Inaugural Post From Veritas Omnia Vincit
Here’s VoV, a former National Guard infantryman back in the late 70s to early 80s. He’s earned both an 11B and 11C MOS and claims an ASM. Best check that, they don’t just hand those out to everyone. I don’t have one, for instance. *grin* These days he’s a small businessman, who with his Viet Nam Vet partner are doing their part in keeping the nation’s economy humming along. Enough, Here’s VoV:
Well this is my first guest post, hopefully I’ll be invited back again….
In thirty years of coaching youth premier sports, the girls team that won everything in New England had a fun way of defusing the pre-game tension. They’d put their arms around each other, looking all serious and then they would tell each other, “try not to suck today”.
I’m going to take that advice and try not to suck when I write these posts.
As you may have guessed from my online moniker I studied Latin once upon a time and I like some of the phrases that are used from the Latin as mottoes, as codes if you will for various organizations. Some of you may also be aware of my lack of faith, which of course makes my online moniker a bit ironic as Jan Hus is the one most closely associated with the term Veritas Omnia Vincit or Truth Conquers All…the phrase works well on a Stolen Valor site especially in light of the SCOTUS pronouncement that the remedy for speech which is false is simply speech which is true, but the phrase carries a far deeper meaning in my mind as well.
A little background, Jan Hus was Czech theologian in the late 14th century and early 15th century. He wasn’t a fan of the Catholic Church and was considered a key predecessor to Protestantism. He was also a prominent player in the Bohemian Reformation. So why would a non-believer take a phrase uttered by theologian as his own nom de plume you ask? Probably because Jan Hus wasn’t afraid to speak his mind by speaking truth to authority knowing full well his voice wouldn’t be popular, his opinions would be reviled and he might well end up an outcast. He denounced the church of the time by telling the truth about what those in authority were actually doing versus what they were preaching. Needless to say none of that truth telling endeared Mr. Hus to those in power, and in the end they burned Mr. Hus at the stake.
If you’re at all a fan of historical moments I think the story of Jan Hus has always been worth a bit of study and has always stuck in my mind as an example of what happens far too often to those who dare to buck the system and speak to the truth of that system out in the open.
Which brings me to the recent discussion regarding the direction of TAH and concern over politics versus Stolen Valor versus military issues. All of those concerns are connected for me, and the truth about all of those things should be what we strive for even if we fall short.
Telling the truth about Stolen Valor when we discover it, telling the truth about issues relevant to the military where we find it, and finally telling the truth about our politics and our politicians good or bad as we see it. All of these things have their effect on the lives of veterans and their families and all of these things have a place on a discussion board where veterans gather to voice their opinions. The percentage of time we devote to those various items can always be argued over, and the direction of pursuit over those issues will always be argued. That’s as it should be.
But for those of us who have served honorably, who’ve taken that oath to defend this nation the idea that the Truth Conquers All should be a driving force behind our words and our actions whenever we express ourselves to the public. The Truth is never wrong, it might be unpleasant, it might be unpopular, and it might out of fashion in a nation where celebrity liars, fornicators, addicts, and outright criminals are celebrated as people of worth to society but it’s incumbent on us, the people who still love this nation above all others, to speak that unpopular truth and to never stop speaking that truth regardless of how the rest of the nation views it.
The Truth Conquers All, is as true today as it was when Jan Hus was roasted alive for expressing his truth.
Let’s continue to expose Valor thieves where we can, expose the truth behind what our military is doing, and most importantly let’s be honest about the politics that are affecting all of us, veteran and civilian alike.
That’s not changing the nature of TAH, it’s recognizing the value of honest veterans and what their voices and values still contribute to the greatest nation on this planet.
Veritas Omnia Vincit
Thanks, VoV. Thought provoking and quite timely, and I think you’ll be well received on this, and hopefully other, posts.
You didn’t suck, either.
AW1Ed
Category: Army, Guest Post
Bohemian Reformation is one of my favorite songs!
Congrats on the post, and the prestigious af ASM!
SCOTUS can deem speech for the masses while we, Brothers and Sisters-in-Arms, shall define our own language and rules. As it’s been the way since 1775.
“That’s not changing the nature of TAH, it’s recognizing the value of honest veterans and what their voices and values still contribute to the greatest nation on this planet”. Concur. Wholeheartedly.
