Don Shanks

I am the Deputy Director, Young Marines National Headquarters and I feel extreamly blessed to continue to work with the Young Marine program since my retirement from the Marine Corps.
My "Life's mission statement" is a quote from Harry S. Truman: "Imagine what could be accomplished if we didn't care who got the credit? All too often, we are looking to make sure someone sees us doing good to validate our deeds. Do onto others, as you would have them do unto you, regardless if someone else is watching.
I have been perusing the MySpace "Spaces" and have to say that I agree with our National Executive Director that I am ashamed at some of the sites that our Young Marines have out there. If you have someone post an inappropriate comment on your "Space", you are the one who needs to clean it up and let the person who posted know that it is unacceptable to post those things on yours or others "Spaces".
Remember, you have an obligation to the Young Marine program to set the example for all other youth to follow. Start by setting the example on your "MySpace", and live up to the high moral standards your leaders have taught you.
Don't try to use your MySpace account to fit in with others, use it to show who you really are, and if the dirt rolls out onto your MySpace, realize that others are seeing this for who you are, and it is not what the Young Marine program is about.
Beware of what you post. There are many child predators on the internet, and they are reading everything you post to use against you. They know when you had a good or bad day, because you told them so, on your MySpace account.
They know where you live and how old you are, whether you swear, or if you drink and even the relationship you have with your parents. All of this is ammo for them to use against you. Beware of what you post; you never know who is reading.
Semper Fidelis,
Don Shanks
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