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."
Unmasking Malaysia’s National Day charades By Kua Kia Soong
Monday, August 21, 2023
Malaysiakini : These themes are in fact amateurishly crafted doublespeak that
manipulates the emotions of the populace while conveniently diverting
attention from the real issues plaguing the nation.
Under the
guise of promoting “Madani” or “Harapan” in the National Day theme, the
government attempts to project an image of inclusivity and
progressiveness.
However, this is nothing but a smokescreen to deflect from the increasing erosion of civil liberties and human rights.
The government selectively embraces unity rhetoric while suppressing any form of diversity that challenges its grip on power.
Dissent is labelled as a threat to unity, thereby stifling legitimate criticisms and entrenching the government's authority.
Does ‘unity’ include LGBT community?
The so-called “unity government' banning the Swatch rainbow watch is a glaring example of their hypocritical stance on unity.
While
professing to promote unity, they are only fostering a culture of
intolerance and discrimination. This ban not only violates individuals'
right to personal expression but also underscores the government's
inherent prejudice against the LGBT community.
It's clear that the
government's version of unity is nothing, but uniformity enforced
through fear and coercion. And if this is not the “Green Wave” we were
warned against during the last state elections, what is?
Does national ethos allow talk of Marxian economics?
The recent raid on Toko Buku Rakyat bookstore and the confiscation of books on Karl Marx further expose the government's insidious motives.
Under the pretext of preserving harmony, they are systematically dismantling intellectual discourse and diversity of thought.
The ban on books that offer alternative perspectives reveals the
government's insecurities and its fear of ideas that challenge its
narrative.
This
undermines the very foundation of a democratic society and promotes a
culture of intellectual stagnation. Or will the prime minister, like his
former doyen Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claim that this action was not his
but that of his home minister?
The supposed “Green Wave'” threat highlighted by the government is another cynical ploy to manipulate public sentiment.
While
fundamentalist concerns are undoubtedly important, it's a tactic used
to divert attention from more pressing issues like corruption, lack of
transparency and economic inequality.
By focusing on this “Green
Wave” threat, the government avoids accountability for its own failures
such as banning the Swatch rainbow watch and avoids addressing the root
causes of Malaysia's challenges.
In conclusion, the government's
use of politically nuanced National Day themes is a calculated strategy
to maintain power while eroding democratic values.
The themes of
“Madani”, “Harapan”, and “Unity” are a façade that conceals their true
authoritarian nature. The bans on the Swatch LGBT watch and confiscation
of books on Marx demonstrate the government's hypocrisy and its
stifling of diversity and dissent.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
This
episode serves as a reminder that the National Day celebrations, while
ostensibly intended to foster unity, can also be arenas for the
expression of political agendas that may not always align with the
greater good.
As the years go by and Malaysia continues to evolve,
it's essential to remember the double standards and deviations that
have marked the nation's history.
Only through an informed and
discerning citizenry can Malaysia truly progress towards the ideals of
unity and progress that its national themes profess to uphold.
