Dick tells Naval Academy grads that their commissions are to God

[Rose Siding]

The WP provides a transcript of the commencement address Cheney gave this afternoon. It's a nausea inducing stew of hysteria, but his opener caught me off guard:

"...I'm looking at a group of men and women who have brought academic and athletic distinction to the Naval Academy; and who, in just a few moments, will accept commissions to God and country. I commend each one of you for this achievement, and for the years of hard effort that brought you to this day."

Help me here- Is this a traditional phrase regarding naval commissions? Are commissions accepted "to God" as well as country?

I googled "naval traditions" and "Naval commissions 'God and country'" and the hits are primarily for articles about chaplains and books about the church.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=naval+commission+%22god+and+country%22&btnG=Search

It seems very significant to me that the vice president would make such a statement to class of academy graduates.

[davepc]

1. Pro Deo et patria

In addition to being an ancient Latin phrase, its also the name of a Ronald Regan movie!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145781/

[Rose Siding]

3. I found that that's the army chaplaincy motto.

This isn't a class of chaplains. Is it a part of naval commissions?

[davepc]

4. i don't quite understand your question...

but "for god and country" has been a 'battle cry' (for lack of a better term) for millenia.

The British have their own spin on it with "for King/Queen and Country"

Cheneys speechwriters were being cute, I wouldn't read too much into it.

Dick et al are guilty of fare worse transgressions.

[Rose Siding]

5. It's a piece with one their worst transgressions, afaic

The blending of church and state.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. "Battle Cry" is not the same thing as the officer's agreement upon

acceptance of their commission.

[davepc]

8. you mean the oath?

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.

[unhappycamper]

15. I think that's the enlisted oath of office.

NAVY Commissioned Officer's oath:

I, (state your full name), 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; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

[Orrex]

10. Fits right in with dulce et decorum est

Wilfred Owen would be so proud of our Veep!

[Mnemosyne]

2. They did crown Moon a couple years ago.

:shrug:

[pinto]

7. If Dick's a Catholic, he's old enough to remember the "God and Country"

hoopla that the K of C pushed during the Cold War. I remember it, early sixties, and it was pretty pervasive.

For whatever that's worth....

:shrug:

[Rose Siding]

9. He's a methodist

I understand that "God and country" is something of an idiom, but its use strikes me as very inappropriate here, especially given the controversy in various military institutions about the role of religious speech.

[pinto]

12. I agree.

[theHandpuppet]

16. Too bad the Methodists don't excommunicate people

If Dick Cheney is any example of a Methodist then I'm Rush Limbaugh.

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. Bet the Air Force is pissed. They only work for a civilian government,

not the Almighty. :evilgrin:

[leesa]

14. Hasn't the Air Force become a Fundie hangout of late?? Crusades and all..

[ladjf]

13. He doesn't believe his own trash.