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."
If there is to be no National Service, elections are the hope of those against the National Service which is being stubbornly carried on for the monetary gain of a few. Here is a letter from the Star.Whatever Lee Lam Thye says anytime soldiers or that matter ex-soldiers get involved, it becomes a 'Boot Camp". Soldiers when they run courses automatically have their inner sense of making everyone tough and to give the course a "reputation". You need Scout Masters and Girl Guide Mistresses to run a "Non Boot Camp".
Sunday March 4, 2007
Hold them accountable The locations of the national service camps are in jungles scattered over several states. Students are intentionally kept isolated and parents are discouraged from making contact with them. Ironically, the parents are required to absolve all claims of indemnity toward the camp commandants.
The NS and its activities are out-sourced to event contractors. They are not military organisations and are not answerable to any regulations and, regretfully, not accountable for any negligence. The camp commandants’ and wadens' lackadaisical attitude towards the students’ well-being, and subdued response to any complaints suggest more accidents are waiting to happen.
There are no full time doctors in these camps and the MOs are not qualified to dispense antibiotics. Sick and weak students do not get any sympathy from the wardens.The camp administration refuses to recognise regimented procedures that require students to undergo proper clinical examinations and fitness certification before participating in strenuous activities.
Children who fall sick need to prove that they are really sick to get proper medical attention.NS defaulters are threatened with huge fines (huge since the students are not financially independent) and jail terms (equal to that meted out to criminals) but the commandants’ get away unscathed when students under their charge die.
The well being of the students is not taken seriously. When students are dehydrated and start to be lethargic during training they are reprimanded rather than given medical help. Camps may be regulated, but accountability of camp commandants toward their charges is seriously deficient.
Not a single commandant has been indicted for negligence amounting to manslaughter. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, if your organisation is serious about revamping the NS camps, the commandants and wardens must be made to realise that they are accountable for the safety of the students.
