Honor System, My Final Offer

No. 4 of 31 -- Thermometer series

I’m having a hard time starting this post, my eyes are transfixed by the beautiful shield of the Honor System. First, because who even knew the Honor System had a shield? It came as a surprise to me when I first saw it years ago. And I never knew who came up with it. Whoever it was, thumbs up. Because that’s the system I operate by.

I hear lots of guys of apparent honor say their word is their bond, but do you ever see them hold up the shield? I’ve never seen that, never. Not that I think it’s absolutely necessary. I’ve known lots of people of honor who maybe didn’t know about the shield. And so were content to grind it under foot in the dust, unknowing, uncaring. But they were still true to their word, with all the honor you’d want.

That’s the way I function, too. Like in the movies: “Sheeeelds? We don’t need no steeeenking sheeeeelds!” It’s true, and the same thing goes for flags. All a flag's is is shorthand for "That represents us." You can be a skunk and fly the flag. But have you ever heard of taking a knee before the Honor Shield? Hasn't been done. Why? Because people know in their marrow, their core, the Honor Shield is a holy, sacred thing that would immediately explode in your face if you dared try. Properly rigged. Whereas a weak flag lies there like a dishtowel, disgusting.

This I vow to thee, Honor System: I plight my best troth, my very best. With Vigor Vivus as the spiritual principle of the good things of a life well-lived, vigor in all you honor and offer. And Vivus also means something.

I’m such a serious person on these high flown values, I remind me of my dad. He went out addressing clubs and places, like the Valor in Excelsis Club. Maybe someday I can do that. I could put my good values out there against anyone's, run 'em up the Honor System pole and see who salutes. Of course it’s easier to keep to myself and never venture out. I could be lazy. I also don’t like listening to opinions I disagree with, but I'll stand up for my right to walk away and let someone else endure them.

We’re still near the beginning of this great push, calling attention to my blog and hoping to get more readers, readers who will engage me and others, who will debate the great matters discussed here. Then gladly adhere to my opinions and proudly march forth in absolute lockstep. The only debate I would allow is: Should we dispense with the Latin phrase "Vigor Vivus" and use a contemporary equivalent? I like the pageantry and zip of the Latin, but I suppose "Strong Persistent Enduring Spirit for Living and Life" would be just as catchy.

I have a particular personal cudgel that I want to be pushing at some point. Do you read world blogs? I do keep up with around 1,000 blogs. It is, in fact, so many that I have no attention to give to very many of them. So I couldn’t tell you ABC about very many. But there’s a few I have my eye on, the ones written by Pastun tribes and Iraqi herdsmen. Of course they have dominance in their part of the world, and they do a great work for their audience. I laud them in every way. But I'm extremely jealous of their influence and I want that same influence here.

Ask yourself, Is it really right that I should suffer in silence, when I just got done proclaiming my love for the Shield of the Honor System? On my honor, folks, the present situation cannot stand. Hence, this thermometer system. I need more, more, more -- more continents, more countries, planets, more and deeper influence on the state of world discourse. And for that, I’m asking you, please do your part, again, on your honor to make it happen.

Are we Number One? Let’s shout it: “We’re number one! We’re number one! We’re number one!”

A Perfect Fit For Industries

I called for a coming together, a joining of hearts and minds, the best minds of the neighborhoods. My purpose, to see if we could work together and make everything fit in the output of the residential industries.

If things don't fit together, that's no good. It'd be OK for artwork, nailing, bolting, gluing, hooking any assortment of random parts together, everything dangling there, preferably moving slowly in the wind. But for something with an end in the consumer market, small scale or large scale, it has to be appropriate for the consumer's use, fitting in the hand if that's its purpose or meshing in harmony with other parts and components if it's part of a larger whole.

The call went out, first for everyone's feelings on the subject, that when the conclave commenced we would be that much farther ahead. I also asked, based on the honor system, for delegates to be selected among the various neighborhoods and industrial divisions.

We chose my own half acre for the gathering, securing the services of a residential tent-maker to pitch us one of his finest products wherein we would proceed. He knew a guy a few blocks up who makes chairs, and he was happy to put his products on display by allowing the gathering to sit on them, beaming with pride. Anything else we needed for this affair we either secured from various residential sources or found in the garage or basement.

Then we depended on our own pooled intelligence, going by the principle that if you have a large enough group someone there is going to know it. It works with trivia, usually, so it also works with other things. The finest minds of our neighborhoods -- working in common cause -- rose to the occasion.

A lot of it was a matter of dividing up the industries in their groups, then keeping those who may span different industries toward the edges. At some point we lost our individuality and became more like a gigantic single organism with a brain that functioned in a top notch capacity at the highest speed and efficiency for computing, calculating, and problem solving. It was amazing, we thought alike. We got thirsty at the same time and had to answer nature's call en masse.

I gaveled the meeting to order. That was the easy part. Every eye was on me. I eyed my notes tentatively. Then I set them aside and spoke from the heart. Acclaim was received, with applause. The general session got underway. Then the divisions were made. Business followed. Decisions were made. A spirit of friendship and mutuality prevailed. With a long day together, everything was settled.

From this point on, the residential industrial movement will have no trouble putting out products that the public will be happy to buy and use.

With that, I asked for a motion to adjourn. Everyone was eager to get going, to return to their homes and factories to bring forth their products in the days lingering ahead. Now we would have the utmost confidence that things were being made that were entirely good. Cars would look good. Hospital beds would roll down the hallway smoothly. Disposable diapers would not sag even when full.

Every eye was on me for what I was called by acclaim to do, gavel the session closed and bid everyone safe travels and good fortune for the future.