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billryan
billryan
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RogerKint
July 7th, 2025 at 10:26:28 AM permalink
André Zirnheld was a Frenchman living in Syria when World War II broke out. Although his job as a college instructor exempted him from military service, he joined the local French guard and volunteered to fight in France.
When France fell, he joined the Free French and was training as a parachutist when his unit was sent to Egypt and assigned to the famed Special Air Service. Although an airborne unit, the SAS was fighting behind enemy lines, traveling by jeep.
After two successful raids, Zirnheld was killed on a mission to attack a nazi airstrip far behind enemy lines.
Zirnheld was quickly buried in a shallow grave by his retreating comrades. He was the first French paratrooper killed in action.

While examining the effects on his body, a piece of paper was discovered. It's uncertain if it was meant as a poem or a prayer. It was written on the back of a sheet that was dated to 1938, and no living person recalled Zirnheld ever discussing it.

Recognizing the beauty and power of the prayer, the SAS adopted it, and then the French Foreign Legion. By the time of the Korean War, it had been adopted by America's airborne Brigades and is invoked by many Special Operators.
It is not a prayer for the meek or mild.

The original is in French, and the translation I learned forty four years ago was several times removed from the original.

Hear, Oh Lord, and answer your servant
Give me , God, what you have left
Give me what no one ever ask you for
I do not ask for wealth, success or even health
So many ask these of you, and you may not have any to give
Give me, God, what you have left. Give me what no one wants
Give me insecurity, give me turmoil, let me struggle in chaos and storm
And God, if you give me these, let me keep them always
As I won't always have the strength to ask this of you
Give me, God, what you have left, give me what others do not want.
But give me also the courage, the strength, and the faith I will need.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 7th, 2025 at 11:51:06 AM permalink
Why did this require starting a whole new thread. You could have put this in a dozen different threads that are already going where it would apply. If I want to say something I search for a thread where it might be appropriate. Do you even know how to do that?
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
Wizard
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Wizard
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July 7th, 2025 at 2:32:03 PM permalink
I think this would be more appropriate as a blog entry.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
billryan
billryan
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July 7th, 2025 at 5:15:18 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I think this would be more appropriate as a blog entry.
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Why have a religion subsection if that is the case? I read some of the posts there before I made mine, and the last I read was The Prayer to Saint Michael, a prayer often said in conjunction with the Para's Prayer.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
Wizard
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Wizard
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July 7th, 2025 at 6:41:15 PM permalink
Quote: billryan


Why have a religion subsection if that is the case? I read some of the posts there before I made mine, and the last I read was The Prayer to Saint Michael, a prayer often said in conjunction with the Para's Prayer.
link to original post



Good point. That category was created before the ban on political and religious statements. Nevertheless, my warning remains in effect.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
billryan
billryan
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July 7th, 2025 at 6:47:57 PM permalink
That is fair, but If you don't want posts in a subsection, why not close it? I wasn't aware there was a ban on religious posts. Would it have been acceptable if I'd called it my favorite poem? I was watching the episode of Rogue Heroes where Andre is killed and thought someone might be interested in his story.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
EvenBob
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July 7th, 2025 at 6:56:13 PM permalink
It should be a clue that you only have two people responding to this thread and they are both complaining. You start thread after thread after thread that nobody responds to and nobody sees the point. Again just do a little searching and you'll find a thread to stick your post in. It's not hard.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
camapl
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July 8th, 2025 at 2:25:32 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

It should be a clue that you only have two people responding to this thread and they are both complaining. You start thread after thread after thread that nobody responds to and nobody sees the point. Again just do a little searching and you'll find a thread to stick your post in. It's not hard.
link to original post



Do you ever do anything that anyone else suggests? Do you ever heed anyone else’s complaints?
I want to start wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m an AP!”
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 8th, 2025 at 7:33:00 AM permalink
Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

It should be a clue that you only have two people responding to this thread and they are both complaining. You start thread after thread after thread that nobody responds to and nobody sees the point. Again just do a little searching and you'll find a thread to stick your post in. It's not hard.
link to original post



Do you ever do anything that anyone else suggests? Do you ever heed anyone else’s complaints?
link to original post



I have explained this many times in the past. I only post for myself, I don't care if anyone else reads it or not. I learned this a long time ago. A famous writer said that when you write a book or an article you have to write it for yourself you can't care what other people think about it and if you like it maybe other people will like it too. So when I make a post it's what I think at that moment and then I forget about it, I don't think is anybody going to see this. If they do they do, if they don't they don't. If you're writing for other people you're wasting your time. Only post for your own edification. This is especially true for people like religious preachers. They should always write a sermon that they feel good about and not give one thought to the audience. If a few people come up afterwards and tell you that your words reached them, you've accomplished something. If you tried to please everybody you're not going to please anybody.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
billryan
billryan
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July 8th, 2025 at 7:36:43 AM permalink
Eight replies in under 25 hours. It seems like at least one person has an interest. It makes it all worthwhile.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 8th, 2025 at 7:51:41 AM permalink
Quote: billryan

Eight replies in under 25 hours. It seems like at least one person has an interest. It makes it all worthwhile.
link to original post



This is a direct response to what I posted which means you don't have me blocked. Like I ever thought you did. Not a single one of the nine replies has been about the context of your original post. The whole discussion is about why it should not have been made in the first place. That's hardly worthwhile.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
billryan
billryan
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July 8th, 2025 at 7:57:55 AM permalink
Ten responses. Has eb found religion?
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
camapl
camapl
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July 8th, 2025 at 9:04:01 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

