It may be “much ado about nothing”. I still believe that small details are and must be important. It may just be a small peccadillo. But for some reason it seems to be important to me. It may not be something to quibble about, but perception is everything. And it’s how I look at things, especially today—small things are important.

What is it that bothers me now? It’s how we administer an oath, and how it is acquired or what reverence is shown by the person making the oath.

I practiced law for more than 37 years. I took an oath when I was admitted to the Bar. I took several oaths when I appeared as a witness and gave testimony. I administered oaths to witnesses when I served as an Arbitrator (think judge). In my mind oaths were and are, very important. It is a promise to act in a certain way, to give truthful testimony, or to serve as indicated by the oath.

It may very well be that I am making things up—but I seem to recall that when I was taught about oaths early in my legal career, I was taught that there were certain formalities, procedures and expectations when an oath is administered.

I was coached to bring your right arm to the square when making an oath. Or instruct the person making the oath to bring his right arm to the square.

Now, bringing an arm to the square has a meaning. A square is a four equal sided geometric figure. If you raise an arm “to the square” then your arm has to represent two sides of the square. That means it will be at a 90 degree angle. Not 20 or 30 or 40 degrees, but 90. The right arm will be held straight up. This indicates truthfulness, honesty, candor and frankness. That is the meaning of holding your arm to the square.

After the arm is raised to the square, the person is to repeat the words of the oath as administered. An oath is pledge, a sworn statement of allegiance, a vow, a word of honor. It means the person making the oath makes a promise or covenant. It is binding. Such an action used to be sacrosanct, sacred or even holy. Especially to those with allegiance to God.
Lately I have watched people taking an oath, being sworn in in some official capacity. I have been amazed at the slothfulness, lazy, or apathetic mannerisms used in taking an oath! Arms are often barely raised at all—certainly not to a 90 degree angle. The words are muttered or even slurred. They seem to have no real meaning to the oath taker.

Soon a new President of the United States of America will be sworn it. It will be most interesting to see the importance he shows by his posture and words in making this promise or new covenant.

He will repeat the words prescribed in our Constitution: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Then, as George Washington proclaimed as he knew of the significance and weight of the oath, he spontaneously added “So help me God.” Those last words have become a simple but powerful addition to the Presidential Oath of Office.

George knew he couldn’t perform his new duties without God’s help! I hope our new President feels the same way.