USAF to Atheist: Say 'God' in oath or don't re-enlist.
I'd never previouisly heard of any insulting meaning of 'Spam'. So I've just googled to find that there is indeed now some squaddie interpretation 'Spastic Plastic American M**********r' - but that is emphatically NOT a widely used definition.
'Uncle Spam' is more an endearing reference to the help our colonial cousins gave during WW2 when they sent gazillions of tins of the wonderful stuff over to help stop the UK population from starving.
And picnics of the 1950s (when the sun always shone and we had lashings of lemonade) invariably included a can of Spam. With that lethal key opening method, which often caused the less-skilled to cut themselves on the sharp edges of the can.
So whichever pig$hit thick squaddie decided to adopt such an unpleasant meaning for something which most of us regard with affection can s*d right off, in my view.
'Uncle Spam' is more an endearing reference to the help our colonial cousins gave during WW2 when they sent gazillions of tins of the wonderful stuff over to help stop the UK population from starving.
And picnics of the 1950s (when the sun always shone and we had lashings of lemonade) invariably included a can of Spam. With that lethal key opening method, which often caused the less-skilled to cut themselves on the sharp edges of the can.
So whichever pig$hit thick squaddie decided to adopt such an unpleasant meaning for something which most of us regard with affection can s*d right off, in my view.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Well said, BEagle. Where would we be without those wonderful ex-colonials over there? Anyone for the rUK (assuming a Yes vote on 18th) applying to become the 51st state? (Opens new can of worms, ducks)
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Age: 91
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spam
I grew up during WW2 but can't remember eating the tinned product, unless it was hidden in sausages - the content, not the tins! Meat was rationed at the butcher's shop, but, being country folk, there was always plenty of fresh stuff available and even under-the-counter pork for those in the know.
I didn't realise that there was any other meaning to SPAM than SPiced hAM. I wish I'd stayed in ignorance. ( Paragraph added to keep almost on topic.)
I didn't realise that there was any other meaning to SPAM than SPiced hAM. I wish I'd stayed in ignorance. ( Paragraph added to keep almost on topic.)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: UK
Age: 30
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PP,
I'd like you to find another woman in her 80's who works even half as hard as Her Majesty does.
With the amount of money the Family bring to the economy every year, I would have thought they'd be allowed at least a little bit of fun without criticism.
I'd like you to find another woman in her 80's who works even half as hard as Her Majesty does.
With the amount of money the Family bring to the economy every year, I would have thought they'd be allowed at least a little bit of fun without criticism.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: UK
Age: 30
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spam
I'll admit that I had only ever heard of 'spam' used in a good way and not in the disgusting way that is offensive, until today.
Had it not been for America's involvement, we would have come out of WWII in a far worse state than we did and I don't think it's lost on any of us that many of us wouldn't be here.
I personally respect America and (most) Americans and I respect the alliance and friendship that our two countries have and the values we share. I might not agree with all of the conflicts that British forces have gone in to, to support the U.S, but I'll always agree with one nation supporting the other in the hope that they will return the favour one day.
Had it not been for America's involvement, we would have come out of WWII in a far worse state than we did and I don't think it's lost on any of us that many of us wouldn't be here.
I personally respect America and (most) Americans and I respect the alliance and friendship that our two countries have and the values we share. I might not agree with all of the conflicts that British forces have gone in to, to support the U.S, but I'll always agree with one nation supporting the other in the hope that they will return the favour one day.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Interesting, BEagle. Of course I am familiar with the foodstuff, I basically grew up on it at times.
I have never heard of SPAM being applied to Americans in anything other than the 'Spastic Plastic American M**********r' form in nearly 30 years of hearing the term. I would therefore say that it emphatically IS the case that many use it as such, and therefore IS offensive. I was most shocked as a spotty teenager all those years ago to hear the meaning of the acronym. The fact that the foodstuff had a US origin just seems to add a double entendre aspect to it.
I don't know where you get the "thick as pig**** squaddie" coining the term from though, it seems far more likely to me that it was a crab (thick as pig**** or other any kind of dung), as there is far more interaction between the RAF/USAF than US Army/British Army. But that's just supposition on my part.
I have never heard of SPAM being applied to Americans in anything other than the 'Spastic Plastic American M**********r' form in nearly 30 years of hearing the term. I would therefore say that it emphatically IS the case that many use it as such, and therefore IS offensive. I was most shocked as a spotty teenager all those years ago to hear the meaning of the acronym. The fact that the foodstuff had a US origin just seems to add a double entendre aspect to it.
