Sri Lankan Male: Requiem

I don't think the war in Sri Lanka ended long enough ago for images of the soldier to generate a sense of nostalgia. But on this blog it does just that. The image of the Sri Lankan soldier is to me one of the most alluring images of the Sri Lankan male.

The eyes of the soldier don't smile, but rather reveal conflicted emotions. I believe it is a combination of determination, fear and bravado.

The soldier is most in want of the things that their service helps to provide. They don't have the physical comforts that many of the rest of us have and their hardships contrast directly with the ease of life we take for granted.

The Sri Lankan soldier is perhaps no different from any soldier anywhere, except that while in Sri Lanka he is very much a part of the environment in which he serves.

He perhaps sees himself more directly as a guardian of his homeland. The streets he patrols and the people and places he keeps watch of are all part of what he knows of as his own.

Many of us idolize the soldier, while some others may deride him. He is somewhat like the civil servant as his upkeep comes from what we pay in fees and taxes. He is somewhat like the police, because he carries a gun and threatens with a big stick. But unlike them his position and well-being is tenuous.

Today we may salute him, while tomorrow we might have only a memento of his to honor.

The eyes of a soldier are kind, I feel, but I am not sure of the reason why. Perhaps it has something to do with his youth. Although he endures hardship and experiences the world in ways that most of us need not, he retains a mantle of innocence.

The kindness I see in the soldier's eyes are like the innocence of a child.

The soldier's role is conflicted and the life he leads is one of melancholy. This is echoed in the words of a poem whose author goes unknown...

'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
source

The soldier's role is conflicted as he may be both the victim and offending agent in the mess that is war and conflict. Nevertheless he bears our burden, and for that he deserves our sympathy, if not unconditional honor and respect.

What is the greatest burden the soldier bears?

Is it the burden to defend a nation or the burden to provide for one's family?

And why does he volunteer to serve? Is it a desire to protect the homeland or the need to earn a living?

Of course all these things play a role and one soldier's motivation may differ from the next.

But the greatest burden I suppose is the self-sacrifice that their service entails, whatever their motivation.

Those of us who carry guns...

It is very politically correct to speak good of the soldier while speaking bad of any war. Of course, there is logic in this. Soldiers are trained to be obedient. They follow orders; they don't dictate or set policy.

At the end of the day, a disgruntled worker can say screw this and walk off the job. The consequence may be a difficult loss of income. But a soldier does not have this option, less he face the consequence of imprisonment.

One of the most poignant moments in Avatar was when the female helicopter pilot did just that. Screw this! she said as she abandoned her mission of destruction, but she had to pay for that act of bravery with her life.

It is politically correct to speak good of the soldier and well, that makes perfect sense.

But those who carry guns, can't always be saints. They are probably no better or worse than all the rest of us.

There are, however, profiles--they are young, probably less educated and less privileged. They are also mostly male. That said, they are not likely to be genetically any braver than the rest of us, any more disciplined nor any more honorable.

They are as human as we all are. They are not saints. So, perhaps we ought not over do the honor and praise.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets...

I guess the reason for the praise is not at all that these men or saintly, but that they often face the ultimate peril and they do it on the behalf of others, whether they want to or not, and even whether or not we want them to. They are the proverbial pawns, and for that we ought at least recognize them.

The tag line is that ...you've done your time in Hell.

Not under foreign skies
Nor under foreign wings protected -
I shared all this with my own people
There, where misfortune had abandoned us.
[1961]

Requiem, Anna Akhmatova

The most dramatic images are those of the soldier.



See also, We Salute Them

PS: Any takers on what the word requiem actually means. I know it has something to do with classical music and perhaps with returning to or remembering something. But upon completing this post, I've gotten to wonder if I really know what the word means. Now I see, which means this post was spot on!

The photos appearing in this SLM post are from a variety of sources (sometimes referenced) and have been edited to complement the theme of this post. I place no claim of ownership on any but original SLM images, indicated when such is the case. Original SLM images are free for use in any format, but I request a courtesy link back to this website.

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