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[Devilsadvocate]

Hope you enjoy this...

Und nun, liebe kinder, gebt fein acht:
Die wahrheit wird zu sand gemacht!
...Den streut man jenen in die Augen
die niemals fragen- alles glauben...
Die volle wahrheit zu ertragen
steht jenen an die Fragen fragen-
Nur dem der sie zu stellen wagt:
Und Gott hilf dem der Fragen fragt!

(My children- come and see this land
were truth has long since turned to sand
which wind will blow into the eyes
of those who never question lies...
The truth to bear is for those men
who dare to question- and who then
make asking their most pressing task:
And God help those who dare to ask...)

W.J.B

All material marked "W. J. B" is my own; anyone wanting to make use of this- feel free to do so (except commercial use, that is); just don't remove the "W.J.B", please. -Devilsadvocate-

This post has been edited by Devilsadvocate: Oct 6 2007, 11:36 AM

[Devilsadvocate]

Beautifully and poignantly sad DA...

Reminds me of 'Universal Soldier' by Donovan back in the 60's - 70's. That still gives me the shivers when I hear it.

Guinan

It was made famous around here about 25 or so years ago, by a traditional group called "Furey's and Davey Arthur".
There was a German singer who made a version in German; when i did my "Ersatz-dienst" (i was a conscientious objector), i made an additional verse to it:

"Soldat- gingst du gläubig und gern in den Krieg,
für Vaterland, Ordensband, Kaiser und Sieg;
Für Familie und Ehre- für deine Nation,
und für deinen Gott- ja, für die Zivilisation?
Hast du ihnen all ihre Lügen geglaubt:
Das Gott mit euch ist*, euch das töten erlaubt?
Das der andere ein Mörder, und du ein Held bist-
und vergasst das der Krieg seine Kinder auffrisst...?"
(Refrain:)
Und auch dich haben sie schon genauso belogen,
so wie sie es mit uns heute immer noch tun...
Und du hast ihnen alles gegeben:
Deine Kraft, deine Jugend, dein Leben...

*("Gott mit uns"="God with us" was inscribed on the belt-buckles of German soldiers during WW I)

(Translation:)
"Soldier, did you go to war believing and happily,
for the Fatherland, for medals, for the Kaiser and for victory;
For family and honour- for your nation,
and for your God- even for civilisation?
Did you believe all their lies:
That God is with you, that he allows you to kill?
That the other guy is a murderer, and that you are a hero-
and did you forget that war eats it's children...?"
(Refrain:)
And even to you, they were already lying,
as they are doing with us up to today...
And you gave them everything:
Your strength, your youth, your life...

W.J.B

I've seen one of those graveyards during a bicycle-tour through Belgium and France...at night. I wasn't sure what it was, so i took this huge torch i carried on the bike, and shone it over...It went on for *miles and miles*.
French, British, German...in a lot of cases, no one will ever know....
And the crosses are all the same.

This post has been edited by Devilsadvocate: Mar 26 2007, 11:43 PM