Salute

Salute Salute Loyalty is more than a laudable character trait. It’s in our blood. Humans, as well as other mammals, nurture their young until they are able to exist on their own. This form of loyalty is essential to our survival. We effortlessly learn by watching and then by doing, how to secure food, our responsibility to our families and the details of inter-species behavior. The transfer of this knowledge is what has allowed our species to exist through time.

This challenge of putting something ahead of us takes sacrifice. It means shedding ones fear for the sake of a larger goal. It means holding on when it hurts. Such a commitment leaves us with no physical or emotional cushion to fall on but allows faith to flourish.

In war, it’s one of the most valued characteristics of a soldier. Loyalty to ones country, which translates into loyalty for ones family and ultimately for ones self, is the force that fuels the fight. Spartan King Leonidas and his legion of 300 exemplified loyalty’s power, as it drove them to defeat much larger armies.

But while loyalty is inherent in our makeup, exhibiting its evolutionary and nationalistic value, few understand it and even fewer execute it. Our society is rife with examples of lost loyalty. We see corrupt public officials and governments. We see the prevalence of infidelity and a high divorce rate. In business, we read about more and more mass layoffs, company’s firing employees who’ve worked in their ranks for decades. And in sports, our favorites athletes swap teams and owners swap players like we once did with trading cards.

Lost in a selfish quest for immediate reward, society is poisoning itself, creating a climate where trust in our fellow man and our institutions is nearly nonexistent. What breeds this? If loyalty is in our blood, inherent to our existence as human beings what implications does society’s lost loyalty have for the future?

Tags: Society | Jun 25, 2008 |

43 Comments, Comment or Ping

mrschocolatestuff

i think the concept of loyality has slipped big time because of lack of trust. first of all, you hear of stories about dis/mistrust amongst family members- you expect ultimate loyality from them but dont get it. so the expectations of loyality from other people are virtually nonexistent. the phrase ‘trust no one’ falls heavy on so many. i dont know how soldiers do it..

[Reply]
Malia

It’s hard to be loyal to someone you feel has been disloyal to you. Soldiers have loyalty because they are all out there for the same reason and they don’t want any of their team to fall. Just like sports teams have loyalty. But in the real world, how do you put yourself out there to be hurt over and over again? There comes a point when you say I’d rather be closed off and shut people out than to feel that type of pain. I used to be sooo trusting and try so hard for people. If all of my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn’t follow. I’d be at the bottom to catch them when they fell! But then you get to a point when you just get tired of holding allegiance to people who don’t give a damn about you. You begin to ask yoursefl what’s the point?

[Reply]
mrschocolatestuff reply on June 25, 2008 9:01 am:
dont know about anyone else but i have to see it, feel it, hear it before i know you are loyal to me. i’m a very loyal person if i may toot my own horn. that’s just how i am and i fully believe in karma

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 9:04 am:
That’s true and I’m right there with you. Unfortunately, poeple don’t always have your best interests at heart. Sometimes they do and say all the right things just to get what they want.

I have to start asking people…. Why? What’s your angle? What do you want from me?

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 9:09 am:
I understand the both of you, but at what level do we have faith in people? Or should we? I mean, if someone has proven to be disloyal should we forever hold them accountable or should we kiss them on the cheek. The infamous”kiss of Judas” is a good example of loyalty. Some believe when Judas gave Jesus up to the authorities, kissing Jesus on the cheek was a sign that were actually worked together and there was no real betrayal. I consider myself a man of faith, so I’m working on the strength and sacrifice it takes to make that kiss. On some level, the betrayal waged on us is about making us stronger. And in Jesus’s case it was about being immortal.

[Reply]
blaq reply on June 25, 2008 9:24 am:
No one is perfect so if a mistake is made once then I will continue have faith in a person but if it is a pattern no I won’t

[Reply]
BlessedNMyStress reply on June 25, 2008 9:51 am:
Trusting in someone who’s made of flesh and blood is such a frightful situation. Continual emotional intensive care is from too high expectations. I trust people to be human.

[Reply]
Misha reply on June 25, 2008 10:02 am:
I have little faith in people. When I feel I’ve been wronged, I’m kinda quick to write someone off and move forward.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 10:09 am:
Judas committed the most cold-blooded, chilling betrayal of the Christ. Outwardly he acted as an intimate friend. He kissed Jesus. Inwardly he hated Him and sought to destroy Him. He was a complete stranger to Christ.
Earlier this very night Jesus had forced Judas’ hand. You will remember, perhaps, that in the privacy of the upper room where Jesus ate the Passover and introduced the Lord’s Supper to His disciples, He had announced that one of them would betray Him. And He went on to show Judas that He knew what was in his heart by dipping the sop and giving it to him. And He had told Judas, in sovereignty, “What thou doest, do quickly.”

