The Philosipher and the Spartan

I was formally introduced to the word Spartan in 2003 when I went arrived at basic training. Second platoon was the Spartans. We were third platoon, The Death Dealers. I remember thinking to myself that I'm glad we didn't get a stupid name like Spartans. Of course when I arrived at my first duty station I soon realised that our battalion was 1-36IN "SPARTANS". Boy did i feel stupid. Of course at this time I didn't know the difference between this type of warrior or a Trojan or a Roman.....etc.
"300" Came out and everyone wanted to be a spartan. I still wasn't convinced. I held to my conclusion that the Spartan was the dumbest name we could have been called and that was final.
After my time in the Army I attended the police academy and got a job with the city of Red Bluff. I realized that I was riding the thin line between irony and thick headedness when the local high school's mascot was a Spartan. ALRIGHT, you win. I decided to do some research.
Every civilization has flaws. The Spartans, had huge flaws but their greatest attribute was brotherhood. They had pride in the way that they conducted themselves and who they represented. Very few civilizations could lay claim to not having a single civil war, the Spartans were among them. Each spartan man, woman and child knew that they had a duty to perform and they were bound by this in their souls.
The undoing of the Spartans came not at a time of war, but peace. After years of war and then victory, the Spartans decided that they would become conquerors. Not enslaving the kingdoms around them, but declaring that they would follow Spartan tradition. But without a war to fight the Spartans became overbearing and tyrannical. Often forcing people to submit to their way of living. The Spartans cold not adjust to a time of peace. The neighboring kingdoms rose up against the Spartans, drove them back to their home city and surrounded them. The Spartans, land locked, were defeated and left to be only a shadow of their former glory.
The philosopher is hardly man who needs to be explained. Typical when I think of a philosophical man I think of a man who seeks enlightenment. Who uses logic and clear thinking to solve problems and help their fellow man. Although I can tell you right now that WWII was not won by these men. Point of fact is that there is a necessity for both of these types of people.
I look at our society today and I don't see Spartans, but I also don't see philosophers. I see a lost people who don't know what their duty is in this life.
What can we take from this lesson? Well if i had to pick and choose the best lessons from both parties I would choose the loyalty, duty, fearlessness, determination and a never say die attitude of the spartan. I would then turn around and educate myself. I would take time to talk with different people. I would teach my son the importance of life and not death and when faced with a problem I would seek a peaceful way first, exhaust my choices and then fight only when necessary.
I believe that we use labels for ourselves too often, Liberal, Democrat, Republican, Conservative Independent, etc. But I believe that we need a balance of all these things. Its my hope that in the future there will be no lines separating us, but rather a universal goal to improve our lives and stay loyal to the standards we set.
As for me, I'm just Loren, picking and choosing the best and the worst of the lessons I learn.