It should be a clue that you only have two people responding to this thread and they are both complaining. You start thread after thread after thread that nobody responds to and nobody sees the point. Again just do a little searching and you'll find a thread to stick your post in. It's not hard.
link to original post



Do you ever do anything that anyone else suggests? Do you ever heed anyone else’s complaints?
link to original post



I have explained this many times in the past. I only post for myself, I don't care if anyone else reads it or not. I learned this a long time ago. A famous writer said that when you write a book or an article you have to write it for yourself you can't care what other people think about it and if you like it maybe other people will like it too. So when I make a post it's what I think at that moment and then I forget about it, I don't think is anybody going to see this. If they do they do, if they don't they don't. If you're writing for other people you're wasting your time. Only post for your own edification. This is especially true for people like religious preachers. They should always write a sermon that they feel good about and not give one thought to the audience. If a few people come up afterwards and tell you that your words reached them, you've accomplished something. If you tried to please everybody you're not going to please anybody.
link to original post



I wasn’t expecting a response, as I was merely posting for myself.

Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
I want to start wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m an AP!”
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 8th, 2025 at 9:37:02 AM permalink
Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
camapl
camapl
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July 9th, 2025 at 9:45:27 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
link to original post



And here I was expecting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Actually, his response was to your post that I quoted, so right back atcha!
I want to start wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m an AP!”
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 9th, 2025 at 11:29:10 AM permalink
Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
link to original post



And here I was expecting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Actually, his response was to your post that I quoted, so right back atcha!
link to original post



Nope, check again. I went over that twice before I made my post to make sure. The only place he could have got it was by reading my post for himself because it wasn't quoted yet.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
DRich
DRich
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July 9th, 2025 at 4:20:32 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
link to original post



And here I was expecting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Actually, his response was to your post that I quoted, so right back atcha!
link to original post



Nope, check again. I went over that twice before I made my post to make sure. The only place he could have got it was by reading my post for himself because it wasn't quoted yet.
link to original post



How could you possibly know that it was not quoted?
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 9th, 2025 at 6:27:00 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
link to original post



And here I was expecting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Actually, his response was to your post that I quoted, so right back atcha!
link to original post



Nope, check again. I went over that twice before I made my post to make sure. The only place he could have got it was by reading my post for himself because it wasn't quoted yet.
link to original post



How could you possibly know that it was not quoted?
link to original post



I looked and it had not been quoted before he made the post.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
DRich
DRich
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Joined: Jul 6, 2012
July 9th, 2025 at 6:33:45 PM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Quote: DRich

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: camapl


Oh, and the OP can only see your posts if they happen to get quoted. Please try to use a bit more logic in your posts. Again, just posting for myself. Your response is not necessary.
link to original post



That's what he wants us to believe. Yet he responded
to my post and it wasn't quoted. Please pay more
attention to details>
link to original post



And here I was expecting, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Actually, his response was to your post that I quoted, so right back atcha!
link to original post



Nope, check again. I went over that twice before I made my post to make sure. The only place he could have got it was by reading my post for himself because it wasn't quoted yet.
link to original post



How could you possibly know that it was not quoted?
link to original post



I looked and it had not been quoted before he made the post.
link to original post



Were you literally checking every 5 seconds? Obviously, someone could post it and then edit or remove it seconds later. I am assuming what you meant to say was that you never saw it quoted.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
gordonm888
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gordonm888
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July 9th, 2025 at 8:05:43 PM permalink
There is a new restriction specific to billryan; he must now get permission from a moderator before he starts a brand new thread. This is not a knock on billryan, who I think is an excellent writer, but just an attempt to curate the forum a bit.
So many better men, a few of them friends, are dead. And a thousand thousand slimy things live on, and so do I.
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 9th, 2025 at 8:09:15 PM permalink
Quote: gordonm888

There is a new restriction specific to billryan; he must now get permission from a moderator before he starts a brand new thread. This is not a knock on billryan, who I think is an excellent writer, but just an attempt to curate the forum a bit.
link to original post



Sounds fair to me. I can't start a gambling thread without getting permission.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
camapl
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avianrandy
July 10th, 2025 at 12:30:41 AM permalink
Quote: EvenBob

Quote: gordonm888

There is a new restriction specific to billryan; he must now get permission from a moderator before he starts a brand new thread. This is not a knock on billryan, who I think is an excellent writer, but just an attempt to curate the forum a bit.
link to original post



Sounds fair to me. I can't start a gambling thread without getting permission.
link to original post



Now we see why you were picking at billryan’s practice of starting threads… Misery loves company.
I want to start wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m an AP!”
EvenBob
EvenBob
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July 10th, 2025 at 7:42:31 AM permalink
Quote: camapl

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: gordonm888

There is a new restriction specific to billryan; he must now get permission from a moderator before he starts a brand new thread. This is not a knock on billryan, who I think is an excellent writer, but just an attempt to curate the forum a bit.
link to original post



Sounds fair to me. I can't start a gambling thread without getting permission.
link to original post



Now we see why you were picking at billryan’s practice of starting threads… Misery loves company.
link to original post



That's not it at all. I complained about it because he constantly starts new threads that are not about anything and get zero attention. All they do is clutter up the place. If I have a new subject to talk about I always now look for a thread in the past that covers it.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
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