Crusade

“Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee.

Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safe guard the helpless and do no wrong.”

(Balian of Ibelin)

It was 1185 when I was taken the oath and sworn to serve the Crusade.

For a twenty year-old man I had lived a harsh life since my family died back in Germany.

I did not blame anyone for my lost.

Since then, I kept asking about my existence in this world.

I felt like God had abandoned me, because I never got the answer:

“Why did my whole family have to die? Why am I alive?”.

My thought was filled with rage and I did not care about anything but survive.

I wandered and did many bad things before. I had to live so I can find the answer for my questions.

But it has changed since I met Lord Balian and his knights in Messina, port to the Holy Land.

I went to Jerusalem with them as knight of Ibelin whose job was to protect the city and defend the King.

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was a wise king.

He had keeping the peace with Saladin, the great leader of the Muslim world, for almost six years now.

Though he was weak because of the leper, but known as one of the bravest kings Jerusalem had.

The King defeated the Saracens and sieged Jerusalem when he was only sixteen-year-old.

Since then, he became the king and declared peace between Muslims, Christians, and Jews who lived inside the wall of the Holy Land and every city under his jurisdiction.

King Baldwin once told Godefroy de Bouillon, Lord Balian's father,

"Do you know what I want to build in Jerusalem?", Baldwin said.

"I want to build a new world. A far more better world than has ever been before. A kingdom of conscience. A kingdom of heaven...

...Where there is peace between Muslims and Christians. So that we can live together side by side."

Now that I had served the King and the city for a year.

I was posted first in Ibelin for six months, serving Lord Balian.

Ibelin was once a dried city before Lord Balian came.

He, himself, who provoked the citizens to take responsibilty for building it.

I remember when he assembled all of us men at city's square, from high-rank officers to peasants, and told us,

"What man is a man who does not make the world better?"

I witnessed him working hard digging in search for water so that we all can have irrigation system.

I, myself, throwed down my arms and started to dig. His speech motivates me until now.

Three months after I left Ibelin for my knight's duty, I came to Ibelin to see Lord Balian, and I was amazed of its condition:

it was colored green and I felt like nobody is poor there.

I was a respectable knight and a Crusade, but still remained faithless. Once in a month, I came to Jerusalem and went to the hill where Jesus was crusified. I came there because, at the time, I wanted to seek for forgiveness.

But everytime I prayed, God never answered my prayers back.

The questions in my mind were still the same as before, and yet the answer never I found.

Once, I went to Nazareth and then Bethlehem to sought the same thing and it all still the same: God never spoke to me. I did not blame Him, I just confused and needed an answer.

I thought maybe I am outside God's grace.

When I went to Kerak, the stronghold of Guy the Lusignan, princess Sybilla's husband and a Templar, and in there I saw the Muslims prayed.

I asked my friend about what the Muslims said in their prayer.

My friend explained, "Praise be to God. It is proper to praise Him". "Sounds like our prayer.", I answered.

Since then, I locked down my religion deep in my mind and decided to hold all my prayers until I am certain about my existence first.

In 1186, a year before the great Muslim army took over Jerusalem, I was working for Reynald de Chatillon, a Knights of Templar.

At first, I was proud that I was one of them. But it was a terrible mistake I had chosen.

Knights of Templar was a secret society which duty was to protect Christendom from anykind of threat.

It was supposed to be a guilt of holy knights that was sworn to guide the lost from the devil's crossroad.

Even Godefroy de Bouillon was once a Templar.

But the time has changed so the men who lived in it.

In three months since I served as Templar, we had killed many Muslims and Jews without mercy. They were not guilty.

We butchered peasants, scholars, and anyone who were friends of the Muslims, or traitors the Christendom.

Ironically, we killed them in the name of God.

I thought we were fighting for God. Then I realised we were fighting for wealth and land. I was ashamed.

I told about this to my very best friend Mummad al-Fais, a Muslim and an officer who worked for the Marshall in Jerusalem.

We become friends since we had a little fight on the desert, near the port of Jerusalem.

He is a brave man who has strong faith in his religion.

This conversation I had with him was one of the things that changed my mind.

He said to me, "My friend. What God desires is in our heads and hearts.But what men decide to do everyday that will decide wheter you will be good man, or not."

The Wise King Baldwin IV died after he marched with Jerusalem knights to Kerak to had a truce with Sultan Saladin.

