Redstate

By Raven Posted in Culture — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

In my life, I have sworn many oaths. They have all been different oaths. They have all been the same. Their meanings change with my moods, my opinions, my knowledge, my maturity. They have never changed. The words differ with each oath. I have always said the same thing every time. I have sworn these oaths to different people. It has always been the same people demanding these oaths from me.

When I was young, I started with the Cub Scout Promise:
"I, [Raven], Promise
To do my best,
To do my Duty
To God and my Country
To help other people
And to Obey the Law of the Pack."

With a few years behind me, my oath changed to that of the Boy Scouts of America:

"On my honour,
I will do my best
To do my Duty
To God and my Country
And to Obey the Scout Law.
To help other people at all times
To keep myself physically fit
Mentally awake
And Morally straight."

A year or so later, I took my silent Oaths to God at my Confirmation, building on the ones from my Baptism and my First Communion. And there being no formal wording, I put them in the words I knew, fitting the promise to be a good Christian into my Scouting promises.

Then it was my "Oath of Enlistment:"

"I, [Raven], do solemnly swear 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."

Next came my Wedding Vows. ANd, most recently, the "Creed of a Non-Commissioned Officer:"

"No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!"

The vows, oaths, promises, and creeds have all lengthened as time has progressed, as my life ocntinues and I take them and swear them and give my guarantees over and over again. Each time, the meaning to me is different. And each time I look back upon them and see that they have always been the same.

We all take these vows, swear these oaths, make these promises and give these guarantees. All are different. All are the same. And we must all ask ourselves, "Have I kept my promises? Have I lived up to the creeds I have sworn by?"
And we must act on the answers.

My answers are that I have done all that I could do in the given circumstances; but as the circumstances change, as what I am capable of changes, so do the demands of my oaths.

I almost wish I was declaring candidacy for office this afternoon, for this would have been (and will be) the speech with which I did so. That said, this is merely my request to each of you to turn to the nearest mirror, to ask your closest friends and loved ones and, most importantly, YOURSELF: "Have I kept my promises? Have I lived up to the creeds I have sworn by?"

And please, when asking those questions, and when taking your next oath, making your next promise and giving your next guarantee, keep in mind my original tagline here on Redstate:
"Always be honest with yourself. Even if you are honest with no one else."