The Final Inspection..

[Azaad]

As some of you may know, (as I've mentioned it in other posts) I train with my local Territorial Army unit in West Bromwich... Recently when I was there for a training session, I read the following poem on the notice board... It was accompanied by a petiton which urged people to give more respect to our Troops and Armed Forces..Even though, we may not agree with the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, we should still give credit to our armed forces where it is deserved...

Below is the poem; (took me ages to find on the net)...Read it and please leave comments on what you think!!!

THE FINAL INSPECTION

THE SOLDIER STOOD AND FACED HIS GOD

WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS

HE HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING

JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS

"STEP FORWARD NOW YOU SOLDIER,

HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU?

HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED TO OTHER CHEEK?

TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"

THE SOLDIER SQUARED HIS SHOULDERS AND SAID

"NO, LORD I GUESS I AINT

BUT THOSE OF US WHO CARRY GUNS,

CANT ALWAYS BE A SAINT

I'VE HAD TO WORK MOST SUNDAYS,

AND AT TIMES MY TALK IS TOUGH

AND SOMETIMES IVE BEEN VIOLENT

BECAUSE THE WORLD IS AWFULLY ROUGH

BUT I NEVER TOOK A PENNY

THAT WASN'T MINE TO KEEP

THOUGH I WORKED ALOT OF OVER TIME

WHEN BILLS GOT JUST TOO STEEP

AND I NEVER PASSED A CRY FOR HELP

THOUGH AT TIMES I SHOOK WITH FEAR.

AND SOMETIMES GOD FORGIVE ME

IVE WEPT UNMANLY TEARS

I KNOW I DONT DESERVE A PLACE

AMONG THESE PEOPLE HERE

THEY NEVER WANTED ME AROUND

EXCEPT TO CALM THEIR FEARS

IF YOU'VE A PLACE HERE, LORD

IT NEEDN'T BE SO GRAND,

I NEVER EXPECTED OR HAD TOO MUCH

BUT IF YOU DONT IL UNDERSTAND

THERE WAS A 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 BURDENS WELL

WALK PEACEFULLY IN HEAVENS STREETS

YOU'VE DONE YOUR TIME IN HELL."

[Laadli Fauj]

beautiful

[Azaad]

"Just imagine that you are a british soldier returning from a tour of IRaq or Afghan. For the past few months, you have been putting your life on the line for your country. Every day, you have faced the risk of death from bomb and bullet. As you arrive back in Britain , you feel a mixture of relief, exhaustion and pride in your service. Yet your return seems at best to be a matter of supreme indifference to the public. There are no crowds at the airport, nor any large parades. You are expected to disappear quietly from view, so that the country can concentrate on important issues like Pete Doherty's drug rehabilitation programme or the next winner of ITV's The X Factor"

WORDS OF COLONEL JORGE MENDONCA

a corporal who was blown up by a scud missile in northern Kuwait was flown back to britain and taken to hospital in Birmingham by lorry as there were no amulances available. he was asked to remove his uniform in case it offened anyone who was against the war in iraq!!! He needed 20 operations on his stomach,shoulder,throat,knees,bladder,spine and bowel.

In America troops have an honoured place in society. They are cheered in the streets, given priority in queues, on transport and in shops!!!! Some British soldiers serving in Iraq are paid just £8,000pa.!!!

[kaur_khalistani_lioness]

poems =) heart warming and thought provoking "YOU'VE DONE YOUR TIME IN HELL."

soldiers life is hard nd they deserve respect

[Hershi]

vaheguru...that was a nice read!