His last march was to clear misunderstanding about Muslim caravan attack near Cyprus.

Baldwin explained that the attack was not Jerusalem's fault, it was Templars.

This last meeting between Saladin and Baldwin will be the symbol of peace between Muslims and Christians.

After Baldwin's death, princess Sybilla became the Queen of Jerusalem but not for long. Her greedy and blood thirsted husband released the imprisoned Templars and then he declared war against Muslims.

This was the beginning of the fall of Jerusalem, and also the ruin of King Baldwin's virtue of peace in the Holy Land.

I was not a Templar anymore. I have done enough sin and I did not want to be burn in hell for lasting.

I know work for Tiberias, Marshall of Jerusalem.

Tiberias was wise enough to not letting his knights join the assembly. "They march for certain death, " he said.

"Killed Saladin's sister and provoke the Muslims where it was truely our fault is not a wise choice."

"I was old enough to play this nonsense!" he shouted to us.

So then we marched to Cyprus where it was a peace city. I have done with all this war.

I think it is not us human to decide who is right or wrong, or whose religion is the holiest.

I myself was once a Christians, but I am now a Muslims.

It is not because I do not believe in my previous but it's just my heart tells me that I want live and die as Muslim.

A wise King was said to me, "None of us choose our ends. A king may move a man, but remember, that even when those who move you,

either be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone.

Always believe in your heart, because there is the place that you can find God."

Now that I have found my chosen, I also have found the answers to all my questions.

I do not think about all things that I had done, but do the best for what will come.

I pray for my family so that we may see each other again in the after life.

What is done is done, nobody can pull back time.

Submit yourself to God so that you can see what you want to see, and feel what you want to feel.

In 1187, King Saladin besiege the Holy Land. Lord Balian was the last knight that defended Jerusalem.

For the second time Muslim took control of the city, but the same virtue still remained the same as King Baldwin's reign.

It is now the city where men are all the same, a city where Christians, Muslims, and Jews living in peace side by side helping each other.

It is now the kingdom of conscience, the kingdom of heaven.

The Holy Land is now a holy place for three religions which actually came from the same source.

There are no need for men carrying swords, shields, or arrows. I hope that this will will last forever. Peace be upon you

Written by: Dimas Rizky Pramana

Sources:

1. The Third Crusade 1187 - 1191: Richard the Lionheart, Saladin and the battle for Jerusalem (Campaign) written by: David Nicolle

