Last weekend, the world learned that the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear sites that were involved in upgrading uranium to possibly make a nuclear bomb. For most of my life, the United States and Iran have been in conflict. When I was in engineering school, there were Iranian engineering students who did not want to return to Iran because Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1919–1980) was in power. The Shah fled Iran in 1979, went to the United States for cancer treatment, and died in Egypt the following year. During my senior year, the US embassy in Tehran was taken over by Iranian demonstrators and US embassy staff were held hostage until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in 1981.
Since the Shah’s departure, Iran has been governed by conservative Islamic Shi’a Imans who have bolstered Iran’s military capabilities and opposed western democratic countries, Sunni Islamic countries, and the Jewish state of Israel. Iran’s primary source of revenue is from their prolific oil sales. Russia supports Iran with military arms and intelligence. Normal diplomatic communications ceased with the US after the US embassy staff were taken hostage, but governmental communications still take place through other channels.
Towards the end of President Obama’s second term, a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known at the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed to control and monitor the Iranian uranium enrichment program, in exchange for US financial incentives. President Trump withdrew from this agreement in 2018. Over the past seven years, Iran has exceeded the previously agreed maximum enrichment limits, thus setting up the current confrontation.
As I ponder the recent military operations, I am reminded of a poem, Character of the Happy Warrior, composed in 1806 by William Wordsworth (1770–1850) after the death of Lord Admiral Nelson (1758–1805) who was killed during the naval Battle of Trafalgar. The term “happy warrior” has since been used to describe people who project both friendliness and toughness in their personality. President Reagan urged conservatives to be happy warriors, full of “good cheer and stout hearts” in a 1985 speech. President Obama referred to his Vice-President Joe Biden as “America’s Happy Warrior.” Recently, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz inherited the label from his fellow Minnesotan, former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey.
What is a happy warrior? One must return to the original Wordsworth poem to understand the character traits. Wordsworth began his poem by giving a high-level answer to this question: “Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he That every man in arms should wish to be? — It is the generous Spirit … Whose high endeavors are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright.” We can all picture individuals who display joy even when performing drab duties or difficult tasks.
A happy warrior is “diligent to learn … But makes his moral being his prime care.” He is “Skillful in self-knowledge” and knows his true purpose yet is “alive to tenderness.” A happy warrior uses his reason and virtue for “labours good on good to fix.” He stands for honor or quits. He “does not stoop, nor lie in wait For wealth, or honours, or for worldly state.” He has “a peculiar grace,” but when called upon, “Is happy as a Lover.” In the face of great strife, he keeps the law and is equal to any great task. A happy warrior desires “homefelt pleasures” and “gentle scenes.” Above all, “he hath much to love.” He keeps looking forward and strives daily for better.
At the end of the happy warrior’s earthly life, he does not seek fame nor praise for his deeds. He is confident of “Heaven’s applause.” Wordsworth then ends his poem: “This is the happy Warrior; this is he That every man in arms should wish to be.” Wordsworth poem is a song of praise for the happy warrior’s character. Christians praise Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and reject violence. But there is evil in the world that does not subscribe to peace. The Kingdom is not here now. The world still needs happy warriors.
Wordsworth’s poem contains many Christian characteristics: humility, sacrifice, suffering, moral purpose, virtues, self-awareness, good labor, honesty, love, grace, simplicity, and seeking God’s approval over public adulations. Whether in the military, at work, or at home, we should all strive to be happy warriors. Exhibit joy during good and bad times. Grant grace and give the benefit of doubt when slighted. Seek “Heaven’s applause” over human praise. Work in honorable positions or quit before compromising your values. Love your neighbors and be of “generous Spirit.” The world needs happy warriors during these challenging times.
