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    Promises, Promises

    Filed Under college studies, history, lil things, questions 

    I’m a bit loose with my “promises” I think. And believe me, I’m painfully aware of it.  It’s so easy to say, “I’ll do that,” or “I’ll be there,” and worse, “I’ll call you later,” and then just … not.  Here’s a quote from A Concise History of the Middle East:

    Pre-Islamic poetry embodied the Arab code of virtue, the muruwwah: bravery in battle, patience in misfortune, persistence in revenge (the only justice possible at a time when no governments existed), protection of the weak, defiance toward the strong, hospitality to the visitor (even a total stranger), generosity to the poor, loyalty to the tribe, and fidelity in keeping promises. These were the moral principles that people needed in order to survive in the desert, and the verses helped to fix the muruwwah in their minds.”

    I imagine that back when bartering was more common than currency, keeping one’s promise was crucial. If your neighbor promised you dates or lambs or milk for next month, and didn’t give them to you, you could starve!  If your brother in law promised to journey with you several villages over, and flaked out, you could be susceptible to raiders. Today, the millions of casual broken promises we’re all used to are annoying and can screw us up a bit, but they won’t likely cause death from starvation or lack of protection.

    To give another one’s word - and to keep it, always: has it gone the way of chivalry? To be replaced with what: the art of making excuses?

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