Semper FiThe emotions ran high during the oath as I reflected on what I was saying, I was dedicating my self to the defense of the constitution which is what I saw as the very thing that allowed us the liberty we enjoy over other nations. I remember the hair standing at "attention" on the back of my neck! This emotion comes back to me every time I think of it, even today.
I was distressed recently to hear from a young soldier upon returning home from basic training in the Army on his way to Iraq. He told me of the oath he took. He swore to defend America from all enemies foreign and domestic. I have not been able to confirm that the oath has been changed or if he just didn't understand the oath he took. Either way, this is a terrible thing.
He went on to tell me of the time spent in training going over the "rules of engagement" with the Iraqi people. He said they spent even more time going over the rules of engagement with the American people. Where are we going!!!
Young men and women today do not appear to be the thinkers that their parents and grandparents were, nor do they have the spine to stand up to their leaders and say "that would violate my oath of service."
I have very little use for anyone (military, police or politician) who would take an oath and turn around and violate the oath due to ignorance.
This is a great site, and one that is badly needed. Education is the key to liberty, and if that fails a good rifle!
Bob Sutherland
USMC
USAF
Posts
5 comments:
The story you tell of the young soldier is distressing. But I know we can teach them. It's not too late.
As Jack McLamb said on his radio show the other day we should all print up copies of the oath keeper declaration of orders they will not follow and hand them out to service members wherever they are, on the way in and out of bases, wherever.
And he said to leave a copy under the windsheald wipers of empty police cars, so officers can get a copy without you scaring them. It's a shame they would be afraid of just a citizen walking up to them, but i understand, that's the world we live in.
But we can reach them. post flyers on telephone poles and street signs, hand them out door to door where there are high numbers of military, whatever we can.
We can do it. Yes we can!
And thank you for your service Marine. We are with you.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
I just copied this from a site called "Joining the United States Military". Swearing to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me? Wait a minute here.....Will someone please comment on this?
Lawful orders, not unlawful orders. Every military member knows, or should know, that they have an obligation and a duty to refuse to follow unlawful orders, no matter who issues that order - even the commander in chief.
That is why the "I was just following orders" defense does not work - that did not work for the Nazis tried for war crimes at Nuremberg, and it has not worked for military personnel in the U.S. military either who had followed orders and committed war crimes.
Yes, there is a presumption that orders are lawful, and thus the service member is in a bit of a catch 22, but if they think the order is in fact unlawful, they are obligated to refuse to obey, and if they don't refuse, and go ahead and follow an unlawful order, they can and will be prosecuted for doing so.
It should be obvious that since the Constitution is the highest law of the land, an order that violates it is unlawful, just as a law that violates the Constitution is null and void, and is not law, and no one has an obligation to obey such a law. Same goes for an unlawful order contrary to the Constitution.
Thank you for your answer to what is deeply disturbing to me about this oath. However, the way that it is written, there is no distinction made between lawful and unlawful. I can't help feeling this omitted distinction is not there by happenstance. Knowing, full well, how very uneducated our children are concerning the Constitution by in large, the literal text and verbiage of this oath is disconcerting. Is this oath in its original form, or has it been modified in any way? Thank you!
On 16 March at 11:37 AM
Anonymous said ...
Thank you for your answer to what is deeply disturbing to me about this oath. However, the way that it is written, there is no distinction made between lawful and unlawful. I can't help feeling this omitted distinction is not there by happenstance. Knowing, full well, how very uneducated our children are concerning the Constitution by in large, the literal text and verbiage of this oath is disconcerting. Is this oath in its original form, or has it been modified in any way? Thank you!
Sorry it is taking so long to get time to get back and answer your question.
This is not the original form BUT if what you are asking is has it been modified recently ....no not since the 1960's.
(Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962)
{ http://www.history.army.mil/faq/oaths.htm }
Notice the second to last statement:
according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Literally it means that the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Regulations of the particular Service are Second to the Constitution BUT, and this is unwritten, it is still the individuals responsibility to Not follow an unconstitutional order.
The Public School system has effectively dumbed our children down so well for so long that we now have adults with no idea of their history or heritage.
The Oath is written in 11th grade level American English.
That we have to have it explained to us is a sad commentary on the state of our school system. It is called the Prussian Model and is intended to create average intelligence unquestioning workers that will follow orders without thinking. First started in this country back around the turn of the century. [19th] So we have had over 100 years of our schools making us all dumber and dumber. And no I don't mean the movie sadly.
But we do have a huge number of basically "average" people who only want their TV and parties and could care less about government or Liberty. The Prussian model works only too well.
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