingness to lay aside personal wants to accommodate another. This sacred bond is tested most when females are added to the equation. "Bros before Hos" and other such slogans convey what should be the message of all guys to their friends. Girls will come and girls will go. When they do, who will you have to fall back to? Who will be there to sympathize, to listen to you rant and rave about how horrible you have been treated, about what a demon you had to put up with? That's right. Your friends. But here's the rub. As soon as a girl enters the equation, some inner urge is released in most guys. The urge to destroy anything they see as competition. To become the alpha male.
To clear up myths for these alpha males, I'd like to point to a few key points. First, just because you like the girl doesn't mean everyone else does. We are not all conspiring against you. We frankly couldn't care less who you want to go with. We are you support group, not your enemies. Second, there is no need to strike out against your friends in secret. Spreading rumors, the very thing we complain girls do, is not an acceptable manner in dealing with one you call a friend. Have enough respect to meet the offender head on and have it out. Because when your friends find out about your duplicity, it will be repaid to you ten-fold.
So when it comes down to it, friendship is sacrifice. It is ordering the will to place others ahead of yourself. It is laying down your desires to order to make life easier for one of your friends. It is not stabbing a friend in the back over a girl. It is honesty. It is loyalty. It's know knowing that when the chips are down you will always have someone to turn to. Someone who will drop whatever they are doing and come to help you. So when the torturers of life ask you to turn traitor, to turn your back on your friends, think of Kevin Barry. Answer, "No."
-The Last Bastion, signing off
Just before he faced the hangman
In his dreary prison cell
British soldiers tortured Barry
Just because he would not tell
The names of his brave companions
And other things they wished to know
"Turn informer or we'll kill you"
Kevin Barry answered, "No."
Kevin Barry was born in Dublin in 1902. At 15, he joined the Irish Volunteers. By 18, he was hanged by the British. He had a chance to save his life by giving the British information about his comrades in arms. Instead, Barry chose death over dishonor. This steadfast loyalty and unwavering devotion is the benchmark of the true comrade and the true friend. The willingness to sacrifice anything, without a thought, without pause, to aid a friend, to protect them is the measure of friendship.
This, however, is a lost ideal for most. In a society that rewards self-interest and reckless individualism, the tight-knit bonds of friendship weaken and snap under the constant strain of selfish impulses. No longer is sacrifice rewarded, but it is seen as a sign of weakness, a flaw of character. "Friends" are willing to turn on each other over the slightest thing if they see an advantage in it. If by walking over their friends, they can get ahead, they will do it without a thought. They live for themselves, friends of convenience, friends who will be there when it is in their interest and will leave you for the wolves when it isn't.
Now, a special admonishment for the guys. We owe each other better than this false friendship. We owe each other honesty, trust, and a willingness to lay aside personal wants to accommodate another. This sacred bond is tested most when females are added to the equation. "Bros before Hos" and other such slogans convey what should be the message of all guys to their friends. Girls will come and girls will go. When they do, who will you have to fall back to? Who will be there to sympathize, to listen to you rant and rave about how horrible you have been treated, about what a demon you had to put up with? That's right. Your friends. But here's the rub. As soon as a girl enters the equation, some inner urge is released in most guys. The urge to destroy anything they see as competition. To become the alpha male.
To clear up myths for these alpha males, I'd like to point to a few key points. First, just because you like the girl doesn't mean everyone else does. We are not all conspiring against you. We frankly couldn't care less who you want to go with. We are you support group, not your enemies. Second, there is no need to strike out against your friends in secret. Spreading rumors, the very thing we complain girls do, is not an acceptable manner in dealing with one you call a friend. Have enough respect to meet the offender head on and have it out. Because when your friends find out about your duplicity, it will be repaid to you ten-fold.
So when it comes down to it, friendship is sacrifice. It is ordering the will to place others ahead of yourself. It is laying down your desires to order to make life easier for one of your friends. It is not stabbing a friend in the back over a girl. It is honesty. It is loyalty. It's know knowing that when the chips are down you will always have someone to turn to. Someone who will drop whatever they are doing and come to help you. So when the torturers of life ask you to turn traitor, to turn your back on your friends, think of Kevin Barry. Answer, "No."
-The Last Bastion, signing off