Fredericksburg.com - What's the difference between these oaths of allegiance?
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More than 40,000 Boy Scouts and Scout leaders fill a field during the National Scout Jamboree.
file/REBECCA SELL/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

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What's the difference between these oaths of allegiance?

Date published: 2/24/2009

The front page of The Free Lance-Star on Feb. 13 brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart knowing that Virginia was selected as the permanent home for the National Scout Jamboree ["Scout jamboree leaving A.P. Hill"].

However, it was touched upon once again why the national jamboree had to be moved from the U.S. Army's Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County.

The article stated that "Fort A.P. Hill has hosted the event since 1981, but some have questioned whether the Department of Defense could continue to financially support the event because the Scouts require members to swear an oath of duty to God."

The Scout oath (or promise) is "On my honor 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 strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

Does anybody know the wording of the current U.S. military oath of enlistment?

"I, (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; 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."

The First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was a guarantee of religious freedom.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

Personally, I see no conflict. Both the Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. military swear an oath of allegiance invoking the Almighty: So help me God.

Frank A. Alger, Jr.

Colonial Beach



Date published: 2/24/2009



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Well I'm with pink (posted by True_Bob , Feb. 25, 2009 8:11 am)    0 likes
except I don't care if I offend NASCAR fans. I assumed he meant shrubco, but I didn't know why the 18 was there. Racing in circles - please. Real racing has right turns, braking, and accelerating, not just a few hours of draft and pass, draft and pass, ad nauseum.

Senor and Kspecial.... (posted by pinkphantom , Feb. 25, 2009 7:48 am)    0 likes
You're both so right....I love you guys!!! I had no idea what bush18 was (I was thinking of George W.....) I'm not really a NASCAR fan, no offense to those of you who are!

pink- I hope this guy's just intentionally providing comedic relief. (posted by kspecial , Feb. 24, 2009 6:51 pm)    0 likes
He's misspelled his hero's name. It's NASCAR's Kyle Busch ( that's Busch with a C) car number 18, so we know this clown already has a false start. I'd really be entertained to "here mor uv his fillosofy."

pink (posted by senor , Feb. 24, 2009 6:41 pm)    0 likes
they're supposed to be the one's breaking Godwin's Law, not us :p

Bush18fan....it's hard to burn somewhere (posted by pinkphantom , Feb. 24, 2009 5:56 pm)    0 likes
that doesn't exist. Since you are god's personal spokesman (?) why don't you ask him/her/it for some grammar and spelling lessons? Those aren't just typos....Christians taking the country back? Sounds a bit too Hitler-esque for me! I think Bob is right, you need to keep up with your meds or get new ones.

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