Warrior Defined

I have a thing for words and their different uses. Obviously, stringing them together is a passion of mine but words on their own--just one word--are pretty awesome, too. You can create whole worlds with sentences, but uttering one word can create just as much. They have just as much mystery and power. The most fascinating thing for me with words is that one syllable can mean different things to everyone. Every word has different connotations across the world or even to people living next door to each other--it's the whole nature versus nurture thing but with verbiage. Once uttered, a picture is created in the hearers mind and they associate that word with that picture--like the flashcards our parents used to jump-start our educations. No flowery descriptions are needed, the word can simply emote the emotion or thing wanted by the sayer.

The most powerful words emote the strongest description worldwide.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the word "warrior". A pretty short and regular looking word, but it seems to be thrown at many these days. It is definitely one of those power words I am referring to. So I decided to do a little research in regards to this seemingly "normal" word.

Looking to my handy dictionary, I find the word "warrior" comes from the Old Northern French werreieor, from werre war.Very french sounding--even if the French aren't what I would consider "warriors". I found one simple definition

warrior: A person who engages in or promotes war.

Then looking to my trusty thesaurus, I found the following synonyms:

           warrior: champion, combatant, fighter, fighting man, gladiator, man-at-war, soldier.

Both are pretty straightforward definitions. It doesn't go into detail about bravery or fortitude, so much is left to ones own perception. In this way, all nations and societies can have their own distinction on what qualifies a warrior. So, who is to say that little boys playing in the streets, pretending sticks are swords, aren't warriors in their own way?

Turning back to my available resources (this time being the internet), I decided to Google "warrior" and see what happened to pop up. Here is what I found;

Martial arts or a samurai are pretty synonymous with warrior-like behaviors. I think the Japanese actually wrote the book on warriors and warrior-like behavior. It was actually a disgrace for samurai's to be taken captive in battle--most would commit suicide with their own swords, rather then be taken alive.

If you don't know, this is Xena: Warrior Princess starring Lucy Lawless. A show on the WB network (now the CW for you youngens) in the early/late 90's. She was the female version of Hercules (another show on the now de-funk WB network starring Kevin Sorbo). She was pretty badass and I'll admit I did actually watch this show. By the way, does anyone know what ever happened to Lucy Lawless?

Obviously, this needs no explanation.

I've never actually seen this movie, but this is a picture from Mad Max: Road Warrior starring the oh so charming and young Mel Gibson. This is pre-drunken, antisemitic, wife beating rant days. And he was pretty damn gorgeous here too.

Native Americans are warriors by nature and this quote from Sitting Bull--arguably the most famous Native American--pretty much sums up the mantra of a warrior. There is an aspect of humility to warrior-ship. It's not all sword-yielding and gun-slinging.

So the fruits of my research have given me much food for thought. Warriors are brave to a fault, not afraid of death, self-sacrificing, humble, work hard, and never give up even when all seems lost.

With all this in mind, there is one person in my life who is synonymous with a warrior; my aunt, Ann Ford.

She is not your typical warrior.She has not been to different countries, killed a man with her bare hands, wielded a weapon of mighty power, defended her people against aggression or invaders with no hope of survival.

But in the same sense, she is a "champion", "combatant", " fighter", "gladiator" and a "(wo)man at arms." She has the bravery and fortitude of most grown men. Has faced adversity and sadness with a calm and level head. For 5 years, she has fought the fight of her life, not for herself but for her family, friends and all those who love and care about her. She has defeated every opponent that has crossed her path, and has learned a lesson from each. She fought to victory with a smile on her face--an epic battle that most men who runaway, screaming with their tail between their legs--and always cared about others before herself. But through all of this, she knows in her hearts of hearts that her fight is not over--it has merely just begun. Her enemy will rear its ugly head again and again. It is only a matter of time, as her opponent is a relentless beast who cannot be contained. Knowing this, she lives each day as her last, but will never give up her fight to survive.

Most warriors wear coats of arm, medals or show some sort of distinction on their person, so all those around them know that they are "true warriors". My aunt does not ask for notoriety or fame. She is too humble to admit what she has been through. But she proudly displays her "ribbons of honor" in her heart to announce to all she knows

 that she has fought and come out a survivor.