Today is Earthday. Today a number of different groups work together to clean a section of the Earth. Marines constantly work together to keep their honor clean. Today seems like the right time to ask: How does a Marine obtain clean honor?
A Marine recruit gets clean honor during the rigorous recruit training. The new recruits all have obstacles to the acquisition of honor. The Marine training brochure explains how those obtacles are cleaned away. Here is what the brochure says:
“But first they must understand the things that define them are the obstacles that cage them. Status, privelege and dependence on what has been acquired must all be unceremoniously ripped away.”
Those who truly want to clean the Earth are willing to make sacrifices. They sacrifice a bit of comfort. A Marine recruit who wants clean honor must also agree to the sacrifice of a few things that he or she has considered important. Here is what the same Marine brochure says about comfort and the Marine recruit:
“Comfort is an illusion. A false security bred from familiar things and familiar ways. It narrows the mind, weakens the body and robs the soul of spirit and determination. Comfort is neither welcomed not tolerated here. It is a luxury those who would be Marines cannot afford. It is a difficult thing to leave behind, but it is the enemy and will be cast aside. ”
The above words about the clean honor of a Marine bear repeating on this day, this day when so many people work to clean a spot of Earth.