2. Kingdom of Heaven. A Film by Ridley Scott. Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

Light Of Wolf Lairs

Light of Wolf Lairs

Many lights coming through in my life, but only light of Wolf Lairs that made flesh creep around my body from what I felt on that time when the fuehrer, Adolf Hitler still on charge. There is a reason why I always mesmerized that event, even in my ages right now which seventy six years old and why I name it light of Wolf Lairs.
My story began at the height of World War II in Germany, when I trained myself in German army division to join NAZI forces and I am pride upon myself because I can do it and become a major on the forces after through some heavy task and test from my general, Kietel. On July 1944 I had met colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg a chief staff of preserved army and his right hand lieutenant Von haeften in Wolf Lairs, Germany. They both here to hear strategy of wars that present by the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler himself and some generals like Kietel,on that time I just show my manner by bring colonel Stauffenberg bag because his condition after he sent to war in Africa before, his left eye and his right hand have gone because the attack on his army. And also I don’t think everything bad about him and of course I don’t put him in my watch.
The first meeting passed and I did my job to guard the fuhrer, Adolf Hitler very well. I felt so glad because everything comes right on the first meeting, then some days after that the second meeting began, colonel Stauffenberg comes again with his right hand Von haeften alongside with other generals and commander, when I met colonel Stauffenberg I saw his collar was tainted by red color,so I ask him to change the clothes, then I escort him to changing room. After waiting for at least one or two minutes, I got a phone call from my lieutenant on main room that told the room to discuss a strategy of wars was switch to other room because the room before had hot condition from lack of windows and also told that the meeting want to began immediately, for these reasons I knock the door where colonel Stauffenberg change his clothes with the help of Von Haeften to tell them that the meeting want to began immediately and I rush them both by coming through the room without their permission, suddenly Stauffenberg hold me off by hold the door too, from this act I am started to put my suspicious on both of them even though after that Von Haeften coming out to told and remind me about the condition of colonel Stauffenberg, even though I believe and understand it, and I am still put my suspicion on colonel Stauffenberg for some reasons in my minds.
First reason is the time that took by colonel Stauffenberg to change his clotches,it is ok if he alone, but he is not alone he coming to the room with Von Haeften so it should took short time to change the clothes. And the second reason when I step into the room without permission to told them about the meeting, suddenly colonel Stauffenberg hold the door which also hold me to come inside, this act makes me ask to myself, why should afraid and hold the door if there is nothing in the room, so I am start thinking and believe there should be anything they do in that room, as the major and soldier of SS, I am always in position where I must put my suspicion and keep aware, because not only our condition in World War but also I must protect my fuhrer,Adolf Hitler from any threats inside and outside.
Then after colonel Stauffenberg changing his clothes, I escort him to meeting place on different room from before, and even though I put my suspicion on Stauffenberg, I cannot do anything because there are no proof that show Stauffenberg was a traitor, but I am still watching him carefully. In the meeting room, the meeting has began and colonel Stauffenberg ask me to put him near the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler as near as possible, so I put him near the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler and near colonel Brandt of SS army also with his bag. Then not take a long time after the incoming of colonel Stauffenberg,the light of Wolf Lair flash suddenly in my face and blind my eyes temporally, what I mean by the light of Wolf Lair is the explosion which happened suddenly and directly hit my faces on the meeting place in Wolf Lair. After the explosion, the condition turn into alert condition and the alarm ring so loudly that makes me woke up from my unconscious condition with my bloody face because the explosion and some wounds on my hand. My feeling still shock, but as a SS army I must hold it even though it really painfully and blind my eyes so badly for a while, but I got a help from people inside the building.
Then in hurry, even though I am still injured, I am look around and thanks god the fuhrer, Adolf Hitler save from the explosion and only had several minor injuries, after look the fuhrer I am looking around again and did not found Colonel Stauffenberg, from this point I believe my suspicion on him was true, after recovered from the explosion we the SS army started to collect a clue of attempt of murder to the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler. While looking the clue, there are two soldier who coming into the room with haste, the one is the operator who told that colonel Stauffenberg suddenly disappeared before the explosion after gets a phone call from the Fellgieber the head of communication in Wolf Lair and the second one was a driver who drive Stauffenberg and Von Haeften to the airfield, he did that because Stauffenberg said that he had an important task from the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler and he saw Von Haeften throw something on the way to airfield, he saw it from rear window of the car. Besides these clues, there also incoming call from Berlin from Fromm the general of reserved army that mention is the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler really dead or not, then general Kietel told the truth about the condition on Wolf Lair, after told the truth general Kietel ask back to Fromm about Stauffenberg location and order him to capture him alive. Then I let everything to SS and reserved army in Berlin to captured Stauffenberg’s conspiration for the attempt of murder to the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler. From what I heard all Stauffenberg’s conspiration captured and be punished with the punishment of dead on the place and for the others, they punished themselves by suicide and hang out.
The fuhrer,Adolf Hitler himself announce his survival from the attempt from the radio and fear them the people who still want to do the same thing which attempt of murder to the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler. After this last attempt of murder finished, I believe that I was saved by the god and He gives me a chance to continued my life until now, after the event I am just redempt myself from what I have done before in World War II and time after time I passed it, I in general knew the plan which attempt on the murder on 20 July 1944 from what I heard and I really surprised that Stauffenberg’s conspiration involve almost the important and the influence person on Germany and among the soldier such like Dr. Goerdeler,General Orbitch,Beck,Wolf Heinrich von helldorf,Fellgiebel,Erwin von witzleben and General Treskov.These proof that threats can come from everywhere even our own people.
Except I know the people,i am also know the plan that will executed after the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler dead. They will launch reserved army by the signature of the general Fromm which the purpose to capture all SS army and retaking the region, this act they do to prevent SS army dominated all German without the Fuhrer and I am also surprised that this plan was a plan from the Fuhrer,Adolf Hitler himself. He prepared it, in case of dead by illness or ages. This operation have a name, the name is “operation Valkyrie”.So the Stauffenberg’s conspiration really think well about the plan, but unfortunately the fuhrer not dead, the god gives him a life until the time when the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler suicide himself after being surround by the invasion of other country.
Nowadays I am glad still alive and pass through world war II, these memories I had, I will always share it to everybody who wants to know, I shared it to the people, so they know that history cannot be reply again, but you can learn many from the history and what I felt on that time cannot be shared by anyone, it is only felt by myself and from I felt,i learn more about the meaning of life and the reason why the god gives me a life until know.
From I through before,i hope my ancestor and my family can learn from me and not to do same mistake and my biggest mistake on that time when I put my suspicion on Stauffenberg, I don’t do anything, I am suppose to check his bag or report to my general Kietel so the explosion will not happen, the reason why I am felling so guilty, because I am failed to do a simple thing to protect the fuhrer,Adolf Hitler from the pain. I let my guard down at that time and I cannot recovery it because it is always become the history.

