The beatings will continue until morale improves

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The beatings will continue until morale improves is a famous quote of questionable origin. It describes how morale, possibly in a military unit, will be kept high through the use of physical violence.

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[edit] Origin

The origin of the phrase is largely unknown, causing some to speculate that it is apocryphal.[citation needed] The most commonly cited story for the origin of the phrase come from the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II.[1][2] Supposedly, the phrase was first used by commander of the Japanese Submarine Force.[3] The quote was not meant to be taken literally but instead was facetious[4]. Another story relates to a case in Canada over a military officer fired for political reasons in which he uttered a similar quote.[5]

[edit] Modern usage

The phrase is used commonly on t-shirts and bumper stickers.[6] Both ThinkGeek and Buy.com sell merchandise adorned with the famous quote.[7] [8]. The phrase has made appearances on The Simpsons as well as Life in Hell, both projects of Matt Groening.[9] American rock band Murder by Death reference the epithet in a song entitled "Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue", from their 2003 release Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them?.[10] German industrial metal band KMFDM uses the line in their song Free Your Hate.[11] The American metalcore band Lamb of God references the phrase in the song 'Remorse is for the Dead' on the album 'Ashes of the Wake', expounding the theme of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ MetaFilter:Query
  2. ^ Military Leadership Link
  3. ^ Armedforces.co.uk: This has also been related to stories of Blackbeard. The Management of Defense, found under Useful Quotations. Link
  4. ^ History of the phrase Link
  5. ^ 1967 Winnipeg Free Press (Mar. 30) "Reinstate Admiral, Dief Urges" p. 12: Mr. Diefenbaker said senior retired officers who testified before the Commons defence committee all warned that unification will be detrimental to the morale and effectiveness of the armed forces. "In the last few weeks, HMCS Saguenay in its daily orders, and I have them here, has stated that leave will end 'until morale improves.'"
  6. ^ funtocollect.com [1]
  7. ^ ThinkGeek merchandise Link
  8. ^ Buy.com merchandise Link
  9. ^ MetaFilter:Query
  10. ^ http://www.murderbydeath.com/disc.php?disc_id=5
  11. ^ Lyrics - Free Your Hate