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."
What else is there to talk about besides the 3Rs? - Commander S THAYAPARAN (Retired) Royal Malaysian Navy
Saturday, July 06, 2019
Race, religion and rulers
Malaysiakini : “When all are guilty, no one is; confessions of collective guilt
are the best possible safeguard against the discovery of culprits, and
the very magnitude of the crime the best excuse for doing nothing.” – Hannah Arendt, On Violence
COMMENT | Malaysiakini recently ran a couple of pieces on the '3R surge', which basically means Malaysians have been talking about the sacred cows of Malaysian politics – race, religion and the rulers – more after the Pakatan Harapan win. Political
operatives have been blaming one another for this, but the reality is
that as long as Malaysians support race-based parties, either
individually or in coalitions, there will always be talk of the 3Rs.
As
long as there is no alternative that forms the basis of a strictly
secular and egalitarian government, this propaganda of a 'Bangsa
Malaysia' will eventually be the ruination of whatever is in opposition
of the far right of this country. While Umno and PAS continue to
frame the narrative of mainstream Malay politics in this country,
non-Malays have to be content with their supine power structures that
rely on a base which allows them plenty of leeway.
