blarby
Member
Given its provenance,
Is is disrespectful to use, or repeat, the riflemans' creed if you are not a Marine ?
Is is disrespectful to use, or repeat, the riflemans' creed if you are not a Marine ?
Perhaps the easiest route would be to formulate your own. Marines have a specific outlook that is ... well, that is the Marines.Given its provenance,
Is is disrespectful to use, or repeat, the riflemans' creed if you are not a Marine ?
First, let's look at what a "creed" is. It is a system of belief or unifying dogma.
Secondly, do you agree or accept this creed as a personal conviction?
If so, fine. If not, it's as meaningless to you as is the Nicene Creed to a Buddhist.
Now for me, I was Navy, but worked closely with a lot more marines than sailors. I never heard the Riflemans Creed. Ever. Except for that one time we all watched Full Metal Jacket in the day room. I'm not sure they're attached enough to it to be offended if someone appropriated it. Unless, of course, that someone was trying to pass as a Marine.
"I am the Infantry
I am my country's strength in war,
her deterrant in peace.
I am the heart of the fight
whereever, whenever.
I carry America's faith and honor
against her enemies.
I am the Queen of Battle.
I am what my country expects me to be,
the best trained soldier in the world
in the race for victory.
I am swift, determined, and courageous,
armed with a fierce will to win.
Never will I fail my country's trust.
Always will I fight on
through the foe, to the objective, to triumph over all.
If neccessary I will fight to my death.
By my steadfast courage I have won 200 years of freedom.
I yeild not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superiour odds.
For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight.
I forsake not my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty.
I am relentless
I am always there, now and forever
I am the Infantry
Follow me!"
Personal weapons are what raised mankind out of the mud, and the rifle is the queen of personal weapons. The possession of a good rifle, as well as the skill to use it well, truly makes a man the monarch of all he surveys. It realizes the ancient dream of the Jovian thunderbolt, and as such it is the embodiment of personal power. For this reason it exercises a curious influence over the mind of most men, and in it's best examples constitutes an object of affection unmatched by any other inanimate object.
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. So is that one. And that other one. That one over there in the corner is mine, but it needs some work. The AR is great, but it needs a better trigger. I gotta reblue the 257 Roberts at some point. I haven't shot the Turk Mauser yet, but the M48B shoots really well...