Value of Friendship

Friendship seems too to hold states together, and lawgivers to care more for it than for justice, for unanimity seems to be something like friendship, and this they aim at most of all, and expel faction as their worst enemy, and when men are friends they have no need of justice, while when they are just they need friendship as well, and the truest form of justice is thought to be a friendly quality

--Aristotle, Nichomachean, 1155a22-28

Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It’s almost the equal of family. Never forget that. If you had built up a wall of friendships you wouldn’t have to ask me to help. ( Don Corleone speaking to his godson Johnny)

--Mario Puzo, The Godfather

Last month, I promised a friend of mine that I would write a paper about friendship, showing thus my gratitude to him. Although I promised him, I did not have any idea about the topic until recently I have read an article Friendship and Political Philosophy of Professor James Schall, and The Godfather of Mario Puzo. These readings gave words to my feelings, the feelings the friends only can experience. let me give what I think about friendship.

What is friendship? I can say, in a few words, that it is the kind of love that make men reliable in a way that they cannot harm each other. Professor Robert Dahl said that liberal democracies allies do not fight wars together thanks to their friendships. The reason of economic calculation that some commentators claim is not sufficient. Only the quality of the friendship that implies negotiation, compromise, can explain this fact. And I agree with him. Because, when we are friends there is no need to harm, for friendship supposes compromise, agreement, unanimity in all the differences.
Friendship is really a kind of natural accountability that seemingly expresses true love.

Now it’s my conviction that what needs to be primarily promoted for the aim of peace in world is friendship between different people, between cultures in the world. Aristotle said it is what seems to hold states together. Thus, to create a better world where peace and love prevail, friendship between people, between wife and husband (to stop divorce), between Palestinian and Israelite, between American and Iraqi, is necessary

So, become friends!!!!!!!!

Friendship, Peace and Love to everybody

PS:
This post is dedicated to Martin Van Dam, my big brother and my friend for ever.

It’s also dedicated to Suzie Palmer

Martin, thank you for your help, advises and all the good time we spent together

Suzie, thank you for the nice picture! That demonstrates real friendship