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."
Stop harassing professor Shad Saleem Faruqi - By Commander S THAYAPARAN (Retired) Royal Malaysian Navy
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Malaysiakini : COMMENT | “Iksim
propounds the view that Islam does not come under the jurisdiction of
any political power. According to it, religious enforcement authorities
come under the patronage of the Sultans, not state governments. This is a
remarkable vision of an autonomous, almost all-powerful, religious
elite that is like a state within a state." - Shad Saleem Faruqi
I have often referenced professor Shad Saleem Faruqi's articles in my
articles, sometimes agreeing; sometimes disagreeing with what he
writes. If someone were to tell me that Shad's intention in anything he ever
wrote was to insult or breach the peace, I would burst out in hysterical
laughter. This academic (unlike this writer) has never written a
polemic, as far as I can tell. In addition, I have probably read
everything this man has written. If you have not read the article,
that has got Iksim all in a rage, I suggest that you read it and
determine if anything in that article warrants the state security
apparatus “probing” this academic under section 504 of the Penal code.
Instead of engaging with Shad, Iksim resorted to the Islamists
playbook and issued a public statement claiming that Faruqi and the G25
(Noor Farida Ariffin specifically) were attempting to cause racial
disharmony and subverting the Islamic agenda as enshrined in the Federal
Constitution. You can read the full statement here but the relevant passage is this:
"Tohmahan-tohmahan liar berkenaantermasukoleh Prof Emeritus Shad Saleem Faruqi dan Datuk Noor Faridah Ariffin daripuak G25 dilihatsebagaisatucubaanuntukmencetuskanperasaanpermusuhanantarakaum dan agama di negaraini. Kedua-dua merekajelasmenentangpemikiran-pemikirankearahmendaulatkan Islam sebagai agama Negara sekalipuniajelastermaktubdalam Perkara 3(1) dan sumpah Yang di-Pertuan Agong di bawahperkara 37(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan."
In the quote that begins this piece, the good professor, questions
Iksim’s perspective that Islam does not come under the purview of any
political power likening such a perspective to a “state within a state.” If you read the press statement and consider Iksim’s rationale for
going after Shad and the G25, you would come to the realisation that
their “unique” interpretation of the Malaysian constitution and of Islam
in general, is exactly the “state within a state” idea that Shad
alludes to in the quote I referenced.
Have you noticed that Islamists always claim that the people they
target are attempting to cause tension amongst the various ethnic groups
here in Malaysia? Is there any evidence of this? Are non-Muslims
threatened or provoked by what people targeted by groups like Iksim say
and do? I would argue that the only people threatened or provoked are
the Islamist and the reason why they are threatened is that their views
or beliefs are challenged.
Furthermore, Iksim has not rebutted the points raised in Shad's
article. They have not claimed that what he wrote was false or
fallacious. They have not denied the agenda he attributes to them. What
they have done, is use the state to sanction the professor and
intimidate any others who subscribe to his views.
Indeed by their own admission (as quoted by Shad referencing their
March 28 booklet), – “secularism, liberalism and cultural diversity are
elements that will undermine the Islamic agenda and destroy the
country’s sovereignty”.
In other words, according to Iksim, everything that non-Muslims value
and probably a majority of Muslims are detrimental to the Islamic
agenda in this country. Therefore, when Umno potentates talk of cultural
diversity and protecting the faiths of non-Muslims, this is detrimental
to the Islamic agenda of this country.
When Umno potentates talk about the rich cultural diversity and the
need to respect different cultures as envisioned by the founders of this
country and which is great for tourism, this is detrimental to the
Islamic agenda of the country. When “liberalism” redefined as “moderation” – Islamic or otherwise –
is bandied about as the foundation for economic, social and religious
success by the establishment, this undermines the Islamic agenda in this
country.
And you know what, they are correct. If you believe in the kind of
Islam they believe in and the kind of Islam that the House of Saud, is
slowly and painfully attempting to reject, all these concepts are
detrimental to turning this country into an Islamic state. An Islamic state where the primacy of syariah law and the submission
of Muslims and non-Muslims to a theocratic hegemon is the natural order
of things which is the desired state – and state of being – of Islamists
like Iksim.
'Islamists not interested in debate'
A couple of months ago, the crypto-fascists got their knickers in a twist when I wrote
that, liberalism is only a threat to the kind of Islam tyrants preach –
“Those people who fear 'liberalism' however they define it, in reality,
fear the loss of power when empowered societies choose alternatives. So
yes, liberalism is a threat to the kind of Islam they preach. Mind you
they may actually win in a 'fair' democratic contest because that is one
of the perils of democracy. Beyond institutional safeguards, democracy
is a risky endeavour, but I would take it to anything these Islamists
have to offer.” While Shad Faruqi has invited them to debate and challenge his views,
the reality is that Islamists are not interested in debate or
discussion. Their only interest is submission. This is why they have no
need for freedom of speech and expression.
There is enough empirical evidence to demonstrate that such concepts are anathema to the kind of Islam they wish to promulgate. In many of my articles where I discuss the numerous provocations of
the state-sanctioned Islam in the private and public lives of
non-Muslims in Malaysia, I have always made it clear that the people
feeling the brunt of a state-sanctioned religion is the majority, Malay
Muslim population. I have also made it clear, that Malay Muslim public intellectuals,
academics and writers, are at the mercy of the state conspiring with
various Islamists groups – sub rosa and overt – who sanction behaviour
that they and they alone determine to be a threat to the state
sanctioned religion.
Ultimately, Siti Kassim (will someone elect her already) has the
right of it, when in her Facebook page, she wrote: “We must stand with
professor Shad Faruqi. We should never allow these extremists group
taking over our country. Never. Never. Never."