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."
When everything is seen through the lens of religion
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
When everything is seen through the lens of religion, the consequences can be disastrous. (Sadly, something Mamakutty and the learned PAS religious leaders never really understood!!)
History has too many apt examples of religion mixing much with politics, leading to the decline of a nation. Pre-revolution Iran was a free, progressive society. Post, fundamentalist takeover, Iran of today is a land of pariahs , oppressive state with global sanctions against it.
Pakistan has suffered immensely for choosing religion over a free democratic society. Christian crusades too hurt economies in medieval times. ISIS destroyed cities and economies wherever it went. Afghanistan is in a total economic mess under the Taliban strict religious rule.
Domestically, are we going to be another fine example where religion synergize with politics??? and destroy whatever we took years to build and preserve. A religion dominating everything, destroys economies and societies at large. We can finally make a wonderful nation, comprising the best aspects of all cultures, race and religions and become a global economic superpower.
Whenever religion starts playing a more dominant role in politics, governance, culture and societal norms, there are bound to be major problems. We are destroying equality, justice and harmony, all essential to make a modern, progressive nation.
