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The General Ranjan Wijeratne Foundation
This part of the poem on the charge of the light Brigade by Lord Tennyson reflects the position of the universal soldier. In particular we see the relevance of this to our fighting Men and Women of the Armed Forces. The soldier is always called upon to resolve disputes usually caused by selfish politicians.
The soldier is the guardian of a country’s Unity, peace, law and order. Unfortunately sometimes in carrying out his duties he is subjected to various pressures and obstacles. Some lawmakers attempt to use him for their agendas in cajoling the enemy at the behest of foreign interests. As a human being he has failures as well as successes. Unfortunately these individuals gloat at his rare failures and remain muted at his successes in order to score brownie points over their political rivals. He is not consulted when dubious treaties are signed in secret, but they selfishly endanger his life when the enemy takes advantage of our kindness.
He fights night and day sometimes with lack of sleep and food, stung by disease carrying insects in the bunkers he occupies. His commitment to safeguarding our Motherland and our lives is the greatest sacrifice that one can make. We sleep, survive and enjoy ourselves with scant thought of the soldier doing his patriotic duty under conditions which are abhorrent to most of us. The soldier never complains, his commitment never waivers.
Is it therefore fair that we ignore his pleas when he is injured or look the other way when he pays the supreme sacrifice and his family cries for help? Do we continue our extravagant lifestyles and partying, oblivious to the terrible sacrifice that he is making to ensure our survival, or do we wake up from a deep slumber and stop using our Nelsonian eyes? Even an eagle eye lawmaker once said ‘after we have used them, they become of no more use to us’. He was roundly condemned
and deservedly pushed into the dustbins of political history.
Heroes are made not born. They are forged in the heat of battle where honor is but a state of mind and glory a myth that vanishes in a flash. Remembered in fits and starts when conscience strikes but otherwise largely forgotten, most of the heroes of our two-decade war languish in the shadows of oblivion.
In the words of Laurence Binyon, we must give back to those who gave, give to the wounded, the disabled and the desperate. They need you now, as we needed them then to protect us, please give until you have no more to give.
Listen closely to your conscience and do something positive to those who gave their today’s for our tomorrows! Kindly help us to rebuild the sometimes shattered lives and ensure the future of the children and widows who deserve the response of a grateful nation. This is one of the best ways to bring merit upon oneself.
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