Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

‘Army Values’

Rodin
@Rodin
Join to bookmark31likesJoin to like50comments

A report is out that West Point is removing “Duty, Honor, Country” from its motto. Instead it will have the words “Army Values”. The Superintendent is trying to argue that since Army values include duty, honor and country that it is no big deal.

Gilland made a point to say that West Point's mission statement has changed nine times and that "Duty, Honor, Country was first added to the mission statement in 1998." The general added that "Army Values include Duty and Honor, and Country is reflected in Loyalty, bearing true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other Soldiers."

Interesting that the phrase “Duty, Honor, Country” was only added in 1998. Many of us probably assumed it was much earlier, given the words of General Douglas McArthur’s famous farewell address included the following —

In the evening of my memory, always I come back to West Point. Always there echoes and re-echoes: Duty, Honor, Country.

So maybe it isn’t really a big deal. But when you replace specific values with a more vague (if arguably comprehensive) phrase, you are focusing on the vessel, not the contents. And any vessel can be emptied and refilled with something very different indeed.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (50)

Scroll for later comments
+45 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of 50 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.