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I am not a religious woman; I have never pretended to be one. But today has me thinking of Psalm 89:34.
I have sworn oaths. And no matter how I feel or what I wish to say, I cannot violate them.
One that rings in my mind today is swearing to support and defend the Constitution
I have sworn oaths. And no matter how I feel or what I wish to say, I cannot violate them.
One that rings in my mind today is swearing to support and defend the Constitution
This summer, I had the distinct honor of giving the Oath of Office to a new officer. The oath of office is short, remarkably so, given the gravity of the occasion. A freshly minted officer swears an oath to the Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution.
The Constitution.
And this oath has changed over the years. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress established an oath for enlisted men to serve for a year and follow the rules of that Army.
But it was different for Officers...
But it was different for Officers...
Officers swore an oath to all 13 colonies "to be free, independent, and sovereign states, and declare, that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the third, king of Great Britain"...
They didn't hold their punches either, they swore off King George and ANY successor. No alligance. No obedience. Because *United* States were more important.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Uniformed_Services_Oath_of_Office#History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Uniformed_Services_Oath_of_Office#History
After the war, it was altered to swear an allegiance to the new Consitution of those United States and remained largely unchanged until 1830. One more change in 1959 brought it to its current form, still largely unaltered from its original intent.
https://history.army.mil/html/faq/oaths.html#:~:text=%22I%2C%20_____%2C%20do%20solemnly,orders%20of%20the%20officers%20appointed
https://history.army.mil/html/faq/oaths.html#:~:text=%22I%2C%20_____%2C%20do%20solemnly,orders%20of%20the%20officers%20appointed
Military members strive to hold an oath to a higher ideal. Not to an elected or appointed political person, but to an idea. The notion that a scrappy group of Colonies could be a Nation. A nation worth supporting and defending.
So, this is as political as I'll get...
So, this is as political as I'll get...
I swore to defend the Constitution and an idea, an experiment in Democracy. And regardless of my political leanings, I support the processes by which that political experiment occurs.
And I'm damn mad when someone screws with it.
And I'm damn mad when someone screws with it.
Apparently, the first tweet went out and the next several did not, leaving you hanging while I ate dinner.
Lemme "say it with/from my F*ing chest" (as the kids say) support the Constitutional process yall!
Lemme "say it with/from my F*ing chest" (as the kids say) support the Constitutional process yall!
