There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish… it was so fragile. And I fear that it will not survive the winter. — Gladiator

Fox News recently did a poll, which asked registered voters what they considered patriotic behavior.  Whether such things as flying the flag, voting, serving on a jury, and carrying a gun were patriotic acts was asked.

To me, patriotism is manifested in actions, but they themselves are not patriotism.

Patriotism is the belief that our country is worth supporting and defending.  It’s rather simple, isn’t it?  If our nation is worth the effort, then any action that works toward that goal is patriotic.  Yes, putting the flag up or being an informed voter is patriotic, but so is disagreeing and protesting.  As Mark Twain said, loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it.

Patriotism goes beyond the political, though.  We support and defend our country when we show kindness to our fellow citizens, especially to those with whom we disagree.  We show patriotism when we speak up for the rights of our opposition.  Patriotism is manifest when we respect each other as much as when we wave Old Glory.

Patriotism is more than the vote or the flag.  It is more than the speeches, the parades, and the uniform.  It is the belief that all of us, no matter our race, or creed, or beliefs, are part of our nation, and deserve to be defended and honored.

I wish all of you a good Independence Day, and ask that you remember that our nation, no matter how flawed, is worth supporting and defending.

A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it’s the only weapon we have. — Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Laughter is a catharsis.  When I’m feeling my lowest, a good dose of sick, dark, angry humor always seems to bring me around.  Carlin, Wilson, and Black work the best.  Anything inappropriate that makes me chortle works.  I know I’m really in a hole when all I want to do is watch stand-up on the TV and listen to it in the car.

When you don’t let yourself laugh, you cut yourself off from what shred of humanity you have left.  I used to say that when people stop complaining, they stop caring.  But when they stop laughing, they stop wanting to go on.

You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back. — Gattaca

One of the proudest moments of my life was when I graduated from language school in Monterey.  Yeah, it’s not the Special Forces Q Course or Ranger School, but I worked my butt off to get that diploma.

But it almost didn’t happen.

About six weeks into the course, I found something better to do.  OK, I found myself with a girlfriend, and watching the moon rise at Lover’s Point was a heck of a lot more fun than sitting in my room and practicing conjugation.

Six weeks after that, I failed a big test.  That earned me a very quick, very frank conversation with the head instructor.  Either pull my head out of my butt and get back to work, or look forward to a different career field.  Getting let go from the school for lack of effort was a guarantee that I wouldn’t be given a second chance or be sent to one of the non-linguist careers in Intelligence.

So I knuckled down.  I was up early to study, exercised while listening to tapes, and probably drove my roommates crazy by staying up until all hours of the night to practice vocabulary.

But it worked.

I aced every test after that.  I still had a great time during the weekends and such, but Sunday nights always found me at my desk with headphones on and a book in front of me.

If you’re not willing to give maximum effort to something, you’re not willing to succeed.  I’m not saying you have to be obsessive about it, but you do have to do more than show up and waste oxygen.

The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.— Lawrence of Arabia

When you want something, you have to be willing to do what it takes to get it, even lose something else.  Right now, Boo requires a school that’s uniquely suited to his needs.  It’s not a permanent thing, but it’s necessary now.  In order to give that to him, Irish Woman, the other children, and I have given up a lot of the luxuries that we would normally enjoy.  I’ve never heard anyone complain about it.  His mother and I would gladly do anything for him, and the other kids recognize that a lot of people have done without for them, and they do it now for Boo.

I guess my point is that when something is worth the sacrifice, be it of money, or time, or sleep, then you don’t notice the cost as much.

Time’s up. Had your chance. Muffed it. Good morning. — Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

When something important needs doing, do it.  Hemming, hawing, and toeing patterns in the dirt only wastes time, and the opportunity may never come again.  Don’t rush, but don’t dawdle either.

Well, it’s a matter of life after death. Now that he’s dead, I have a life.  — Clue

It is absolutely amazing how free I feel when some people become a former part of my life.  Sometimes it’s being able to enjoy small things without harassment.  Sometimes it’s being able to breathe deep and feel free.  Either way, I’m always amazed at how long it took me to get rid of them.

Mozart: Why must I submit samples of my work to some stupid committee just to teach a thirteen-year-old girl?
Count Von Strack: Because His Majesty wishes it.
Mozart: Is the emperor angry with me?
Count Von Strack: Quite the contrary.
Mozart: Then why doesn’t he simply appoint me to the post?
Count Von Strack: Mozart, you are not the *only* composer in Vienna.
Mozart: No. But I’m the best!

— Amadeus

There are a lot of starving geniuses in the world.  Talent alone isn’t going to put food in your belly and a roof over your children’s heads.  Being the best at what you do isn’t enough.  If you want to exchange your talent for the means to provide for you and yours, you have to sweeten the deal with hard work.  I would rather hire a hard working person who is merely competent than a genius that doesn’t show up or deliver.

When was the last time you felt good about anything? — Saving Private Ryan

Listen to the voice that’s telling you that something’s wrong.  Pay attention to the hair on the back of your neck going up.  Control your flight or flight instinct, but don’t deny that it’s there.  It should get you to pay attention to what’s going on, and it may keep you out of problems.

Mr. Salt: Ladies first, and that means Veruca.
Grandpa Joe: [to Charlie] If she’s a lady, I’m a Vermicious Knid.

— Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

If you want to be treated like a lady, act like one.  I’m not saying you should act like a shrinking violet. A woman can be a beer drinking hell raiser, and still deserve to be treated like a lady.  What makes a lady is what makes a gentleman: honor.  A lady doesn’t lie, steal, or cheat, nor does she tolerate those who do.  She stands up for those who cannot, defends that which is right, and never turns away from a challenge.

The world can be a cruel place to an honest man, Frank. — In The Line Of Fire

Today, I decided that it was better to keep my mouth shut and do my job instead of saying exactly what I thought and being dragged into someone else’s drama.  I always try to be honest, but discretion is the better part of valor, and it keeps you from being the messenger with the hole in his forehead.