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What is brave?

In these days of global violence by terrorists, the word 'brave' is often used, and in my opinion mis-used.

Some have called the hijackers of September 11th 'brave', and I wonder if the speaker understands the word.

Certainly those terrorists were 'committed', 'dedicated' and 'loyal to their cause'.

But how brave is it to do what they did? What did they face? They knew as they went through airport security that their weapons would un-matched, because security would do their job. Think about it, they had success virtually guaranteed to them, they took little risk of failure, because they KNEW that their box-cutters would be the most powerful weapons on the plane.

They knew that there would be no one prepared to challenge them either physically or emotionally.

Their mission was so easy and simple, that they made the mistake of letting Americans communicate with each other.

That wasn't 'brave' either, it was overconfidence, based on an estimate of what Americans are.

Flight 93's passengers were not only brave (they faced armed men who had shown their eagerness to use violence) but they were informed.

Informed, free people are easy to underestimate. Especially if they understand bravery.

The terrorists were called 'brave' because they faced death. Well, all of us will die sooner or later, so 'facing death' is over-glorified. Let's compare these 'cowardly bullies' to 'brave soldiers' of earlier times and other cultures.

My challenge here is that there are so many examples of bravery, from every culture in the world, that I will not be able to list them all, nor give everyone credit for the brave acts of their fellow countrymen and women, of their blood-ancestors.

Japanese Kamikaze pilots had a similiar goal, but instead of facing unarmed civilians and helpless victims,  they had to face the most powerful Navy in the world. They had no one to disarm the American Fleet, or to keep warriors away from their path. They were 'committed', 'dedicated' and 'loyal to their cause', and they also faced a very small chance of success, a very large chance of failure. They were 'brave' and 'courageous'.

What about the Americans at Bastogne in 1944? They faced a superior armed force, almost certain defeat, and stood tall. I would guess that if you asked them if the 'Bullies of September' were brave, the answer would be 'nuts'.

Let's see where else we can find bravery. What about the actions of both sides in the trench warfare of World War One? Many faced tremendous peril, overwhelming casualty rates, and stayed and held their positions.

Anyone remember the "Charge of the Light Brigade"? Those were some of England's finest. They did not face helpless, unarmed airline passengers. They faced battle-hardened troops of tremendous commitment.

The Battle of Britain, fought in the skies was filled with brave and heroic deeds on both sides on a daily basis. The day-time bombing of Germany months later was no less heroic. The bravery of the young Japanese airmen in the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" was yet another example of bravery and heroism in the skies.

Ancient Samurai were known for the commitment to honor and courage. I don't believe anyone needs convincing that these were men of bravery. In fact, if I Samurai had killed (intentionally or not) an unarmed person, they were disgraced, and were not allowed to live in honor anymore.

Amazing how much honor is not bestowed by some on those Bullies of September for killing thousands of unarmed people!

Facing unarmed people, who can not respond to your violence, which virtually guarantees the success of your violent tactics, is the behavior of a "Cowardly Bully". This is true on any playground in the world, on any street corner, and in the world at large. At least by American standards, and even most of the civilized world.

Bravery is found elsewhere, as inside the World Trade Center that day, as 'brave' fire-fighters fought against steel, time and fire to save people from violence. They had no guarantee of success, they had 'Courage'.

There was bravery on Flight 93, as the passengers took control and made the first step towards the abolishment of these "Bullies of September".

Let's remember what bravery really is, and what cowardice really is.

To kill unarmed, innocent people, for whatever reason, is not bravery, it is MURDER!

Cowards commit murder, brave men and women face other brave men and women, as soldiers!