Last week’s video of Marines urinating on Taliban corpses went viral on the Internet. Among the responses was Lt. Col. Allen West’s ‘Shut Your Mouth, War Is Hell‘.
I agree the actions of those Marines do not represent the values we learn in the Corps, however, unless you’ve been shot at by the Taliban, Shut Your Mouth!
Here’s an insightful perspective from a Combat Marine and Purple Heart recipient…
“When you have witnessed your brothers-in-arms being killed, when you have had your very own brush with death, when you have endured deployment after deployment… Sergeant Jason R. ArellanoIn that single moment, when the dust has settled and you are the one left standing. Your emotions may or may not get the best of you. While certain actions may not be condoned and will certainly be frowned upon by many, they can be understood.
In war, our emotions can be like the venom of a baby rattlesnake… they can be released uncontrollably but at some point we will be responsible for our actions. This may be done publicly or internally.
We have all done something in our lives that we can now look back and say “what was I thinking?” War can bring out the worst in ANYONE. It has brought out the worst in me. Engage, reload and move on to the next target.”
~Sergeant Jason Arellano (USMC 3/5, ’01-’05)
Follow Sgt. Arellano on Twitter: @ResolutionGear
See also: Perfect Valor
Ann Barnhart: I have little sympathy for men who live their lives wiping their anuses with their bare hands after bowel movements, and who view as the pinnacle of human pleasure inserting their genitals and depositing their semen into the feces-laden rectums of boys and other men, who suddenly get squeamish about dead bodies being sprinkled with a bit of urine – which is sterile by the way. Those dead Taliban were probably the cleanest they had ever been in their adult lives after being showered with the righteous tinkles of those Marines. Ooh-rah. That is all. Carry on.
Patriot Warrior
Guest
2012-01-17 11:28
Marine urinators’ BIG mistake?
Neglecting to apply for an NEA grant for performance art.
I am not a Marine…I am a civilian. I do however, live in a Marine town and can hear rifle practice from Parris Island in my bedroom (now THATs the sound of freedom)! While I do not know the Corp as a Marine does, I am aware of the values that they teach. Although the actions of these young Marines are not necessarily what the Corp had in mind, I agree that unless you are rockin’an Eagle Globe & Anchor and have heard the bullet of the enemy wiz by you, there is just no room for judgement.
I don’t understand why everyone is beating around the bush with this. The truth of the matter is, it isn’t even a big deal that they pee’d on the bodies, the problem is that some idiot filmed it and put it on the Internet. Like it or not, this is a war of images. The terrorists look like the bad guys by cutting off people’s heads and blowing themselves up. We look like the good guys by fighting honorably and helping the non-combatants. Anything that disrupts that image in the world’s eyes could ruin the entire war effort. That is why the Marines are being punished, not for peeing on dead bodies but instead they are in trouble for tarnishing the image of the US Military.
John
Guest
2012-01-16 20:44
To a point, I concur with LtCol West. But I have an issue with people who keep saying that the Marines shouldn’t be punished because they saw nothing wrong with urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban. I think that as Americans, and certainly as Marines, we are better than that. I wasn’t taught that in boot camp. Our core values are Honor, Courage and Commitment. Honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior; to never lie cheat or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; respect human dignity; and respect others. The quality of maturity, dedication, trust and dependability commit Marines to act responsibly; to be accountable for their actions; to fulfill their obligations; and to hold others accountable for their actions.
I know they were frustrated. I understand that they were pissed off, because they had no doubt had to deal with the loss of one of their brothers at the hands of the Taliban.
But we’re better than that. Our morals and standards should not be based on the morals and standards of the enemy. If we allow that to happen, then in essence we are no different…or no better…than them.
Just my opinion.
03marine
Guest
2012-01-16 05:06
As a former infantry marine i can very much understand why this happened and do not judge the marines for doing this.
Lets face many of us did things we wouldnt want to discuss with civilian or even marines that werent there… Furthermore I think part of the stress comes with the fact that you must fight with one hand tied behind your back due to the lack of appetite for the facts of war in the US.
BUT i do have a problem with the fact that they allowed themselves to be filmed doing this… That is totally unacceptable.
“The Suck”
is a term every Marine knows well. It’s the tough days, the grueling moments,
the situations that push you to your limits, and then some. But more than just
enduring, Marines learn to embrace “The Suck” as a badge of honor, a testament
to resilience, grit, and camaraderie.
Art by Col Charles Waterhouse
Ann Barnhart: I have little sympathy for men who live their lives wiping their anuses with their bare hands after bowel movements, and who view as the pinnacle of human pleasure inserting their genitals and depositing their semen into the feces-laden rectums of boys and other men, who suddenly get squeamish about dead bodies being sprinkled with a bit of urine – which is sterile by the way. Those dead Taliban were probably the cleanest they had ever been in their adult lives after being showered with the righteous tinkles of those Marines. Ooh-rah. That is all. Carry on.
Marine urinators’ BIG mistake?
Neglecting to apply for an NEA grant for performance art.
ACLU clergy will never forgive that heresy.
I am not a Marine…I am a civilian. I do however, live in a Marine town and can hear rifle practice from Parris Island in my bedroom (now THATs the sound of freedom)! While I do not know the Corp as a Marine does, I am aware of the values that they teach. Although the actions of these young Marines are not necessarily what the Corp had in mind, I agree that unless you are rockin’an Eagle Globe & Anchor and have heard the bullet of the enemy wiz by you, there is just no room for judgement.
I don’t understand why everyone is beating around the bush with this. The truth of the matter is, it isn’t even a big deal that they pee’d on the bodies, the problem is that some idiot filmed it and put it on the Internet. Like it or not, this is a war of images. The terrorists look like the bad guys by cutting off people’s heads and blowing themselves up. We look like the good guys by fighting honorably and helping the non-combatants. Anything that disrupts that image in the world’s eyes could ruin the entire war effort. That is why the Marines are being punished, not for peeing on dead bodies but instead they are in trouble for tarnishing the image of the US Military.
To a point, I concur with LtCol West. But I have an issue with people who keep saying that the Marines shouldn’t be punished because they saw nothing wrong with urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban. I think that as Americans, and certainly as Marines, we are better than that. I wasn’t taught that in boot camp. Our core values are Honor, Courage and Commitment. Honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior; to never lie cheat or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; respect human dignity; and respect others. The quality of maturity, dedication, trust and dependability commit Marines to act responsibly; to be accountable for their actions; to fulfill their obligations; and to hold others accountable for their actions.
I know they were frustrated. I understand that they were pissed off, because they had no doubt had to deal with the loss of one of their brothers at the hands of the Taliban.
But we’re better than that. Our morals and standards should not be based on the morals and standards of the enemy. If we allow that to happen, then in essence we are no different…or no better…than them.
Just my opinion.
As a former infantry marine i can very much understand why this happened and do not judge the marines for doing this.
Lets face many of us did things we wouldnt want to discuss with civilian or even marines that werent there… Furthermore I think part of the stress comes with the fact that you must fight with one hand tied behind your back due to the lack of appetite for the facts of war in the US.
BUT i do have a problem with the fact that they allowed themselves to be filmed doing this… That is totally unacceptable.