I'd be grateful to any current or former Devil Dog who can confirm that the following link is a current version of the USMC Commandant's Reading List, but in any event, folks can get started here.My suggestion would be to start at E-1 to E-3 and read up from there.
And notice, not a single damn book on the Constitution or even on the history of the Revolutionary War era or the times leading up to it. No "Common Sense" or "the Crisis" by Thomas Paine, no Jefferson, no books on the colonial militia, or the battles of Lexington and Concord. No background, no context, no understanding of what it is they defend. Just how to fight, but not when or what for. There are some fine books there, with Gates of Fire coming closest to discussing why men fight, but not enough on what they need to know to actually keep their friggin oath to defend the Constitution. It's as though their oath was simply to kick ass on whoever the President and the generals say to kick ass on. That's it. Just attack dogs waiting for the signal.
ReplyDeleteIs that all they are? If not, don't wait for the commandant to give them a reading list about what they defend or how to keep their oath.
We will have to do that.
I retired last year, but the list looks pretty good to me. I pulled up the latest ALMAR to check what had been deleted or added and checked it against a few of the ranks. They were accurate. The Marine Corps Association is a trusted source also. I have read a majority of the entire list and there are some GREAT books in there. From basics such as Message to Garcia, Rifleman Dodd, and The Art of War, to some of my faves such as The Village, Fields Of Fire, The Bridge at Dong Ha, and Forgotten Soldier.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/ALMAR029-09.aspx
R/S USMCinSC
http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/MCU/LLI/PROFESSIONAL%20READING%20PROGRAM.HTM
ReplyDeleteMessage to Garcia; "Don't ask questions," "Don't make excuses," "Just do what you're told."
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to see at least the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independance on there. Unfortunately, for many, the Oath is meaningless because they don't know what their oath is to.
But back to the point of the post, I would recommend looking at the reading list if you ever, ever, ever, even think you might want to have some small chance of actually organizing anything resembling a militia unit to defend your constitutional rights against the Bad People. There are times for obeying orders quickly without question, once a mission and an enemy are established.
I find it difficult to respect the "authority" of anyone who swears an oath to defend a document he/she has never read or does not understand.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a good case in point: the use of the phrase "CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS"
The constitution confers no rights on anyone! Your/my rights are endowed to us by our Creator.
The Hierarchy is as follows:
God creates man.
man created a constitution.
the constitution created government.
government creates corporations.
each in this hierarchy is beholden to its creator.
What we have to day is a perversion of the intent of the Founders. To wit:
corporations (with the aid of lobbyists) call the shots and tell government what to do and how to do it. Government (through its "stewards") abrogate the constitution and ....well God is driven out of the discussion entirely.
Another is the use of the phrase "CIVIL RIGHTS".
CIVIL RIGHTS are not rights at all. They merely privileges granted by the civil authority. Never forget, if government grants your "rights' they can just as easily take them away.