Rudyard Kipling"
āWhen 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 soldierā
General Douglas MacArthur"
āWe are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.ā
āIt is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.ā āOld soldiers never die; they just fade away.
āThe soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.ā
āMay God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .ā āThe object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
āNobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
āIt 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."
Let us look at the three
points raised by PAS when it comes to the National Fatwa Council and
keep in mind that this is supposed to affect Muslims only but more
importantly, these are guidelines.
Point 1: Symbols and elements that contradict Islamic beliefs such as symbols of other religions and religious songs.
This
would mean there are no religious symbols of non-Muslims in
PAS/Perikatan Nasional-controlled states. If these guidelines are
followed by PAS/PN, this would mean any non-Islamic religious symbol
anywhere would be an affront to Islam.
Is PAS really claiming
this? This would also mean that anyone wearing a cross or any kind of
religious iconography around Muslims would be in violation of this
guideline.
Point 2: Holding such celebrations at government premises and involving Muslim staff.
Is
there a legal provision and not merely a guideline for this? Are
non-Muslim government employees banned from holding any kind of
celebration or activity on government premises?
PAS cites a
religious guideline but is the minister contravening any laws? This is
an extremely important point and perhaps one that Madani should address.
Point 3: Causing unrest among Muslims and affecting national harmony.
Who
is causing unrest? The Muslims who participated in the carolling? So
this would mean that any time Muslims celebrate any kind of religious or
cultural festival with non-Muslims this would cause unrest and affect
national harmony.
Really? So all this time, when prime ministers,
royalty, and politicians who held open houses in their personal
residences or government offices for non-Muslim festivities, were
affecting national harmony?
Celebrating non-Islam religions
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has the right of it when he says
- āIf PAS is truly serious about this issue, they should clarify
whether they also intend to ban official Deepavali celebrations for the
Indian community, Gong Xi Fa Cai for the Chinese community, or Kaamatan
and Gawai festivals in Sabah and Sarawak, which are organised by
government agencies.ā
As for Section 298A of the Penal Code, what
exactly was the ministerās blasphemous act which insulted a religion?
What exactly did the minister say or do which insulted a religion?
By
merely celebrating or acknowledging a religion other than Islam, is
that blasphemous? Maybe to PAS and perhaps to Madani if the minister is
investigated on this charge.
So this would mean that any time
anyone acknowledges another religion other than Islam, no matter the
context, it would be considered blasphemous?
What is important to
remember here is this. Non-Muslims are constantly told that Islamic law
will not affect us. We are constantly told to mind our own business and
not to interfere when it comes to Islamic law.
PAS and perhaps
Madani by its silence have demonstrated that this is a complete lie.
What PAS is attempting to do, is destroy a DAP politician by claiming
that even when he is doing his job as a minister and politician and
promoting the diversity of this country, it is an affront to Islam.
This
is made worse by the fact that the prime minister of this federal
government is yet again leaving a non-Muslim member of his cabinet out
to dry.
With friends like this the government, who needs enemies?
