All Marines, sailors and civilian Marines, regardless of sexual orientation, are Marines first. Every Marine is a valued member of our war-fighting team.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that all members of the Marine Corps are valued equally, regardless of their sexual orientation.
James F. Amos highlights the importance of unity and inclusiveness within the Marine Corps. By stating that all Marines, regardless of their sexual orientation, are first and foremost Marines, he reinforces the idea that duty and camaraderie transcend personal identities, creating a cohesive and strong fighting team.
In practice
In a speech during a veterans' event to promote inclusivity and camaraderie.
A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago - there's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There's no such thing as a former Marine.
I didn't want people to know me as a victim.
They say you never know who's the real hero and who's the real coward until you're looking death in the face. I've always been afraid of plenty of things, but fear isn't what makes you a coward. It's how depraved your heart becomes when fear gets pumped through it.
If they hadn’t tried to break me down, I wouldn’t know that I’m unbreakable.
I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour. But I believe that nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment.
U.S. journalists I don't think are very courageous. They tend to go along with the government's policy domestically and internationally. To question is seen as being unpatriotic, or potentially subversive.
Even behind prison walls I can see the heavy clouds and the blue sky over the horizon
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