Steven Den Beste posts about heroism. Why do heroes do what they do? Steven concludes (I am radically paring down his words) that it is because of esprit de corps. In other words – it is our tribal instinct.
It is not uncommon for people to look back at their time as a soldier and report that “it's the only time I ever felt alive”. Part of the reason is surely that it is a peak experience. But part is that it is an intensely tribal experience.
I have spoken a lot about tribes without defining them – I will now attempt to do so. A tribe is a voluntary social unit in which its members have (to some degree) an altruistic relationship with each other. It is the state of being which is most natural for humans – the state in which human beings feel most alive.
I followed Steven’s link to Bunker Mulligan, where one post down I found the following quote:
People in this country share something with me that those in other countries don't. People who want to denigrate that opinion need only ask themselves (honestly) whom do they cheer for in Olympic events.
It is a sign that there is something healthy about American society: to some extent people feel they are part of a tribe.
Posted by David Boxenhorn at May 30, 2004 12:59 AM