Killing with Honor

by talkbackty on Apr 12, 2012

Part 11 of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. To see all entries, click here.

As has been the case throughout history, artists are the first to point out the problems of society through their work. Only after decades can historians speak on a topic with the same level of tenacity as the artist.


HBO recently began airing the second season of Game of Thrones. This clip is from the pilot. Ned Stark is lord of the city of Winterfell, he is surrounded by his men and sons as a military deserter speaks his final words. 


 For some reason very few people, and no world leaders that I am aware of, believe what Ned Stark believes. As he'd later say, "If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you can not do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die. A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is."


I don't know what it says about our society that so few people speak of honor. I just know that artists keep trying to, which means the rest of us must be in short supply.