What Are We Fighting For?

I've had just enough time to...   stop fighting...

Taken during a stroll in the park by the Kuching river esplanade

Are men born to fight?

What are they fighting for?

The weak say I fight to defend

I fight for survival

But when they become strong

They covet what is not theirs

And fight to conquer

Men say I fight for my country

But when there is no enemy

They fight among themselves

Men say I fight for my religion

I fight for my God

But God says don’t fight among yourself

Men say they fight for glory

But where is the glory in massacres

In fatherless child and widowed wife

And bones bleached by the sun

When men lament the price of fighting

It is always too late –

Much too late

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where have all the flowers gone?

Beijing Opera #1 – I Am A Painted Face But Not A Clown.

I've had just enough time to...   be touched by the tragedy of Xiang Yu

Taken of the dressing of Xiang Yu before his Beijing Opera performance

I am a painted face

But not a clown

Who moves you with laughter

I move you to tears

With tragedies

Of my own

And that of others

The world is

A greater comedy

Than that

Played by the clown

Will you laugh

Or cry

Along with me?

Xiang Yu项羽, the “Overlord of Western Chu” is a proud and complex man. He would save his horse when all is lost but not himself because he is too proud to face his people in defeat when not one of his 8,000 loyal soldiers who followed him to overthrow the Qin Dynasty survived. A brilliant strategist who won battles after battles but rushed into a trap he knew was set up for him to save his concubine. A caring leader who ordered his 28 remaining soldiers to take the last boat to safety while he stood to meet his end but a tyrant who buried alive 200,000 enemy soldiers who surrendered. He was honorable enough not to kill his nemesis Liu Bang by deceit when he had the chance yet there was no honor when he killed his own commander Song Yi for not listening to his advice. This was the King that bade farewell to his concubine.

This Is A Call To Arms!

I've had just enough time to...   question the call to arms.

Taken in my favourite hotel museum in Malacca, Malaysia.

This is a call to arms!

Weary soldiers, pick up your swords

And fallen shields

Leave your fallen comrades behind

Brace yourself for the onslaught

Though your weary arms refuse to obey

Steel your heart and plunge your steel

Into the heart of your fallen enemy

This is a call to arms!

Defend your country

Defend your brothers

Defend your family

Defend your pride

Defend your manhood

Defend your belief

Defend your religion

Defend your creed

Defend everyone

Defend everything

But…

Who is there to defend me?

_______

Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory

Armed With A Heart Of Steel

I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me

To No Man Shall I Kneel

Their Blood Is Upon My Steel

Blood Is Upon My Steel

Call to arms - Manowar

I Walked The Bridge Over River Kwai.

I've had just enough time to...   walk over the River Kwai.

Taken while walking on the Death Railway over River Kwai, Thailand.

When I walked the bridge over River Kwai, 

When I walked over the Railway of Death, 

Did I hear the moans of restless souls 

Fallen on the beds below? 

Did I hear the whispers in the wind 

Carried by the bamboo groves 

Whose roots entwined with their bones 

Enriched by their flesh and blood?

The lush valley hides many a bitter tales 

Of foolish men and their foolish war 

And no matter how they paint it over 

Where is the glory in that? 

If you take a quiet walk 

You may hear a curling scream 

You probably imagined it 

Or maybe you did not.

There Is No Reasoning With Orcs!

I've had just enough time to...   confront an Orc and lost for I use reason.

Taken in outer Shanghai of the Orc guarding the door.

I have powerful fists to smash faces in

Brute strength to break your limbs

Metal chest to prepare for war

I’ll be the last to fall!

You ain’t passing thru!

I don’t hear your reasons

Thinking is treason

Tears won’t do any good

But some gold would.

Only gold will get you thru!

_______

Is there a noble way to die?

- Warcraft 3 Orc Ending.