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."
Western Spirit : Your ancestors were real pious Christians who fought to defend Christendom. As you probably know by now, I have very little patience for the modern version of Christianity that Raymond Ibrahim
calls “doormat Christianity,” the idea that being Christian means
surrendering before your enemies, feeling embarrassed by your own
civilization, or confusing passivity with virtue.
Christians
have enemies in two senses: spiritual and physical, and Scripture
speaks to both. Against the spiritual enemy, the Christian fights with
prayer, faith, repentance, truth, and the Word of God; against a
physical enemy who comes to kill, conquer, or destroy, Christian charity
does not require helplessness. Christ Himself told His disciples, “he
who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one” (Luke 22:36),
and when they answered that they possessed two swords, He replied, “It
is enough” (Luke 22:38).
Our forefathers understood that
distinction. They could pray for their enemies while defending their
people from them, forgive personal injuries while resisting invasion,
and fight the spiritual battle for souls while taking up the physical
sword when their families, churches, and homelands required protection.
And when Muslim armies came against Christendom, they did exactly that. Fortunately, many of them left us their own words. Here is what they said…
John of Capistrano to the Christian defenders during the night assault on Belgrade, July 21–22, 1456:
“Behold,
my sons, now is the acceptable time, now is the time of the crown, now
is the time of redemption from sin. Defend the name of Jesus Christ
manfully and boldly; charge against the enemy of Christianity; fight to
defend the Catholic faith. Behold, the dogs are ready to erase the name
of Christ from the earth, and to invade, occupy and strike down
Christendom. Trust now that God will help his cause… Do not fear those
who kill the body, but who cannot kill the soul… Blessed is the one who
is struck for the love of Christ; more blessed is the one who sheds his
blood for Christ’s defense; and most blessed is the one who lays down
his life and dies for Christ’s honor. Whether you conquer on earth or
are conquered, you will be victorious in heaven. Oh Hungarians! …
strengthen Christians in their weakness; come to the aid of Christendom;
take a stand against your enemies.”
Vlad III, letter to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, 11 February 1462, explaining why he broke peace with the Sultan:
