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."
A political novice, Corazon Aquino was thrust to the forefront of opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos following the murder of her husband, a prominent senator. Not only did she replace Marcos as president but went on to gain a worldwide reputation as a fighter for peace and democracy, and an advocate for her strong Catholic faith.
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco was born on 25 July 1933 in Tarlac province, the daughter of a wealthy family of Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent. Her father had extensive interests in banking as well as controlling a 15,000-acre sugar plantation. After attending local schools she was sent, at the age of 13, to the US where she completed her education at Roman Catholic convent schools in Philadelphia and New York.
On her return to the Philippines she enrolled at Far East University to study law but left in 1954 to marry Benigno Aquino, a journalist and the son of a wealthy family from her home province. During the following 20 years "Cory" Aquino remained in the background supporting her husband whose career in politics saw him become the youngest mayor, youngest governor and, eventually, the youngest senator ever elected in the Philippines. A friend once described the Aquino marriage as one where "he was the warrior. She polished his sword and took care of his horse."
Assassination
Her baptism into politics followed the imprisonment of her husband in 1973 after the declaration of martial law by President Marcos. During the next seven years she became her husband's sole link with the outside world, conveying his thoughts and speeches to news conferences in an effort to keep his memory alive. In full....