Judas, who had made a covenant with Satan, had gone out in that night determined to give Jesus over to His enemies for thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord knew that.

Judas was one of the twelve. He was one who stood very close to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was an intimate disciple of Jesus. Judas had been sent out with the twelve to preach and to heal the sick and to cast out devils. Judas had been a personal witness of the Lord’s mighty works. He had heard the Lord’s words and had become thoroughly acquainted with the truths of the kingdom of heaven. Judas stood with the twelve disciples when Jesus taught them of all the things that He had heard of God the Father. And Judas had made an outward confession, just like the other ones, that he, too, belonged to Jesus Christ - that Christ was his Lord and Savior, his Master and his God.

Judas had followed Jesus for three years. But none of it was of the heart. Judas was not changed. The inward reality of God’s grace whereby personally one knows himself to be the chief sinner before God and calls upon God in a broken heart - to this, Judas was a stranger. And he carried on the charade to the very end - to the very moment that he planted a kiss on Jesus’ cheek. He carried on the charade of having the outward form, but inwardly he despised the reality of God’s grace.

Although we cannot look into his heart, the Bible makes very plain that the god that sat upon the throne of Judas’ heart, the god whom he served, was mammon. Judas lived for the things of this world, for money, fine clothes, greed, covetousness. And he saw at first in Jesus an earthly kingdom over which he would be the treasurer. Judas was the treasurer of the disciples. He “held the bag.” He was a thief. He followed Jesus to make merchandise of his power. And when he discerned that this was not Jesus’ kingdom, that Jesus was not concerned with adding more money to a person’s pocket, but that He had come to remove the debt of sin before the living God, then Judas plotted with Satan. He thought he could redeem his acquaintance with Jesus for what he truly loved - thirty pieces of silver!

HE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO LOYALTY!!!! NONE WHATSOEVER!!!

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 10:27 am:
That’s the popular interpretation of the story. But the are many interpretations that claim Judas worked with Jesus to solidify himself as a martyr. I’m not one who reads the bible in it’s literal form. I always reflect upon it’s relevance to the stories of my life and others. The loyalty that I describe is one that Jesus would surely have understood. It’s a certain type of positioning that allowed him to sell his message to more people and for a longer amount of time. It’s sort of a good cop bad cop agreement. You rat on me, for the sake of the people. Regardless of the interpretation that you believe, the lesson on loyalty has stuck with us until this very day.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 10:33 am:
So then we’re right back to where we started. Like I said before poeple don’t always have your best interests at heart. Sometimes they do and say all the right things just to get what they want…….

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 10:37 am:
How so? The best interest that I’m describing is the interest of people more than 2000 years later. The “assumed” pact between Jesus and Judas was sacrifice on both of their part. Jesus lost his life. Judas lost his reputation. But at the end of the day the people gained a lesson on loyalty that has should the test of time, which if it is true is genius.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 10:54 am:
First of all it wasn’t pact, it was Judas’ choice. He was a thief, he followed Jesus for 3 years because he was treasurer of the money. He got pissed when Mary broke a bottle of expensive oil over Jesus’ head because they could’ve sold for so much money. Even if you interpret the Bible based on your life, it still says he was a thief (those words aren’t for interpretation). He gave jesus up because he got PAID, there is no room for interpretation there either. He then realized he had betrayed the true Living Son of God and in his remorse he KILLED HIMSELF!!!! No room for interpretation. That’s what happened. Unless you don’t believe in Jesus’, then touche……

Like Digital Underground said, “Do What You Like”….

I’m curious…..so where was the loyalty? Where was the faith? Jesus lost his life in fulfillment of the Scriptures, as a living sacrifice for all of our sins. But Judas didn’t do a damn thing but fulfill his own greed, and he dies by his own hand. Is that a win-win situation to you?

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 11:09 am:
I think you’re misinterpreting my argument. I’m not saying that I believe either interpretation. All I’m saying is that they both exist. And in my analysis of the less popular version of the story, I’m giving Jesus props. To create a scenario where you position ourself as the protagonist and Judas as the antagonist is genius. It’s a valuable device, crafting a story that is to last throughout the ages. To do it well speaks to the genius of Christ. Like I said, I’m not saying that I believe the alternate version. What I’m saying is if it actually went down like that Jesus’s sacrifice is even greater then we can comprehend.