“Thanks, VoV. Thought provoking and quite timely, and I think you’ll be well received on this, and hopefully other, posts.
You didn’t suck, either.
AW1Ed”
Again, concur. Again, wholeheartedly.
Are we going to have that board name discussion again, Denise?
*grin*
What makes you think that is Denise? Maybe it’s Hondo masquerading as Denise. Again.
I am Hondo! And maybe I am Denise as well!!
And I could be D. B. Cooper, too.
Denise can’t be Hondo because I am Hondo
Hondo is the only person here who isn’t Hondo.
This same point is made in “The Lexus and the Olive Tree” by Thomas Friedman about globalization. He makes the point that China WILL have a free press because it will be driven by globalization. It is an excellent chapter but he basically says that people want candid and accurate news about stocks and this news has had to go underground, but this truth is the most sought after.
I’ll see your ASM and raise you an NDSM.
I’ll see your NDSM and raise you a Good Cookie Medal.
Excellent post VOM…not that I expected any different.
If you tell the truth in all things, you will never be caught in a lie.
I’ll see your NDSMs AND the Good Cookie and raise you an NDSM with a little bronze star or two on it…
Chit. I’m out. My NDSM only has 1 little bronze whatsit. Gotta quit playing poker with the big boys.
I’ll see all of that and raise you the coveted MFO ribbon.
One question guaranteed to make every man-jack of us, even VOV, lie through his teeth:
“Honey, does this make me look fat?”
What is asked: “Honey, does this make we look fat?”
What is answered: “No”
What is thought: “it is your big ass that makes you look fat.”
The Truth Will Set You Free.
Or at least have you sleeping on the couch
I love the way I love the way I love the way you shake that great big fat behind! Jerry Lee Lewis!
Poe, we all have our lies and our truths.
We are after all human…
The small lie of kindness to a loved one or a stranger is of no importance when compared to the lie of malice heavy on the lips, repeated as truth to seek advantage.
I love your response because it makes us think doesn’t it?
Of course in your example what is said isn’t what is really being asked. When your wife asks that question she already knows the truth of looking fat, she is asking another question entirely with that turn of phrase. And with our answer of, “No baby you look great in that” we are also speaking code.
It would be far simpler if the honest question were asked and answered, but perhaps also far less interesting. The importance of romancing the love of our life remains long after the initial romance has moved into something deeper. At our age neither my wife nor myself have the bodies we once possessed, but our passion remains and for that I am willing to do that dance of kind lies to remind her how much she matters to me to this day.
And what VOV just said is the TRUTH. Thank you
And I have been married for almost 46 years and she is still the most beautiful person in my life.
I am 6’5” and 275 lbs. My wife is 5′ 4” and 125 lbs. I sometimes take the dry cloths off of the line and it is then when I realize the great difference in our physical sizes. In my mind she is far greater in stature. When I fold her laundry I laugh about her doll clothing.
For the sake of clarity that should be the coveted Army Service Ribbon, which was basically a participation trophy for making it through AIT.
I used to feel cheated until I saw one.
Excellent post! I think most of us would rather “roast” than let truth be hidden from view.
Back in our day there was no Army Service Ribbon. These kids don’t know how good they have it.
Yeah, I know. Our name tags were our service ribbon.
^word^
Always thought that the paycheck was worth more.
A paycheck in the US Army….
Not in 74….
In a pinch they can be flown at pride parades
Well said VOV. Politicians are the ones who ultimately direct the military, therefore they need to be accountable. One way to try to make them so is to discuss them. And I’ve heard tales that some politicos think their military service is a good indication of their being qualified to lead us.
Good article, VOV, and very much to the point. There is much more to TAH than meets the eye.
P.S. ‘Try not to suck today’ — I am SO borrowing that!!!
My favorite has always been Opera Non Verba .
Oderint Dum Metuant ranks high for me as well….
There are many excellent phrases still in use from the Romans. As much misery as they wrought upon the world they also brought much in the form of high ideals.
What exactly is an ASM?
See above it’s actually the Army Service Ribbon which should have been ASR not ASM….it’s simply a Ribbon for completing AIT. Which means it’s of little actual value…it’s a participation trophy.
