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."
COMMENT | Was Zaid’s unprovoked outburst justified? - R Nadeswaran
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Malaysiakini : Thereafter, he began writing for newspapers, including The Sun,
on what was termed by the authorities as “liberal Islam”. Its then
editor-in-chief Ho Kay Tat had to fend off more than a dozen warning
letters from the Home Ministry for publishing Zaid’s views.
When
Abdullah’s resignation was imminent in early 2009, Zaid urged the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong not to appoint Najib Abdul Razak as his successor.
He
pointed out that Najib, then defence minister, has been linked on the
internet and by political rivals to the brutal murder of Altantuya
Shaariibuu.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak
Zaid
also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the
Defence Ministry for the procurement of submarines and pointed out that
Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib’s friend, was an agent in the deal.
In
2016, Zaid filed a lawsuit against then PM Najib and three others to
recover the US$731 million (RM2.6 billion) and RM42 million allegedly
banked into the prime minister’s accounts.
He also sought an order
to compel Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz to pay back all alleged sums he
received, directly or indirectly, from 1MDB, and for him (Riza) to
transfer to the sovereign wealth fund all purported properties he
acquired.
The U-turn
But in an about-turn early this year, Zaid began to sing praises of Najib and took a different stand.
In a Facebook video posted in June, Zaid conceded that he was
critical of Najib and his role in the 1MDB scandal in the past but now
believes the latter did not mastermind the heist.
He said: “At the
time, I was convinced he was directly involved. After hearing the cases
in court, the SRC and 1MDB proceedings, I have changed my mind.
“Now,
I am convinced Najib was lied to. Not only by Low Taek Jho but also by
his officers. He was misled by his officers in 1MDB and lied to by
Goldman Sachs and Aabar Investments in Abu Dhabi.”
Fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho
Najib has now discharged Muhammed Shafee Abdullah and appointed Zaid’s firm. So much for the past.
On
Tuesday, after Najib’s attempts to adduce fresh evidence and to seek an
adjournment failed, Zaid went on a tirade against those who reproached
him for taking up the case.
“I am saddened that I have been castigated because I have taken up this case at the last minute,” said Zaid.
“I
would not have done so if (I thought) there was no basis; there is no
respect for people like us, old folks at the Bar. That you can be so
flippant about it, that you can be so cavalier about it.”
As a
lawyer, Zaid knows that a postponement is not a right. There must be
valid reasons for it and he accepted the brief fully knowing the dates
of the appeal. Why then find fault with all and sundry?
He says
there is no respect for old folks at the Bar. Really? Offhand, I will be
able to rattle at least a dozen names who practise at the Bar and
continue to be held in high esteem by their clients and the public.
Who was flippant, Zaid? Are you saying that the whole world should come to your cause and you must always get your way?
Zaid knows what he’s getting into
Sorry.
Most right-thinking Malaysians believe that you ventured into this case
with your eyes wide open and knowing the consequence of not being ready
to argue your case.
I am sure your client knew the risks involved
in changing horses midstream. Or did he take a chance that he can
prolong his freedom for a few more months?
On the other hand, I
agree with you that justice is a long road. It has been almost four
years since Najib was charged and two years since was found guilty by
the High Court. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence
in December last year.
Najib has been on election campaigns, in
recording studios, speaking at party gatherings and has even had police
escorts and bodyguards who accompany him everywhere.
Compare this
to the many who are languishing in prison awaiting trial. They remain
there because they have no means of raising the money for bail or paying
someone to argue their cases.
So, Najib has had more privileges
despite being convicted while those yet to be convicted are pre-serving
the sentence, even before being found guilty.
Finally, I am peeved by his claim – “But justice is a long road. Sometimes, you can get it here, you can get it elsewhere,”
Is that an extra-judicial threat or is there a higher judicial authority than the Federal Court?
American novelist William Gaddis famously said: “Justice? You get justice in the next world; in this world, you have the law.”
Prophetic words for those using God and holy books to erase their wrongdoings.