I love your loyalty to your faith. Its inspire me to learn as much as you know. Fa real.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 11:27 am:
Okay, I will leave it alone sweetheart! I’m a woman of deep faith as well - but my faith is not in people. My faith is in God. As much as would love to have faith in people, they have hurt me and disappointed me over and over again. Even people who claimed they loved me. I still have abundant love in my heart for people and I want to always believe the best in people I just have to pray that they believe in themselves as much as I do.

Thanks for the kind words regarding my faith. When I was a sinner, I was really good at it!!! I studied check/credit card fraud, I learned how to cut cocaine, I learned how to cook crack, embezzle corporate funds, etc. I put my life on the line for a whole bunch of nonsense. I put my all into it…. When I decided to give my life to God….I decided I wanted to be the best I could be. I want to give as much to God (even more) as I gave to the world. I study scripture now, and I make myself knowledgeable about those things now…..

Q. reply on June 25, 2008 12:43 pm:
i get what you’re saying, and it’s a very thought-out analysis of both schools of thought.. i do think that it was the 1st (to my knowledge) written piece (aside from the Old Testament) that spoke volumes about loyalty.. we use the term Judas as a term of loyalty or lack thereof.. that’s good analysis, TM.. props to you for that..

it does make one wonder why we haven’t used it as an indicator or teacher of sorts to the whole loyalty thing.. then again, we saw that it could happen to anyone, and maybe by that fact, all of our questions about loyalty are answered.. why should i think people would be loyal to me, if they weren’t to Haysus? it takes a rare breed to be loyal.. i can count on my hand those that i think will be loyal to me, and me to them..

[Reply]
Traci reply on June 25, 2008 12:52 pm:
I have as much faith in people as they allow me to have. When I meet someone I accept every thing they tell me as being truthful until they have shown me reason not to. I am completely accepting of people just as they are and as we get to know people they will show you who they are over time. It is at that point that faith either grows or wanes.

[Reply]
kendra reply on June 25, 2008 12:55 pm:
You don’t place trust in any person. Well I take that back. Regina King told Martin Lawrence in the movie “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate” that she trusts him to be Marcus, to be who he is. You trust humans to be flawed. For me it is that simple. I even know I cant be trusted. Humans are walking contradictions. We are prone to change our mind everyday. We say one thing and do something else, it is apart of learning and growing. What I stood for in my 20’s I will probably abhor in my 30’s. Anything that is not growing is DEAD. There is a wise saying that I call on in times of indecision. Someone you trust is trusting someone you would not…..Mike Murdock

Personally I have learned to trust in the Divine. His/Her Spirit within the individual not the actual person. That is another topic….smiles and hugssss

[Reply]
Traci reply on June 25, 2008 12:53 pm:
Its kind of sad that we have to be so cynical these days but we have to protect ourselves and our children above all others. If someone is too giving when I meet them I am immediately suspicious. It should be that we can be loyal to our families but no one knows how to hurt you better than your family and if you come from a family like mine on my moms side than you really know who has your best interest at heart and who is ready to do you in at the slightest provocation. I am very close and loyal to most of the family members on my dads side but they have shown me unwavering love and support and I hope they are aware of how loyal I am to them.

[Reply]
Malia

As people become more greedy and more self-absorbed, the future will definitely be survival of the fittest. You better learn how to swim because nobody will save you if you drown….nobody will catch you if you fall. If they aren’t gettting paid for it, it won’t be happening! Sad, but true! The Bible even speaks of how our hearts will wax cold. We won;’t have love for our fellow man.

With that said TROUBLMan, there are still good people in the world. You can make an immediate friend in me (if deserving). I have undying loyalty to my people. If I ever get to a point where I consider you a friend, take it seriously.

[Reply]
The Beautiful Mind

I think im some aspects loyalty is dead. People are obessed with bettering their positions by any means. Even if that means severing ties and burning bridges. I wish it wasnt this way but thats how it is. I wish people would realize life isnt about you. We were put to be a passage for blessings for others…

[Reply]
TROUBLMan

Too many people misinterpret loyalty. Some people think they’re loyal but they’re actually addicted. We see this in abusive relationship when a woman refuse to leave. She thinks sticking around is being loyal when it’s not always the case. Sometimes that type of loyalty only substantiate an abuser.s abuse.

The same goes for religion. Some people think they’re loyal simply because they follow the scripture that has been laid out before them. What if you’re life tell you that the scripture is flawed? Shouldn’t you question it? Isn’t that being loyal in and of itself? Jesus was born a Jew but he was loyal to his father, which meant he questioned the doctrine that had been laid out before him.

At what level is loyalty, not actually loyal?

