Let me tell you about one of my favorite scenes in a movie. It's from LOTR, The Fellowship of the Ring. Hopefully you've seen the movie and you'll know what I'm talking about. The scene occurs toward the end of the movie. It takes place when Boromir attacks Frodo and tries to take the ring from him. Frodo, escaping Boromir, runs into Aragorn. After a short exchange, they become aware of an enormous group of approaching orcs. Aragorn tells Frodo to run, unsheaths his sword and turns, alone, to confront the army of approaching orcs. I get chills every time I watch that scene. I can't hear stories of bravery and courage without crying. Anytime I watch a movie that merely portrays such acts, you'll find me in tears. Nothing's ever affected me quite the way that acts of bravery and courage do. Perhaps because I value few things more than character and integrity. I have a whole slew of real life hero stories. I share them with my children, inevitably tearing up as I relate the stories of amazing heroism and selflessness. Throughout time, without fail, when somebody needed to step up to the plate, there was a man there to do it. Men have protected us, fought wars for us, died for us...so that we could be safe or free. Now, I don't want to lend the wrong impression. I don't think it's a man's job to die for the greater good. I don't think men should be sacrificing themselves right, left and center. I just recognize the sacrifices they have made and I place great value upon their acts of bravery. I admire their bravery and strength of character so much that I've always hoped that, should the circumstances arise, I'd find it in myself. I've always held the belief that I'd rather die for something than live for nothing; that I should stand for and fight for what's right, regardless of the consequences. Throughout time, as women, we haven't had to make that choice too often, because when danger did come, there was always a man there to tell US to run while he stepped forward, alone, to face the battle. We owe much to the bravery of men.

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