Five thousand balloons, capable of raising two men each, could not cost more than five ships of the line; and where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defense as that 10,000 men descending from the clouds might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?
quote by Benjamin Franklin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
What a big joke
What a big joke
the new defence force has become,
where three thousand soldiers
strike and run riot
and it’s people
who chooses to be soldiers.
If Jan Smuts ruled
they would have been dead
as he let them
load a gun
for Jopie Fourie
and to me it’s nothing less
than revolt
for which people in the past
could pay the ultimate penalty.
I almost laughed myself apart
when medical troops
where brought to justice
for whoring
and I wondered
what was now happening
at the once great 1 Mil?
What kind of army has no discipline
and in what defence force
troops and junior officers
tell generals
how to do their thing
and the President
is challenged
to take instructions?
In my time you where bound by law
to go without any choice
to the defence force
and if you did not go there,
the military police
quickly came to fetch you
at home.
In my defence force
nonsense was taken out of you
from the start
and the authority of higher ranks was supreme
and we exercised with a pole and tyre
and received
the best training there.
.
For two years we
had to do national service
against a pauper’s pay
and it felt at a time
as if the camps
would never end.
a Soldier pointed his finger
at a lieutenant
and received thirty days
in the detention barracks
for it.
It was a defence force
that showed its fist
to Swapo, Fapla,
the Cubans and Russians
and the best soldiers
knew their duty.
Against what foe
will this new army be able to stand
if there’s no discipline
and like in a asylum people run amok
and I wonder
what omen
is hitting the new South Africa
where patriotism
lies at the backdoor
and every soldier thinks
that he’s a general
and like all things
in this once great country,
this army is more than pathetic
against what it once was.
[Reference: 1 Mil=> One milatary hospital.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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The Fair Stranger. A Song
Happy and free, securely blest,
No beauty could disturb my rest;
My amorous heart was in despair
To find a new victorious fair:
Till you, descending on our plains,
With foreign force renew my chains;
Where now you rule without control,
The mighty sovereign of my soul.
Your smiles have more of conquering charms,
Than all your native country's arms;
Their troops we can expel with ease,
Who vanquish only when we please.
But in your eyes, O! there's the spell!
Who can see them, and not rebel?
You make us captives by your stay;
Yet kill us if you go away.
poem by John Dryden
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99 Red Balloons
(as sung by john feldman - goldfinger)
(originally by nena - 1984)
(includes a verse from 99 luftballons - also by nena)
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money weve got
Set them free at the break of dawn
til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, somethings out there
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by.
99 red balloons floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, its red alert
Theres something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As 99 red balloons go by.
99 decision street, 99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super-scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what weve waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by.
99 kriegsminister
Streichholz und benzinkanister
Hielten sich fuer schlaue leute
Witterten schon fette beute
Riefen: krieg und wollten macht
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 luftballons
99 dreams I have had
In every one a red balloon
Its all over and Im standin pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenier
Just to prove the world was here...
And here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go.
99 knights of the air
Ride super-high-tech jet fighters
Everyones a silverhero
Everyones a captain kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify and classify
Scramble in the summer sky
As 99 red balloons go by.
song performed by by Goldfinger
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Prince Of Orange
Look at these hands
Spokes of the sun God delay you, spray you
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
Brass robinettes
Trumpet and drums for the taking, baking
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
All the food he steals is all right
Far the tall and gentle poplar
Causing fanfare to those listening
Now
Drape round your head
Mischief and secrets in green kelt, all hell
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
Look at these lands (--- --- ---)
Youll get no books for your dinner
Sinner
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Strength to bear
Let dark clouds never appear
We have no more strength to bear
We feel shame as others brethrens do
There is some substance in it and it is very true
We have won the first round
New goal to be pursued and found
Lot more works to be done
Hard earned freedom should not be gone
Our forefathers did it for young generation
We can’t work for its decimation
Whether there is inclination or declination
The struggle is to be waged with firm indication
The firm resolve may force even dictators
They are our leaders and mentors
They can’t force us to be live in poverty
How can that be permanent feature in reality?
The rule can be changed and brought over
No one can escape it under dark cover
Let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind
It is traditional change and may affect the direction of wind
We may watch and closely observe
Only right people may find place and deserve
The country is supreme and we must serve
Only cowards may run away with loss of nerve
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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The Hunter
A force of light an angel
Sent through time to destroy
Avenging the dark ones
Descending angelic force
Heaven sent the hunter
Her mission to crucify
Slay the hellborn
His offspring demonic force
Chorus
Descending from heaven
The angel sworn to bring him down
The hunter the thunder
The wrath of heavens comin' down
She swore an oath
song performed by by Iced Earth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Distinctions
On the surface the town appears
Like any town, perhaps your own;
It has its share of low-cost homes
Segregated from the splendid
Houses by an invisible
Well defined demarcation line.
The inferior homeowners
Dine out when they can afford to
At fast food places like Wendy’s;
Whereas the well-to-do- frequent
Eateries with French sounding names;
You can distinguish these people
From the rest of us by their dogs:
They’re the prissy pooches with bows.
poem by Albert Ahearn
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A Balloon For You All
I want to give you, my dear friends,
A balloon of your choice and colour
So that you will play with it
Your sweet face blooming like a rose.
But you are overgrown
Overgrown like never before!
Some are like Goliaths and some resemble the unknown men from Kob.
Some look like overgrown convent girls and a few are like the Amazons.
I want to sell my balloons at any cost
For my balloons are about to burst any moment.
Once you begin to play with them
I am relieved a lot; who cares for your tears?
I tell a man with salt and pepper on head,
`Buy one balloon and play with it for a while`.
