If you have a thought about the war in Iraq, surf here and plant a flower for peace:

http://www.suspendedgardens.net/


I wanted to write the following, but don't have enough space there, so I'll just paste it here.


This is my flower.

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My flower is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My flower without me is useless. Without my flower, I am useless.

I must plant my flower, true.

I must plant straighter than my enemy who is trying to outplant me.

I must outplant him before he outplants me. I will...

My flower and myself know that what counts in war is not the seeds we fire,

the noise of our bursts, nor the pollen we make.

We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My flower is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its necessities,
its pettals, and its stem.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

I will keep my flower clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God I swear this creed.

My flower and myself are the defenders of my country.

We are the masters of our enemy.

We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.






Paraphrased from:


My Rifle (The Creed of a United States Marine)

This is my rifle.

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life.

I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true.

I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.

I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire,

the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.

We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories,
its sights, and its barrel.

I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.

I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God I swear this creed.

My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.

We are the masters of our enemy.

We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.

-- Maj Gen WH Rupertus