Posted on 08/02/2003 3:50:06 PM PDT by Destro
01 Aug 2003 14:14:56 GMT
U.S. soldiers pray for safety on Baghdad streets
By Cynthia Johnston
BAGHDAD, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Every time Private Kyle Jason leaves his Baghdad barracks, he asks God to protect him from attacks that have killed 19 U.S. soldiers in the past two weeks.
"I just say a little prayer to myself. I just ask him to watch over me and keep me safe, to let me see my family again," said the U.S. soldier from Detroit who has just turned 19.
"I feel there is danger... I feel a threat every time I walk out the gates, and I ask God to watch over me."
The streets of the capital have grown deadlier for U.S. soldiers as shadowy attackers try to drive out the forces occupying Iraq since the invasion that deposed Saddam Hussein.
Fear also stalks Iraqi civilians who never know when they might be caught in the crossfire -- the U.S. military has admitted killing up to five innocent people who strayed into the path of troops hunting for Saddam in a Baghdad house this week.
American soldiers, led to expect only gratitude from Iraqis glad to be rid of their iron-fisted ruler, now say they are homesick and scared. Some chainsmoke. Some can't sleep. Some rely on superstition, wearing pendants and crosses for safety.
Guerrilla attacks in Iraq have killed 52 U.S. soldiers since Washington declared major combat over on May 1. In the latest fatal assault, a soldier died on Thursday when his armoured personnel carrier hit a mine on the road to Baghdad airport.
The U.S. military says the attacks have not multiplied in recent weeks, but have become more sophisticated and lethal.
The soldiers all say they try not to think about the danger, but it is never far from their minds.
"The way I look at it, if you can hear the gunshot, that's good. It probably didn't hit you," said Private Rory Mannino of Texas as he smoked a cigarette atop an armoured vehicle.
"You've got to have a different mindset," he said.
LUCK RUNNING OUT?
Sweating under a searing summer sun in heavy body armour on Palestine Street, soldiers say they depend on their training to keep them safe.
"We look to each other. There are no weaknesses," Sergeant Mark Chavez of Los Angeles said. "A guy is shooting in the air every other day. You find a bomb. You stop worrying about it."
Despite the rising death toll, some soldiers sense a brighter atmosphere, saying more Iraqis smile and wave at them.
Others say they can understand Iraqi frustration with the slow pace of restoring services in a city where half the phones don't work and power outages are common.
Exhausted by the heat and sick of monotonous daily rations -- endless crackers with cheese or peanut butter -- they say they wonder if their luck is running out.
"I think we've got it too good. I am just waiting for something to happen. I feel like something is going to happen," said Sergeant Kenny Raynor, adding that he frequently rubs his wedding ring to make him feel close to home.
Another soldier, Specialist John Eads of Kentucky, pulls out dog tags from under his shirt to show a tiny pendant his father gave him that he believes keeps him safe.
Soldiers say they don't air their worries to families at home and hope to avoid night patrols and dangerous places. But in the end, they say, all they can do is stay alert.
"The people that wave at you during the day, you wonder if they are the ones who are shooting at you at night," said Specialist Jason Boyle of Salem, Massachusetts. "There's really nothing you can do."
"O Holy Master, Almighty Father and Pre-Eternal God, Who alone made and directs all things; Who rise up quickly against the evil of the impious ones; Who, by Providence, teach Thy people preservation of Justice and the obliteration of the sword on earth; Who condescend to raise up military columns to help the people: O God, Who commanded the Forerunner John to say to the soldiers coming to him in the desert, 'Do not intimidate anyone... and be content with your wages':
We entreat Thee with compunction, that Thou gavest Thy child David the power to defeat Goliath, and as Thou didst condescend, through Judas Maccabeus, to seize victory from the arrogant pagans who would not call on Thy Name; so too, grant protection in righteousness and truth to these Thy servants against the enemies rising against them, and by Thy heavenly loving-kindness, strength and might for the preservation of faith and truth.
Condescend, out of Thy mercy, O Master, to grant them the fear of Thee, together with humility, obedience and good endurance; that they kill no one unrighteously, but rather preserve all righteousness and truth; that they may fear Thee and honor Justice; that they run in friendship to those who are scattered, extending thy love to those near them, serving the elderly with justice; and that their ranks fulfill all things righteously;
For thou art our God, and to Thee do we ascribe glory; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."
The Turks' Prayer against the Christians
Eternal God and creator of all things, and thou O Mahomet his sacred and divine prophet. We beseech thee let us not dread the Christians, who are so mean and silly to rely on a crucified god. By the power of thy right hand, so strengthen ours that we may surround this foolish people, on every side, and utterly destroy them. At length fulfill our prayers and put these miscreants into our hands, that we may establish thy throne for ever in Mecca, and sacrifice all those enemies of our most holy religion at thy tomb. Blow us with thy mighty breath like swarms of flies into their quarters, and let the eyes of these infidels bedazelled with the lustre of our moon. Consume them with thy fiery darts, and blind them with the dust which they themselves have raised. Destroy them all in thine anger. Break all their bones in pieces, and consume the flesh and blood of those who defile thy sacrifice, and hang the sacred light of circumcision on their cross. Wash them with showers of many waters, who are so stupid to worship gods they know not: and make their Christ a son to that God who ne're begot him. Hasten therefore their destruction we humbly entreat thee, and blot out their name and religion, which they glory so much in, from off the face of the earth, that they may be no more, who condemn and mock at thy law. Amen.
In truth--which civilization's soldiers prayer would be closest to what we secular Americans/Europeans consider civilized and humane expressions of military might?
Thoughtful prayer is not, but wearing a cross in the belief it will keep you safe is definitely superstitious.
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It's to be expected though:
2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
That's not superstition. Wearing it in the thought you will be rewarded with your safety is.
I've seen it. Latin America is full of that type of stuff. At one of the cathedrals in Mexico City people walk on their knees in excrutiating pain for miles, weeping, to pray in front of (or to) a painting. One of the most bizarre rituals I've ever watched... and very sad to see.
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