He laughs at me and chases a young girl.
My balloons begin to burst.
I whisper into the ears of a woman selling woes,
` A balloon for your happiness to return, please`
She looks into my basket of colours and throws back a sob.
My balloons begin to shrink.
As I walk along the beach of sand dunes,
The waves of my realisation recede to the depths.
My balloons burst within their little vacuums
As my heart longs for being one among them.
poem by M.d Dinesh Nair
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I believe that the average guy in the street will give up a great deal, if he really understands the cost of not giving it up. In fact, we may find that, while we're drastically cutting our energy consumption, we're actually raising our standard of living.
quote by David R. Brower
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor.
Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Like Helium Balloons
Before our very eyes…
Like helium balloons
Ideas imbued with passion rise
Like lead balloons
Bad ideas sink like a rock
Like Burst balloons
That fragment before one’s eyes
Like trial balloons
Ideas conceived, then undock
And float away
Like lover’s sighs…
Like helium balloons
before our very eyes…
poem by David Whalen
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Ideas
Before our very eyes…
Like helium balloons
Things imbued with gas rise
Like lead balloons
Bad ideas sink like a rock
Like Burst balloons
Can fall From the skies
Like trial balloons
Ideas float and undock...
before our very eyes…
poem by David Whalen
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Edge Of Night
I stand alone, ashore before
The suns inevitable quench.
My eyes absorb the golden brown
Horizon melting into night.
The teasing tide touches my feet
Like a juvenile game of tag.
My hurried mind futilely fights
The suns descending final dip
That will take with it the beauty
And my reasons for being here.
The darkened clouds in the twilight
Loom like rudderless ships at sea;
And not unlike the seeming ships
I disappear into the night.
poem by Albert Ahearn
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Running Up That Hill
( Kate Bush cover )
It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You *be running up that hill*
You and me *be running up that hill*
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...
You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There is thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, *be running up that hill*
You and me, *be running up that hill*
You and me won't be unhappy.
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
If I only could, oh...
'C'mon, baby, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh...'
And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems. x2
'If I only could, be running up that hill.' x7
song performed by by Placebo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To His Defense
To his defense, I understand the problem that is at hand.
To his defense, I understand the turmoil behind all of this.
To his defense, you'll never live the life he has endured.
To his defense, judge, I object to the inaccuracies you are spewing forth.
Be prepared to kill two birds with one stone.
Anxiety rises about the room.
As the swine feeds on frozen hearts.
A sign of treason ascends in my thoughts.
My conscience was right, the traitor exposed.
To his defense, there must be a reason for all the things he has done.
To his defense, it could easily be a coincidence.
To his defense, look at him now.
He's happier than I'll ever become.
To his defense, theres no defense.
No toleration for betrayal.
poem by Aaron Lynn
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The City Vs. The Country
In the city where the colours run dry,
Or in the country where the farmers grow rye.
In the city where there are fees,
Or in the country where beauty is free.
In the city where there are loud crowds,
Or in the country where you can watch clouds.
In the city where you camp out in your room,
Or in the country where you have fun dancing with a broom.
In the city where there are polluting cars,
Or in the county where you can see stars.
In the city where you seal the deal,
Or in the country where you can heal.
In the city where you say later,
Or in the country where you can see the water.
In the city where space is tight,
Or in the country where you hold their hand in the moonlight.
Written by Haley McRae,14.
poem by Haley McRae
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Where Do They Make Balloons?
Marmalade's from Scotland;
Rugs from Pakistan;
Mexico has jumping beans,
And cars are from Japan.
Clowns are from the circus;
Barking comes from dogs;
Eggs come from a chicken,
And log cabins come from logs.
But where, where do they make balloons?
But where, where do they make balloons?
New York has tall buildings;
New Jersey has its malls;
Pisa has a leaning tower;
Will it ever fall?
The ocean has the fishes,
London has a tower
And Holland may have windmills,
lots of banks and pretty flowers.
But where, where do they make balloons?
But where, where do they make balloons?
Ballooooooons, Ballooooooons,
Ballooooooons, Ballooooooons.
Spaghetti is from China,
But Italians make it best.
Ants can make an ant hill
And monkeys make a mess.
Hungry isn't hungry
And french fries aren't from France,
Turkeys aren't from Turkey,
They can't fly, but they can dance!
But where, where do they make balloons?
But where, where do they make balloons?
But where, where do they make balloons?
But where, where do tehy make balloons?
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You can cover a great deal of country in books.
quote by Andrew Lang
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cant Afford To Do It
Written by james williamson.
Well, I wanna go out without tearing my bed, now
Ise so scared my baby quit n
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
And loose that girl of mine
Well she spend my money - buying me clothes
Shes done cheapest woman I ever did know n
So, I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
And loose that girl of mine
Yeah
Break:
I got a good friend from alabam
He tried to steal my chick I dont know how many time
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it, ah
I cant afford to do it
And loose that girl of mine, ah
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
I cant afford to do it
And loose that girl of mine, um
song performed by by Fleetwood Mac
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Layin It On The Line
You see it every day in every way
We all hear the same routines
They all say that its okay
Just let us take care of everything
So we lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, were livin on the front line
I can see it in the faces
We got trouble in the streets tonight
And power keeps us in our places
And it doesnt matter if youre left or right
You lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Just layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line, (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Take it to the wilderness
Into the jungle sun
Lookin for the voice of reason
Inside this babylon
Got u.s. boys on foreign soil
Spillin their blood to keep the peace
Cities will vanish in turmoil
While the sheiks lay sleepin on the beach
We lay it on the line
Layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Just layin it on the line (layin it on the line)
Layin it all, right on the line
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
Layin it on the line
Just layin it all
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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