[Reply]
Traci reply on June 25, 2008 12:52 pm:
I think loyalty ends when being loyal causes you harm. Being loyal to someone else should never mean that harm comes your way while protecting them. In the example you spoke of an abused woman remaining “loyal” to her abuser but loyalty should be reciprocated and when it is not than there is a problem. An abused woman may deem her allegiance to her a abuser as being loyal but in actuality she is sliding deeper into that victim role and acting out accordingly. My loyalty ends when the potential for harm comes my way or when I feel like the person I am being loyal to does nto reciprocate those feelings.

[Reply]
kendra reply on June 25, 2008 12:54 pm:
when you go along with WRONG just because you are close to a person or a situation.

I have been told that you are a friend in right and wrong times. I disagree to the 100th Power. A friend will NEVER go along with you when you are in error. That is misplaced loyalty. Hence this topic can get on the stance of “Snitching” and if it is ok or not….

[Reply]
Q.

i feel that loyalty was lost based on people’s strong desires to be on top.. everyone wants to be the leader, and not too many want to follow.. that will always kill loyalty.. it’s hard to find people to play a position, and appreciate that position.. it’s the Kentucky Derby.. everyone with blinders on trying to go for theirs and get the best spot possible.. you see it everywhere..

sometimes communication issues can kill loyalty as well.. one not understanding the other, and none of us taking enough time to truly listen..

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 9:34 am:
You hit it on the head with you understanding of the importance of listening. Listening, or being in tuned to what others are communicating whether you agree or not is one of the most supreme forms of loyalty And it goes further than just your loyalty to them. Listening is about being loyal to yourself because if you’re truly committed to the best you you’ll make that effort to humble yourself. The leaders are the people with the courage to follow.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 9:44 am:
Welcome back Q.!!!! I can’t speak for everybody else but I can definitely say that you’ve been missed. I haven’t had anyone to argue with in a few days! Did you get me a T-shirt or a key chain at least?

Okay how can disagreeing with somoene kill loyalty? If you’re loyal you’re loyal……regardless if you disagree or not. I disagree with the both of you all the time but that doesn’t mean I don’t have mad loyalty.

[Reply]
Q. reply on June 25, 2008 10:57 am:
glad to be back (kinda).. umm, i think i have some pictures!! lol

was that “disagreeing” statement to me? i don’t think i talked about that.. my comment was about listening.. and even more, being an active listener..

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 11:12 am:
Apparently I wasn’t actively listening……(smile)

Nah, really I was holding two convos at one time and talking to you and TM….

[Reply]
Q. reply on June 25, 2008 12:49 pm:
lol.. i have to work on my own active listening..

i get it.. i think TM was saying the same thing as well.. he was saying whether you agree or not, listening is the key.. so i don’t think he was saying that if you disagree, you are being disloyal.. i think he was saying exactly what you feel..

[Reply]
"A Mom" reply on June 25, 2008 12:01 pm:
Q -Glad to have you back.

Troublman - You have been on a roll lately. Great Posts overall.

Loyalty to me is something learned. We develope loyalty by our interactions. As a society it has become a lost word. It is all about self even within or races man has no loyalty to man. Our children see how we treat each other and the word becomes even less important in our lives.

[Reply]
Felicia

I have trust issues with people. Too often my acts of kindness are taken advantage of people with whom I thought were my friends. It’s a bad feeling to feel this way about people because it takes me a lot of energy to warm up to them.

[Reply]
Talisman reply on June 25, 2008 11:47 am:
I’m agree with most of yall on this. I have SERIOUS trust issues but I have friends whom I deeply trust. If you violate that trust, you’re dead to me and I’ll write you off. The ones who are “in” are my “family”, I’d do practically anything for them.

This feeling of trust is not what I base my loyalty principles on. If I’m running a crew at work or working with a team of people who’ve demonstrated shown an above average commitment level and signs that they care about what their doing, then they have my loyalty and commitment. If they don’t, I’ll fire they ass or get to steppin’ myself. Issues like this create way too much drama.

[Reply]
"A Mom" reply on June 25, 2008 12:08 pm:
Trust is one of the biggest issues. It involves us letting our guard down and allowing ourselves to be vurnerable. It’s very hard to trust in our society today. I personally have learn that it’s o.k. in some cases not to trust, but as a whole it doesn’t allow you to grow. Being vurnerable is a part of life.

