The meaning of Semper Fidelis
By Cam Beck
For my family, Semper Fidelis is more than a fancy slogan. It is truly a way of life. My father retired from 
the Marine Corps in the 90s, after serving over twenty years and more than one tour of duty in a combat zone. Therefore, my two brothers and I grew up in a culture that demanded excellence and loyalty of its members, and it showed. It is partially for this reason, I am convinced, that we all joined the Marine Corps when we were of the appropriate age. Because of my upbringing, it is somewhat difficult to imagine what life would be like, had I not grown up surrounded by living, breathing personifications of “Semper Fidelis,” and I am increasingly beginning to realize that I do not understand the mindset of those who had not. It is this realization that led me to reflect on the history of the phrase, and speculate the reason it holds such weight with the members of the Marine Corps..
The first thing I questioned was the Latin thing. Why not simply make the slogan “Always Faithful,” since that is what the Latin phrase literally means? More people would certainly understand it. Apparently, whenever someone has something important to say, he translates it to Latin, and that lends the phrase credibility and respectability.
E Plurbus Unum. Pro bono. Carpe Diem. Mea Culpa. Sic Semper Tyrannus. The phrases are a part of our culture, but not native to our language. Unless we have been taught what they mean separately from our education in English, we would have no idea. I would wager that Semper Fidelis means more to those who use it than just about any other Latin phrase in use today.
Customarily, though, Latin has also been the language of law. Habeus Corpus, Stare Decisis, and Per Curium are terms one commonly would come across if he did only a precursory exploration of legal decisions. Even the United States adopted the practice of using Latin in its written Constitution, in spite of the desire to create a Constitution that could be easily understood by common people, who typically could not read and write Latin. However, America was a special case. The people had already been governing themselves for some time before the revolution. Unlike today, now that apathy reigns, participation in local politics was almost necessary for survival. That atmosphere of social and political cooperation was one that was replete with Latin phrases. America was unique–set apart from the other countries–for just that reason. It was a province that was governed by the people, not kings–and its people would not relinquish that tradition without a fight.
When doctors started translating ailments into Latin-Greek hybrids, they were criticized for creating a language that only doctors could understand. Of course, that was partly the point. It set apart those who could understand from those who could not–thus both signifying the value that doctors provided as well as creating a group of people who could identify one another by their similar values and education.
The use of Latin in the Marine Corps motto is not bred from a very different motivation. Of course, the Marine Corps has never experienced a mutiny. Marines in England were revered for their loyalty to the crown, just as United States Marines are now revered for their downright fanatical dedication to each other, their service, and their country. Using Latin to characterize this quality represents its legitimization–its codification. Significantly, for Marines at least, it also provides a caste–a group that is separate and unique from any other–a group that has no desire to be like any other.
“It is not
negotiable.
It is not
relative, but
absolute.”What is left unsaid in the motto is also notable. The phrase is “Always faithful.” It isn’t “Sometimes Faithful.” Nor is it “Usually Faithful,” but always. It is not negotiable. It is not relative, but absolute. Who is always faithful, though. and to what, exactly are they faithful? Interestingly, the simplicity of the phrase and the calculated neglect to specify its parameters seems to strengthen it. Marines pride themselves on their straightforward mission and steadfast dedication to accomplish it. Things do not need to be spelled out for them; they know what it means and what to do about it.
Even though Marines are known to swell with pride from time to time (they do, after all, have a noble legacy to continue), they are not snobbish. Even the use of Latin must make them uncomfortable, because they shorten an already-short motto to the more colloquial “Semper Fi.” This does not misrepresent the phrase; it simply symbolizes the ability of common people to become part of a brotherhood that demands more of its members than any other comparable group in the world.
The longer I am out of the service, the more I recognize my draw to and longing for the culture of “Semper Fidelis.” I suspect that reading this will impart nothing significant to Marines, as they already are aware of their glorious charge. It is my earnest hope, however, that it may help others understand the reason Marines hold the Corps in such high esteem. All those references by former Marines, in their new jobs, to “back when I was in The Corps,” will begin to make a little more sense. Marines are imbued with Semper Fidelis, and all it means, and because they lived it for so long, they have difficulty accepting any less from others.
Semper Fi!
To all our brave Marines. This license plate would make a great gift.
Tags: novelty plates, semper fi plate
March 29th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
March 30th, 2011 at 1:42 am
Nice work. You keep working on this blog please.
March 30th, 2011 at 5:16 am
Thank you very much for your post! I am very interested in your points.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:21 am
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with almost all important infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this .
April 1st, 2011 at 9:21 am
Your blog is STELLAR! I mean, Ive never been so entertained by anything in my life! Your vids are perfect for this. I mean, how did you manage to find something that matches your style of writing so well? Im really happy I started reading this today. Youve got a follower in me for sure!
April 8th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you’ve put in writing this web site. I’m hoping the same high-grade website post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own website now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a good example of it.
April 16th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Excellent work done. Don’t mind me posting a link of this post on my blog? It will help my viewers as well.And yes i have tweeted your site http://www.tinsigninfo.com .
April 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on.You have done a marvellous job!
April 18th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you have got hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the problem is something that not sufficient persons are speaking intelligently about. I’m very comfortable that I stumbled across this in my search for one thing regarding this.
April 20th, 2011 at 4:02 am
Thanks, that was a lovely blog. I love your blog theme, I often come back here and I don’t know why. I guess I just truly like your web site lol…
April 21st, 2011 at 3:54 am
Hello, I first would like to congratulate you on making such a great site, I definitely found your information very interesting and entertaining. Celebrities seem to be one of the best entertainment industries of the world today. If you want to view celebrity photos and interested in the latest celebrity gossip online, getting hollywood gossip on famous people, finding hollywood celebrity pictures and info on famous actors & actresses watch movies and tv shows online and get the hottest breaking news, celebrity photos, fashion, videos and games, Watch movies and tv shows online, check hottest celeb photos and everything. I would suggest you visit http://accesshollyhood.com
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:32 pm
I was just lookuping for this information for any while. Approximately two hrs of online researching, luckily I obtained it in your website. I do not understand why Bing don’t exhibit this form of resourceful internet sites in the first web page. Usually the leading websites are craps. Possibly it is time to alter to another lookup engine.
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Its a really great post iv saw, thanks!
April 24th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Thanks, this made for lovely blog. I love your blog theme, I often come back here and I don’t know why. I just actually like your site lol…
April 25th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Yo awesome page there. keep it up.I honestly like to browse your blog.Last of all have good day
April 28th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Well written and expanded.
May 6th, 2011 at 4:25 am
nice blog, love the simple design for this site. good job!
May 8th, 2011 at 2:01 am
Only this min uncovered this website License Plate – The Meaning Of Semper FI | Tin Sign Info thru Google, such a enjoyment… By the way what about Middle East remarkable announcement. Regards … Flash Websites
May 8th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
I like what you guys tend to be doing. This kind of ingenious work and License Plate – The Meaning Of Semper FI | Tin Sign Info reporting! Continue the awesome work guys I’ve included everyone in our blogroll Anyway our feelings go with anyone in and around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear hopefully you are well plus safer too ? Regards ! All the best … Rob Rasner
May 10th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
It’s like you read my mind.. You seem to know so much about this, I think that you could do with some images, but other than that, this is great blog!
May 13th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
After reading halhway through the most recent post, I have stopd reading, to do some searching within myself, and I am now considering a new way of thinking, thanks to you.I just wanted to drop a comment, letting you know how your blog has affected my life, today! Thank You.
May 20th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
That is some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions could be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful info here.
May 25th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I like this site very much, Its a rattling nice office to read and incur info .