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."
Biarkan rakyat memilih pemimpin mereka — Majlis Gereja-Gereja
Sunday, May 24, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Gereja-Gereja Malaysia (CCM) sangat risau dan prihatin dengan kejadian yang berlaku semasa Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak pada Mei 7 yang lalu.
Di dalam satu kenyataan akhbar yang ditandatangani oleh Rev Dr Thomas Philips yang diterbitkan pada Mei 7, CCM menyatakan bahawa “Kejadian-kejadian tidak terkawal, pergelutan dan Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri yang dipaksa keluar telah mencabul maruah Dewan Undangan Negeri serta menghina prinsip asas demokratik seperti diharapkan oleh rakyat sebagai penyokong hak-hak asasi manusia.”
“Kuasa seseorang Speaker telah dilemahkan. Polis telah melampaui kuasanya dengan mengganggu perwakilan yang telah terpilih dan penentang secara aman yang sedang melaksanakan hak mereka menyatakan pandangan seperti yang dijamin di dalam perlembagaan.” “Seharusnya, pihak polis harus tidak campur tangan dalam hal politik agar dapat memperoleh kepercayaan dan keyakinan daripada rakyat.” “CCM menyedari bahawa krisis politik di Perak adalah amat membimbangkan kepada semua dan para pencinta keamanan di Negara ini.”
“CCM merasakan bahawa inilah masanya untuk kerajaan menjunjung komitmennya untuk membina Malaysia yang demokrasi dan aman damai dengan mengembalikan kuasa kepada rakyat untuk memilih siapa dan bagaimana seharusnya mereka diperintah.”
Atas dasar ini, CCM bersama dengan rakyat keseluruhannya menyokong usaha bagi menyeru Sultan mempergunakan kuasanya untuk membubarkan Dewan agar pilihanraya yang baru dapat diadakan. Inilah satu-satunya cara untuk menyelesaikan suasana politik kini yang semakin sukar.
Sebagai umat Kristian, kita percaya bahawa keadilan akan muncul pada suatu hari nanti kerana Tuhan mengharapkan rakyat diperintah dengan prinsip kebenaran dan keadilan.
Gereja-Gereja berdoa agar terdapat penyelesaian akan krisis politik di Perak secepat mungkin sambil merenung petikan Alkitab: “Perbuatan yang baik dan adil lebih menyenangkan hati Tuhan daripada korban yang dipersembahkan… Orang jahat tidak mahu melakukan perbuatan adil; keganasan mereka akan memusnahkan mereka” (Amsal 21:3,7). The Herald
