Part VII:
Defense
Document 20
| From Utopia: "Of course, both sexes are given military training at regular intervals, so that they won't be incapable of fighting if they ever have to do it. . . ..The Utopian [military] contingent is made up of volunteers from every town" (More 109, 114). |
Document 21
| Regarding attacks against Renaissance Florence, written in 1403-4: "So the Florentines were ready to do anything if they felt it would vouchsafe for them the good reputation that had been handed down to them by their ancestors. It was with these things in mind that the Florentine people set out for war in great and high spirits. So this people (sic) thought that it would live with great glory or perish fighting valiantly for its principles. Moreover, the Florentines believed that the position inherited from their ancestors had to be protected, so that they could never place concern for their wealth before their own self-esteem. Indeed, they were prepared to lose money and life itself to maintain their freedom, considering their situation both realistically and courageously (Bruni 167). |
Questions to discuss:
- Should each citizen be given military training? Why or why not?
- What factors in America today complicate the simple virtues of document 21?
- Have we in America inherited a "position from [our] ancestors" that needs to be protected? If so, what is it?
- Is the average person in America "prepared to lose money and life itself to maintain [his/her] freedom?
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