Latin Motto

[golgotha]

Originally Posted by Blitzzz

Golgotha, quare est is res ullus sollicitudo of vestri?

Sollicitudo mea est discere, domne. Historiam et Linguae Latinae et Manus Specialis scire quaero. Incidenter, grammatica tua multum corrigenda est.

[golgotha]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

As you noted, easily identifiable with basic Google skills.

I don't think that the OP's question has any real relevance here, unless there is a Latin translation sub-fora that I missed.

No one on board here created the motto or did the translation. This ranks right up there with a philosophical discussion of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Complete waste of bandwidth.

TR

I apologize for failing to get a feel for the board before posting. I thought I’d seen a strong respect for Special Forces history in many soldiers’ posts, and I guess I assumed the history of the Special Forces motto would be regarded as part of Special Forces history. So, I thought some here might know something about it. I’m surprised to read you saying it’s completely irrelevant. But I misjudged – sincere apologies again.

If it makes you feel any better, there is no basic Google answer to my question. The IOH site and contact didn’t answer it, and neither does Airbornelawyer’s noted post.

[Blitzzz (RIP)]

Originally Posted by golgotha

I apologize for failing to get a feel for the board before posting. I thought I’d seen a strong respect for Special Forces history in many soldiers’ posts, and I guess I assumed the history of the Special Forces motto would be regarded as part of Special Forces history. So, I thought some here might know something about it. I’m surprised to read you saying it’s completely irrelevant. But I misjudged – sincere apologies again.

If it makes you feel any better, there is no basic Google answer to my question. The IOH site and contact didn’t answer it, and neither does Airbornelawyer’s noted post.

Way to much thinking youngster. What you may know about Special Forces can only be something you read. There are "many" translations in many different search areas. But I'm sure yours is the only right one, so thanks for straightening us out. Find somewhere else to impress, some who may be impressionable enough to feel appreciative and blessed by your knowledge.

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by golgotha

I apologize for failing to get a feel for the board before posting. I thought I’d seen a strong respect for Special Forces history in many soldiers’ posts, and I guess I assumed the history of the Special Forces motto would be regarded as part of Special Forces history. So, I thought some here might know something about it. I’m surprised to read you saying it’s completely irrelevant. But I misjudged – sincere apologies again.

If it makes you feel any better, there is no basic Google answer to my question. The IOH site and contact didn’t answer it, and neither does Airbornelawyer’s noted post.

Thinking, bad.
Doing, good.


How 'bout . . . "We're Here To Help!"

Wait, no. That's the IG.

[golgotha]

Originally Posted by Blitzzz

Way to much thinking youngster. What you may know about Special Forces can only be something you read. There are "many" translations in many different search areas. But I'm sure yours is the only right one, so thanks for straightening us out. Find somewhere else to impress, some who may be impressionable enough to feel appreciative and blessed by your knowledge.

I'm not trying to impress anyone, sir. It's very clear that the Latin doesn't read as the official translation says, but my motive in posting is only to discover why this is the case.
Another thread in my overabundant thinking was a perception that in Special Forces, much more than in the broader military, the warrior and the scholar were united. On that account, I was reluctant to believe that the Latin was simply incorrect, and have been searching for more info before I do.

[Pete]

Good thing the Romans never used slang. We'd be a world of hurt if they did.

[cat in the hat]

Originally Posted by golgotha

I'm not trying to impress anyone, sir. It's very clear that the Latin doesn't read as the official translation says, but my motive in posting is only to discover why this is the case.
Another thread in my overabundant thinking was a perception that in Special Forces, much more than in the broader military, the warrior and the scholar were united. On that account, I was reluctant to believe that the Latin was simply incorrect, and have been searching for more info before I do.

maybe you were trying to impress just a little? got it, you can speak latin. how's that workin out for ya these days?
there might not be any way to definitivly answer who came up with our motto but it was probably along the lines of some of the original QP's asked somebody who "claimed" to know Latin and he wrote it down. Bottom line is our motto is "Free the Oppressed"

do you go into classrooms and sharp shoot professors and hope it will win you points when it is time for grades? hey, try this one. go up to a Hell's Angel and tell him his tattoo is spelled wrong.

[Peregrino]

Originally Posted by Pete

Good thing the Romans never used slang. We'd be a world of hurt if they did.

LMAO! I always enjoy listening in as a learned prude attempts to sanitize some Roman Soldier's latrine graffiti. It's even more fun when they get ahold of something contributed by a provincial who learned Latin from his drill sgt. (Where do people think the word "vulgar" comes from?)

[head]

Originally Posted by golgotha

I'm wondering about the provenance of the Special Forces motto, "De Oppresso Liber." I've gathered that the official Army translation is "to free the oppressed." I've studied Latin for years, though, and it pretty clearly doesn't say that. The Latin for that would be "Oppressos Liberare" or similar. The current motto is kind of odd Latin, and the meaning isn't immediately apparent, but it could be translated as "From an oppressed [place/thing/person] -- free."

I searched this site, and found a post from Airbornelawyer, who seems to agree that there's a big difference between the Latin and the official translation.

So, I'm interested to know how, why, and by whom this Latin phrase was chosen as the SF motto. What's the story behind it? I've searched this site and the web generally, and read into some SF history, but couldn't find any pertinent info. Anyone know?

The traditional US Army translation is "To free the oppressed." Whether that was the intended meaning at the beginning is unknown (as far as I can tell), but many words take upon new meanings from their literal origins. I also like the more literal translations "Of the oppressed, free (a free man)" or (stolen from wiki) ""Out of the overthrown man, (comes/is made) the free man." (The structure resembles that of the motto "E pluribus unum": "Out of many, one.") Other translations, just as viable: "From a man caught, a man free," and "From the man seized, a man free."[1]" What I like is really inconsequential - "To free the oppressed" is the motto's accepted meaning... As to why and how, I shrug my shoulders.

However, you mention SF soldiers being scholars - well, we are, but we undertake focused studies in applicable knowledge. Instead of Latin, we study Pashto and Arabic as Latin scholars are few and far between in SW Asia. We study the missions and men of our past to learn from and recognize them, and I guess that no one ever thought much could be taken away from the story of "De Oppresso Liber" and why it doesn't mean what we say it does. Instead of researching that history, I'd rather study the history of the Mujihadeen in Afghanistan... or go shooting. If you're truly interested in it, it may be a good venture to undertake - let us know what you find out.

[Utah Bob]