Is it just me?

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.


How many of you know what that is and where it is from???



I use that quote as the sig file on my primary email account. It has engendered several very widely varied responses. I have had a person tell me that it was vastly inappropriate for a forum where children might read it. (a mailing list concerning fencing) I have had one guy launch into a tirade about me forcing unwanted "socio-political opinions" on him while conducting business. (He bought something from me off Ebay) Lastly I had someone ask my father if I was suicidal because it was so depressing and talked of killing yourself.

Gads. For those who don't know it is a stanza from Kipling's poem The Young British Soldier

Do people just not read Kipling? (Foolish question I know, people don't read much anymore) Sigh. I just liked it after my time in Afghanistan.

Interestingly enough, I didn't use it as a sig line while I was in the country. Then I took this quote from a letter that a Roman Centurion wrote home while off Campaigning in North Africa.

"We hear that there are tumults and riots in Rome, and that voices are raised concerning the army and the quality of our soldiers. Make haste to reassure us that you love and support us as we love and support you, for if we find that we have left our bones to bleach in these sands in vain,then beware the fury of the legions."

Which seemed quite appropo for the time and a pretty good one for any soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan now.