Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
KUALA LUMPUR - In preparation for Malaysia's golden anniversary next month, banners have been hung on the streets around the Petronas Towers in downtown Kuala Lumpur showing Malay, Indian and Chinese children blissfully bicycling and running through a village at dusk. The sign reads: "One legacy. One destiny."
But behind the message of unity, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the conservative race-based party that has run Malaysia since independence, is ushering in the country's 50-year anniversary by ratcheting up its trademark fear-based communal rule. Last week Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak controversially referred to Malaysia, which includes 40% non-Muslims, as an Islamic state. "Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state," Najib said.
It's unclear whether the incendiary statement was an election ploy, but his comments have engendered a political firestorm here. (On Wednesday, Najib ordered component parties of the National Front (Barisan Nasional, or BN) that UMNO heads to prepare for an election by early next year.) More likely, the comments were the result of a desperate politician and embattled political party resorting to desperate political measures. Najib's aspirations to become prime minister are well known and have been cast into doubt by an ongoing murder trial in which the main suspects - including prominent political analyst Razak Baginda and two elite police officers - have been closely linked to Najib. Continued here.......