[Reply]
Troublsome

Loyalty is sticking with your team even when time’s are rough! There is a war going on right now, and almost everyone that I know is going through it! It’s called the Recession! When I’m on the battlefield and that could be the workplace, the supermarket, the bank, or even at home. A war is going on. This constant battle with the economy, is allowing everyone to exploit their true characteristics and making the picture clear of the loyalty factor in humans…

[Reply]
RBT

First of all is this Sunday school or what? Loyalty weather inherent or learned is a character trait, one that I believe is essential to have, also one that starts with self. In other words if you’ve been hurt time and time again commit to yourself that you wont allow that to happen again not by losing faith and/or not engaging with others but by being smart, dont leave things up to fate and/or faith address them verbalize your feelings and you wont feel stuck on stupid when someone does you wrong. Loyalty Does exist, I’m loyal to my beliefs and to the people that I choose to be loyal to and vise versa. Being vunerable is definitely part of life and so is realizing that shit happens and things change but if you treat people the way you treat yourself and the way that you expect to be treated then you’ll be alright.

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 25, 2008 3:47 pm:
RBT——

You can miss me with that Sunday school comment! What the fuck do you care? My loyal ass shows up everyday and posts and promotes TROUBL every fucking day and you have a problem with what I said??????

You do it then nigga!!!!!

[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on June 25, 2008 3:50 pm:
LOL. Get ‘em.

I love y’all

[Reply]
Q. reply on June 25, 2008 4:19 pm:
Ok, Church Lady!! I think I see Wednesday Night Bible Study in your future!!

[Reply]
Malia reply on June 26, 2008 7:32 am:
No, fuck that! If I have to choose between God and him that’s a no brainer! God wins everytime! What the fuck has he ever done for me but put me down? Where the fuck is his loyalty? I didn’t start with the Jesus comments but I damn sure wasn’t gone let TM just warp the fuckin’ story for the masses and have Judas lookin’ like a fucking saint! That’s a fucking insult to my intelligence and definitely to God. You say there’s a war TROUBLSOME, yea, you’re right there is but I should have to internally fight with this nigga about my faith and explain a fucking post when I DO POST EVERY FUCKING DAY! He only comes around to talk shit or if he submitted the damn piece!. What the fuck kind of loyalty is that? Sounds like an ego trip to me! A whole lot of yall mutha fuckas only come around if YOU wrote the fucking post!!!!

I don’t get paid for this shit! I do it out of LOYALTY! Some days I’m not in the fucking mood to network, to put my neck out there and socialize and promote to outside groups, introduce myself and introduce TROUBL but I still do the shit!!!!

SO FUCK HIM!!! LET HIM DO IT!!!!!

Oh and he said …..”if you’ve been hurt time and time again commit to yourself that you wont allow that to happen again not by losing faith and/or not engaging with others but by being smart” Well tell that INTELLIGENT ASSHOLE I will take my smart ass on…….

[Reply]
RBT reply on June 26, 2008 11:46 am:
Damn girl calm down. Malia you are Loyal and I DONT have a problem with what you said so lighten up a little bit. We appreciate your loyalty and believe me Im here everyday so I DO know just how loyal you are. What I was trying to do with my comment was give you another perspective of looking at things so that you dont always feel attacked by life. yea i poke a lil fun that “sunday school” but trust it was definitely out of love. What I said was a general comment, tactics that I’ve used to get threw this crazy ass life that felt may be helpful to all, you included.

[Reply]
"A Mom" reply on June 26, 2008 11:48 am:
Malia,
Talk to me. Now you know that your religion does not let you just walk away. You know where and who you are come on. “What would the Lord want you to do.” Troubl ain’t no joke. Some may take it that way, but you are not one of them. You have a lot of guts and spark but you sound like you are letting your emotions get the best of you. Embrace those who try question your feeling and as you have always done. Do by your actions and not by what people say.

Love You

[Reply]
Q. reply on June 26, 2008 12:56 pm:
whoa.. slow down.. i’m usually all for setting someone straight, but this appears to be a misunderstanding.. if RBT is who i think it is, i know dude is not trying to come for your head like that.. i met him (i think), and nothing about him would say he was trying to go for your head..

i know i joke with your “Bible thumping”, but i’m also a PK.. TM was just shedding light on another way of thinking.. remember that the word speaks to us, not the other way around, so if TM felt that the story of Judas was that interpretation, who are we to stand in that path? i’ve honestly never heard that interpretation, but i’m also a PK, and learned the same story that you learned.. but it’s all how we accept it, right??

no one can ever question your loyalty to TROUBL (or that of a number of people, including A Mom), but i think this was a misunderstanding, and i’m trying to be a peacemaker.. plus you’re sounding like a stray cat that was backed into a corner.. no need to show your claws, we got your back..

[Reply]

TROUBL

Salute

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