Loyalty is a moral standard, and there is a delicate relationship between loyalty and ethics. When asking a question about loyalty, one must know this virtue that lies in ethics does not fall under an exact science, nor religion, but under moral law. The ethnologist Dr. Rudolf Steinmetz of The Hague states, "the significance of loyalty is a central principle of the moral life"(Royce, 1969).

Loyalty can take two positions in the moral life, good and bad. But the purpose of moral rules is to guide human behavior toward actions which may be considered good (Stumpf, 1993). In finding a need to be loyal, on

In one article by Kirk Davidson (1995), he really makes a strong point about trustworthiness as key principle of loyalty. He states that all to often people of America take trust for granted. He also says "building trusting relationships with customers and marketing partners not only is good ethics but also good for long term profits. It is useful, however, to remind ourselves- and those who work for us- from time to time that trust is a critically important element in profitable business relationships." Davidson shows the importance of trust as a precious commodity, acquired slowly, easily dissipated, and regained with great difficulty. He says it is important to take stock in the loyalty that has built up.

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"In the Marine Corps, loyalty is defined as faithfulness to commitments or obligations, or an adherence to a sovereign, a government, a cause, or the like." It cannotes sentiment and the feeling of devotion that one holds for one's country, creed, family, and friends. In a military sense, loyalty is defined by the Marine Corps Performance Evaluation System as "the quality of rendering faithful and willing service, while accepting one's duties and responsibilities with selflessness"(Cecil, 1986). Marines and their leaders need to have a mutual feeling of commitment to be successful as a fighting force, but high ethical standards, although desired and sought, are not a requirement for this bond.

The founding fathers realized the importance of a healthy family unit and they put into place laws that would encourage and foster its success. They valued honesty and the right of each individual to not be standard. They valued the right of individual ownership and honest gain, and fashioned laws against stealing and even coveting which by definition is desiring someone else's possessions to the extent of plotting with evil intent. They valued life itself outlawing murder and bodily harm. They promoted honor, respect, duty, faithfulness, and freedom with responsibility, patriotism and loyalty. But what happens to loyalty in times of temptation and crisis? What happens when trials big and small come along? Do we become unstable, blown around by the wind of our emotions or do we run to the standard and remain loyal to it?

Do people believe in and are they loyal to the traditional truths and ethics on which our nation was founded or do they believe in our situational ethics that have been promoted and taught in our nation since the late sixties? Do they believe there is a standard for right and wrong that, honesty, trustworthiness, steadfastness, and loyalty are foundational and imperative in human relationships or do they believe that what you do depends on your situation and your feelings?

It is important that people recognize that there are fundamental differences in perceptions of loyalty. For example, inner-city gangs and organized crime syndicates are organizations based on loyalties, trust, and commitment to the group. Hi ethical standards are seldom a requirement for membership in these groups and, in fact, are not to common. The ingredient that makes these groups so effective is their fierce loyalty to one another.

e must understand that loyalty is a relative term, and implies that there is some object, some cause, to which loyalty is to be shown. Looking at our domestic and commercial socie

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