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."
Largest Buddhist temple structure unearthed in Bukit Choras, dating back 1,200 years By Adie Zulkifli
Friday, September 22, 2023
NST - YAN: The National Heritage Department and Universiti Sains Malaysia's
Global Archaeology Research Centre (GARC) have announced the discovery
of the largest Buddhist temple structure in Bukit Choras, dating back
1,200 years.
The team led by GARC chief researcher Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw has also
discovered two well-preserved life-sized statues made of stucco (a type
of plaster), with architectures identical to ancient Srivijaya Kingdom
artifacts discovered in Sumatra and West Java, Indonesia.
National Heritage Department commissioner Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof hailed
the finding following two-week excavation works that began on Aug 28,
as the most significant archaeology discovery in the country since the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The
most unique feature about this discovery is that most of the artifacts
are still intact, the temple still retaining its full structure. -
NSTP/SYAHARIM ABIDIN
"The most unique feature about this discovery is that most of the
artifacts are still intact, the temple still retaining its full
structure. "We hope to make more discoveries to bring elements into Kedah
civilisation besides adding a new archaeo-tourism product in the state. "This is the first discovery under a pilot project following an MoU
signed between the department and 11 local universities," he said in a
press conference after visiting the site today.
Present were USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed, GARC director Professor Dr Stephen Chia and Nasha. He added that the excavation works as of Sept 8 had exposed the whole
western wall of the temple and half of its northern and southern walls,
as well as staircase structures on its base.
National Heritage Department commissioner Mohd Azmi Mohd Yusof. - NSTP/SYAHARIM ABIDIN
"The team has also discovered inscriptions in Pallava and fragments
of pottery. The site is believed to be built between the 8th and 9th
century A.D, positioning it on a similar timeline with Bujang Valley and
Srivijaya period. "The statues and artifacts discovered from the site will be taken
back to GARC USM for conservation and further research," he said.
The second phase of the excavation works on the remaining structure of the temple is set to resume by December. USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said the
university would continue working with the National Heritage Department
to carry out more excavation works at archaeological sites to further
expand archaeo-tourism products.
"There are many that are still to be explored in Bujang Valley as we need more time to carry out excavation works. "More importantly, these discoveries shall enable us to review historical events written by the western historians," he said.