I don't know where you get the "thick as pig**** squaddie" coining the term from though, it seems far more likely to me that it was a crab (thick as pig**** or other any kind of dung), as there is far more interaction between the RAF/USAF than US Army/British Army. But that's just supposition on my part.
Hmm .. given that in the shared Judeo-Christian faiths their scriptures describe their deity as revealing itslef to Abraham, and that the Islamic sacred texts tells of a similar story to the same guy (known as Ibrahim in Arabic), so thus the three traditions are collectively known as the Abrahamic Religions and are therefore all worshipping the same god (or derivatives there of), I wonder would the US military allow re-enlistment to "so help me Allah"?
To get back to the original point, it sounds like a lawyer (Lots of derogatory names for them) has given an interpretation of the Code quoted which states, when read with the 'legal' head on, that even an affirmation should have the phrase 'So help me God'.
The interesting question is does it render any affirmation/enlistment document with the SHMG ommitted as invalid?
The interesting question is does it render any affirmation/enlistment document with the SHMG ommitted as invalid?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home
Age: 59
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lonewolf makes an interesting point about Muslim servicemen, so perhaps the emphasis is being discriminatory against those who have no deity to whom they would pledge the oath.
How would it stand for Wiccans, Druids, and any group who believe in a female deity?
P.S. I too thought that SPAM referred to the foodstuff, but then again I also thought Hoe referred to a gardening implement. Personally I will accept "Sweaty sock" or "Porridge wog" with the affection it is normally given, but bridle at being referred to as 'English' in any context. This just shows a lack of geographical understanding in my opinion, like calling a fellow of New Zealand "Australian"
How would it stand for Wiccans, Druids, and any group who believe in a female deity?
P.S. I too thought that SPAM referred to the foodstuff, but then again I also thought Hoe referred to a gardening implement. Personally I will accept "Sweaty sock" or "Porridge wog" with the affection it is normally given, but bridle at being referred to as 'English' in any context. This just shows a lack of geographical understanding in my opinion, like calling a fellow of New Zealand "Australian"
The Air Force Oath is internally inconsistent. The purpose of affirmation is for those do not swear on the Bible. Thus SHMG ought to be omitted for those affirming, since it is logically incompatible with the option of affirming.
Doesn't anybody do logic any more?
Even the Oath of Office of the President has an affirm option (taken by Franklin Pierce) and does not contain SHMG. So, USAF personnel have to say SHMG, but their Commander-In-Chief doesn't?
Doesn't anybody do logic any more?
Even the Oath of Office of the President has an affirm option (taken by Franklin Pierce) and does not contain SHMG. So, USAF personnel have to say SHMG, but their Commander-In-Chief doesn't?
When I enlisted in 1966, it was explained to us that we could make an attestation instead of swearing an oath, and there was a slightly different form of words (and no bible). As I recall, none of us took that option, whether we were religious believers or not.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How ironic that resources that should be dealing with Islamic fundamentalists should be diverted to deal with Christian fundamentalists within the US armed forces.
Yank is a term used by those who don't know what it means. Otherwise, they'd know not to say stuff like "I spoke to a Yank the other day with a long southern drawl". It just makes them look stupid.
http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDispla...g-yankees.aspx
I, also, had never heard of the offensive meaning of Spam until reading this thread today.
Ms BB was born in Austin Minnesota, aka Spamtown USA, and is adamant that Spam is an acronym for Spiced Processed Assorted Meats. She also notes that many inhabitants of Austin (Spam is the town's principal employer) seem to be missing fingers.
Ms BB was born in Austin Minnesota, aka Spamtown USA, and is adamant that Spam is an acronym for Spiced Processed Assorted Meats. She also notes that many inhabitants of Austin (Spam is the town's principal employer) seem to be missing fingers.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
here's what I don't get,
if the atheist doesn't believe there's a God, why does he care if he says "so help me God"?
Does it challenge his belief?
I've know lots of atheists that use curse words that include God. Why is that OK and this is not?
if the atheist doesn't believe there's a God, why does he care if he says "so help me God"?
Does it challenge his belief?
I've know lots of atheists that use curse words that include God. Why is that OK and this is not?
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Presumably, darkroom, the atheists are making the point that if they subscribed to (any) religion their beliefs would be protected by statute, yet they can be deprived of their livelihood for being atheists. Yes they could just lie, but why should they?