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."
Malaysiakini : Parties in military bases allegedly involving soldiers and escorts from outside the camp, called “parti yeye” (pronounced yeay yeay), have continued to plague the armed forces despite a ban since 1998.
Sources,
however, said that the ban and the formation of the Armed Forces
Islamic Services Corp (Kagat) in 1985 have made such activities, which
were once common occurrences, an exception rather than the norm.
When they do happen these days, it is usually because a camp’s commanding officer turned a blind eye to them, one source said. (This is Bullshit, he does not! He joins us - Me)
Personally, I feel many have knee-jerked reacted too hastily and harshly - this could be just similar to the hundreds of mess parties of the 60s,70s, 80s, (especially in the multi-racial Rangers' messes) - where the language then was, "Happy Hours", "work hard, play hard", "& however much you drink, you remain, then & always, an officer & gentleman!"
Yes, then and now, times have changed, but let's be honest, had the same religious-related restrictions of today been imposed then, well over half of the armed forces Officer Corps would be Court-martialed - for participating in a Ye-Ye Party!
No!?
C'mon - loud music, karaoking, singing, dancing - officers with their wives, bachelors with their girlfriends or fiances - these were the norms and part and parcel of regimental life - we in service, we're in an exclusive community where first and foremost, we're one big family of tight-comradeship, and always watching each other's backs.
In short, the Armed Forces (just like our pay scheme and terms of service) is an excluve institution, and how it chooses to implement welfare & entertainment for its officers and men (and their family members) should not be dictated by outsiders, especially those who we refer to as moral-enforcers!
Once upon a time, we young officers were instructed to take the GOC's wife for a dance - a courtesy expected of young officers.. .. .. but today.....?
Before I'm misunderstood, I'm not suggesting orgies be permitted, or endorsing criminal acts, but give some leeway-lah to how service personnel relax and once in a while, "let their hair down" in the privacy of their messes.
That's all! Because I was young once too, and have had some really good parties in our messes, which by today's standards, we all may well be court martialed!
Oh well, the good ol' days!
