I recently ran into an army officer who told me he was happy with the campaign supporting our army against those questioning its integrity. He reminded me of an article about the pledge of allegiance that protects the homeland, which he considered a reasonable explanation of the patriotism of the Egyptian army.
I wonder, then, why we see and hear about soldiers in other countries around us who, like us, are defending their land against ISIS, but who take off their military uniforms, flee their positions, leave their weapons, and choose not to defend the women, children and the elderly. The soldier and the officer alike go into battle knowing that their predecessors were killed by treachery and guile, and yet they know too that their duty in front of God is to their family and their homeland—it is with honor that they carry their arms with sincerity and integrity in defense of their country.
I wonder if our youth ever stop to think why some media personalities are vocal about their positions in defense of their homeland. Why do they make their voices heard even though their names are on lists of people targeted for assassinations? And even without these lists, these people know that they are a potential target for every villain who thinks he is defending the religion of Allah.
Have any of our young skeptics ever asked if there is still anyone who works for the sake of God, the homeland and a decent life for the people of Egypt?
On his Facebook page Professor Alaa Hamouda said, “I don’t have any secret information to disclose. I am not connected to intelligence officers, and I am not familiar with what’s going on. But I do have a group of friends in the line of fire from whom I know the following:
The Egyptian Eagles are fighting over who will pilot the aircraft
The soldier or officer who was on leave and voluntarily canceled his vacation has come back to defend his country
The Christian soldiers and officers give up food in Ramadan; they do not eat out of respect and solidarity with their fasting Muslim comrades. They too fast from dawn to sunset.
Every time our soldiers capture a prisoner from the terrorist camp, he starts crying like a baby and says: “I was tricked into fighting with them”
Morale is high, the enemy is losing, dying or being captured; they are trembling, cowardly and terrified
Our men swear to cleanse the pure soil of Sinai from the last crawling “pest.”
Do you know the secret to all this? It is the military’s pledge of allegiance, its oath: “I swear by the Almighty God, to be a loyal soldier of the Arab Republic of Egypt, maintaining its security and safety, defending its land, sea and air, inside and outside the Republic. Obedient to the military orders, I will always protect my weapon and never lose it till death, and God will be my witness.” It is this oath that protects Egypt. It is this oath that drives our fighters to shame the worthless murderers of this era, those who call themselves Muslims yet have nothing to do with Islam. Our soldiers are standing strong against the enemy, forcing the latter to flee, dishonored and defeated in front of our heroes, Muslims and Christians, from southern Egypt to the north, east and west.
ISIS has targeted our heroes over and over, launching several deadly attacks, but our soldiers have prevented them from raising the ISIS flag on Sinai soil, from declaring the collapse of civilization and the victory of barbarity.
How? With this oath.
We are proud of you, and we will not allow anyone to question you or your patriotism, not in good faith nor in ignorance. Please read the oath again. This oath has and continues to protect Egypt and is what will empower us to move forward—when we turn it from the oath of the soldier to the oath of the whole community.
FAQs
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 ...
What are the words to the oath of allegiance? ›
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America ...
What is the quote from the oath of allegiance? ›
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The Pledge of Allegiance is recited at the beginning of classes in school, and most everyone can say it from memory.
Why is the soldier full of strange oaths? ›
The man in Shakespeare's fourth stage of life isn't necessarily a soldier. This is a conceit to demonstrate how volatile men at this stage of life can be. He is "full of strange oaths," meaning that in his drive to defend his manhood, he is willing to swear to do lots of things, however odd to common ears.
Can I join the military at 45 years old? ›
Each branch of the military has age limits to enlist in active duty: Air Force: 17 - 42. Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 41.
Is the military oath for life? ›
There is no duration defined in the oath itself. The term of service for each enlisted person is written on the DD Form 4 series, the contract which specifies the active-duty or reserve enlistment period.
What is the wording for the oath? ›
"I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
What is the pledge of the oath? ›
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all. allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom. or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; … that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of.
What is the oath of allegiance affirmation? ›
The affirmation of allegiance
I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.
What is the oath of allegiance simplified? ›
Solemnly, freely, and without mental reservation, I hereby renounce under oath all allegiance to any foreign state. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward is to the United States of America. I pledge to support, honor, and be loyal to the United States, its Constitution, and its laws.
The original oath of allegiance as set out in the Promissory Oaths Act 1868: I, [Insert full name], do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.
What does wise saws mean? ›
wise saws: wise sayings or proverbs. woeful: sad.
What does "bubble reputation" mean? ›
In Shakespeare's play As You Like It, a soldier “[seeks] the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth” (“Shakespeare”). Shakespeare portrays reputation as a bubble because just as bubbles are fragile and can pop at any moment, a man's reputation is delicate and can be lost in an instant.
What is the soldiers oath of allegiance? ›
“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; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the ...
What is the old military oath of enlistment? ›
"I, A.B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought nor accepted nor attempted to ...
What is the special forces oath? ›
With the help and guidance of my faith, I will conquer my fears and succeed. I will keep my mind and body clean, alert and strong. I will maintain my arms and equipment in an immaculate state befitting a Special Forces Soldier, for this is my debt to those who depend upon me. I will not fail those with whom I serve.
Do you swear to tell the truth? ›
The traditional oath is administered by the question from the administering officer: “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” The oath taker replies “I do,” and legal duties attach to what follows.
What oath does the US President take? ›
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