Purty, too.
My eyes, my eyes.
Put some intro music to it.
The ASR is affectionately referred to as the “gay pride ribbon” for its rainbow of colorful inclusivity.
That’s what I call it too. It’s insane/unsurprising that we had this participation trophy long before we ever had a decoration recognizing combat action (aside from CMB and CIB, of course).
Since I completed OSUT two full years before the rainbow ribbon was authorized, I was blissfully unaware I was eligible to wear the thing during all my enlisted time. Nobody in my platoon told me about it, and neither the platoon sergeant nor platoon leader brought it up. It was not until graduating from OBC that my fellow 2LTs excitedly informed me that we now rated the ASR. Of course my answer was “huh?”
P.S.: VOV, excellent writing and article, as usual…
It looks sorta rainbowy; musta been designed by a prog.
I enlisted in the CA-ARNG in 1975. I had 1 1/2 years of active duty prior service at the time.
Sometime in the late ’80s, the new recruits started coming back from BCT/AIT with this rainbow ribbon.
After 21 /1/2 years in the Guard, I retired. Surprised to see an ASR in my list of awards. Turns out it is retroactive; anyone who completed an MOS producing school (95B while on active duty in my case) prior to the creation of the award, is eligible for the ribbon while in an active training reserve status.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Ribbon
Army was just jealous of this boss ribbon us Zoomies get;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Training_Ribbon
I do like how with ours you can tell a mustang because they’ll wear it with an oak leaf.
When they started that training ribbon all us old salts whose last in residence school was prior to 14 Aug 74 were ineligible to wear it. It looked rather odd on the kids wearing that and no other awards.
(Yes, I eventually got one, after cross training.)
Well said and thank you!
Completely agree, VoV. Nicely done.
Vos merabila…Ego non gravitis, untique.
I think. Latin was a long time ago and much like the only French I can remember (j’adore quand tu fais ca!) its route memorization.
Part of the reason I don’t post here as much as I used too (which was never a lot) as it just feels tired. Same jokes, same insults, even the same stolen valor stories.
What you said strikes a cord with me, and I do hope we can “expose Valor thieves where we can, expose the truth behind what our military is doing, and most importantly let’s be honest about the politics”.
Thank you for the comment, truth can be a funny thing. We all think we know the truth when we see it, but we also tend to discount our world view in perceiving the truth. In the world of politics the truth is often a moving target largely colored by political affiliation and world view.
It’s why math is more reliable, numbers are usually numbers until you get into more advanced math where numbers are less reliable.
Maybe the truth is like that, the more advanced the issue the less reliable or predictable the truth of it.
Stolen Valor is easier in some ways because you find a guy or gal who said something, you point out it’s not true and you move on.
Politics and the nature of conflict seem less predictable, and the subtlety of the propaganda used by all media including ours is no less effective in shaping what we perceive as truth.
I’m sure I’ll manage to piss off a number of people with some future posts. But I hope I ask the right questions and I hope I make myself think as well as making others consider that the truth is not always what we think or hope it might be on any issue.
Well said, VoV. Well said.
I’ve always thought I should have been given some type of award for those of us who had to endure riding, driving or maintaining that marvel of American military engineering…. The Gamma Goat. What a pos
“I’m going[…]to try not to suck when I write these posts.” Most excellent, Grasshopper. For my money, respecting one’s potential audience is key to success in these things. When writers stop doing that–or, worse, never learn to do that–well, there are a great many failed blogs, aren’t there?
They say the truth, like prune juice, will set you free. I raised 2 daughters with the simple idea of telling them I ain’t perfect, or great or anything special. I let them know of my dumb choices and many mistakes growing up. I stared deep into their eyes and let them know anytime they thought they could get something over on me would NOT end well – I was the bad example to learn from. The result, they appreciate knowing that I love them and have done everything I could to make their lives the best they could have. They have taken my mistakes and learned from them and didn’t screw up like I did. Yes, at times it was tough and I hated to relive poor choices and explain why this or that was wrong – cause I had been there- done that. So, I do have a few things that I am rightly proud of, two daughters that are smart and stayed out of trouble, I’m still working at the same company going on 36 years now and my wife hasn’t poisoned me yet! And that’s the truth.