Oath

What does Oath mean to me?

An oath is a binding contract between you and yourself.

Sure, you take an oath aloud, in the presence of others, with the assumption of pure honesty. You are subscribing to some requirements, so that the others who are present will know that when you are not fulfilling those requirements, it is your personal choice. For if you stood there and told them, with your right hand raised and maybe your left on something meaningful (or however you demonstrated your solemnity) that you would do something, and then later you do something inconsistent with that oath, you can be held accountable.

Why I think this contract is really something within an individual is because every individual is aware of when they are approaching the breach of their oath. An oath is more than an agreement because if you fail to adhere to it, you are letting down more than just the person or people at the other end of the agreement. Traditionally, oaths make an appeal to a higher power, making the breach of that oath something more serious, because then, not only are your peers upset with you, but also now is that higher power. Oaths require personal integrity, in the sense of the cliche that integrity is how you act with others are not watching you. They must be upheld even when--especially when--not around those with whom the oath is shared.

Anyway, the success of a Fraternity is based around the lifelong oath that all of its members take. It is what separates our organizations from others that just end with the college experience. We have a responsibility to ourselves and to one another to uphold certain things that which are spelled out in our Rituals will help us grow as individuals and encourage us to lead fulfilling, productive, and responsible lives.

Below is a painting, called "The Oath of the Horatii," by Jacques-Louis David, that I think says a lot about oaths in general.

My interpretation: The three soldiers on the left are taking an oath together. They have surrendered their swords and stand close, even embracing one another while taking this oath. Their stances show their determination and passion about their cause. They are in it together. The older man in the red robe is appealing to God to hear these men and witness their promise to what they will uphold. The women and children on the right are the reason for this promise. I assume they are the loved ones of these soldiers because, well firstly, there are obviously the same amount of young women as men. But also, their posture and expressions show their worry and fear for the men who are vowing to protect them. The left-most woman is comforting two small children, as to reassure them that everything will be alright now, but they are also in her shadow, meaning to me that she is hoping to shield them overall from whatever tragic experience she expects.

This painting says a great deal about taking oaths to bring people together. How similar is it to how you have experienced your oath in your Fraternity or Sorority?