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."
Can an academician minister halt university decline? By Sharifah Munirah Alatas
Monday, January 02, 2023
Malaysiakini : COMMENT | Lately, a debate has
emerged about whether career academics or people outside of academia
should be appointed as the Minister of Higher Education (MOHE). I would
like to discuss this issue within the context of the deteriorating
quality of our universities.
The issue of whether the minister should come from an academic background was mentioned at a recent forum.
The
forum focused on the intersectionality of public policy and higher
education. It was organised by undergraduate political science students
at a public university.
They did a superb job. However, and this
is no fault of the organisers, the atmosphere at the faculty auditorium
often “see-sawed” between dignified and scholarly discourse, and
boisterous, fist-pumping, political sloganeering and rallying.
Anon25 : Sharifah what you say makes much sense. But with the way our politics is organised successive politicians will melt into that mould you have described.
I wish you, Sharifah, will seriously consider standing for elections when the next round comes up.
With this as your mission.
Join Anwar on condition you will be appointed the Minister of Education. No need for Minister of Higher Education!!
I say this in all seriousness. I am sure many join me in also wishing the same.
MS : While everything argued by the writer is sensible and merits consideration, the fundamental flaw in Malaysian education is the toxicity of Ketuananism which has seeped into every nook and cranny of the country’s administration.
It is only when the country is scrubbed clean of that poison that any change for the better is possible.
Until then, every sensible idea that emerges will not be considered because even doing so as an exercise will spook the majority weaned on race and religion as the be all of existence.
Krabian : No political will, no improvement.
Quota mills can only churn out unemployable grads.
