Do Knights Still Exist?

Or.. have most modern men become pussies?

Through recorded history there have been brave men that stood up in a dangerous moment to decent the innocent. With the amount of online video content being uploaded in this day and age, you would think there would be more video of brave people fighting for the innocent.

Sure, there are soldiers fighting over seas still, but it's not the same as having strong men deputized and oath bound to protect the folks at home. The sheriff and police departments don't count in this category, primarily because of their profit driven motives. A knight doesn't pull over some guy on his way to work, because he's late and doing 5 miles over the limit, then give him a ticket for $150. A real knight stops a crazy person from harming innocent people in a public setting. A real knight stops a mugger or a thief in the act.

Was there a good example in recent memory?

I would love to hear stories of these brave men, and it would be great to have modern examples of heroic acts to reference when writing.

Leave a comment if you have an example of someone that you believe qualifies.

What Makes A Knight?

There isn't one thing in particular that does it, instead there are several qualities that when combined together they make a man a knight. First and foremost they have the instinct and the will to protect the innocent. This doesn't just mean beating up bullies, or fighting for the underdog. It means exactly what it says, to protect the innocent, and it doesn't matter who or what you have to protect them from. Call it courage, bravery, or a combination of the two. The rest of the knightly virtues can come in a variety of orders, and include having things like Honor, and Industriousness, and doing other things like speaking the Truth, even when it may be an unpopular or a consequential truth.

You know what, there is already a list of the fine qualities that has been used for decades. The principals from which they originate come solely from the words of Odin, less commonly known as Havamal. They are the oldest intact chapter from the Prose Edda, and an earlier manuscript known as Codex Regius.

If you truly want to know what a knight is, well they are a rare breed. They put their family, their community, and the keeping of their ancestral traditions above themselves. They possess a demeanor and an aura that most people would call ancient, and beyond their years in wisdom and experience. It describes the man that we should all strive to be.

So, that leads me to one final question.

What are you going to do the next time you see yourself in a situation where you have to make a hard split second decision, to either protect an innocent person, or speak a hard truth?

Will you do it?

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