“You did not bear the shame
You resisted
Sacrificing your life
For freedom, justice and honour

-From the German resistance memorial, Berlin”

Name : Arief Hadi Purwono
NIM : 0403507024
Class : Writing 5B

Sri Nindhita Rosianti, Writing 5A

The JW Marriot Bombing

It was on Friday morning, July 17^th 2009. I just woke up from my sleep and tried to see the outside of my room through the window. The sky was so bright and clear. I almost could see everything from the 18^th floor of the JW Marriot Hotel. I had never seen before that Jakarta looked so quiet in the morning. But today, it did. I felt so enthusiastic to step over this day. I could not be patient anymore. Two hours from now, I would be present at the international meeting of Asian novelists for the first time in my life. It took place in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta. At the first time, I thought that today would be a fantastic day. But in the fact, today was more than a fantastic day. The JW Marriot was going to be unforgotten place for me for a prolonged period.

I had prepared everything for this meeting. Start from the data of my research about literature and writing a novel, the work of the research it self, until the clothes that I would wear for this meeting. Everything was seemed almost perfect. At 07.30 o’clock I was ready to go to the meeting. But before that, I had a first meeting with all of the Asian novelists to have breakfast together. I started my day full of smiles, positive thinking, and pray to the God. I walked so smooth all along the corridor of 18^th floor of this hotel. I tried to be more relaxed before the meeting. I decided to use the lift at the corner of the corridor.

When I was in front of the lift, there was someone who was waiting for the lift too. He was looking good and still young. He brought a bag, but it was more looked like a small suitcase. We came in to the lift and I pushed the button which is written “lobby”. When we arrived at the lobby, we took separate ways. He walked as smooth as me and pointed his step to the restaurant. I still walked so smooth, but I went to the receptionist first. I left my room key to the receptionist.

Still with smooth, I continued my walk. I pointed my step to the restaurant of this hotel. I looked around the lobby. I mesmerized with the interior design of this lobby hotel. It was my first time to stay in this fantastic hotel. So, I really enjoyed it. I could see the restaurant door in the distance. It was not more than one meter from the restaurant door, I forgot something. I changed direction and walked to the receptionist back. I just step one of my feet when I heard something like the sound of shooting. “BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM “ .

I was shock and my body had sufficient time to fling away from the place I stand before. I was dizzy. My head beat around the bush. At the time I could not hear anything. I saw many people run helter-skelter in the distance. There were also two women who run every which way close to me. They looked so confuse. I still could not know what is happen here. I saw the restaurant door was pouring out smoke. It was so dark. I tried to think something. But I could not.

I raised my body which flings for a moment. I also tried to guess what is happen here. But I still could not. I just reminded the sound that I heard before this confusion. It was not just a sound of shooting. It was more like an explosion, an explosion weapon maybe. But I tried to remind again. It was not an explosion weapon. It was an explosion bomb. Yes, it was an explosion bomb. I realized about it.

When I tried to leave this lobby hotel, and joined with the others who also run every which way, I heard one more an explosion. But, it was more softly than the first. Suddenly, I really could not anything. I found out what is going on by saw every people who still run in the distance. I decided to follow what they were doing. I run as fast as them. I run to the street in front of this hotel. I confused that I could not hear anything. In fact, I saw many people tried to say something each other. Sometimes I saw them tried to say something louder. They looked like kept shouting for help. I could guess it by their mouth movements. Even I saw someone cried and panic. But I could not hear her crying.

I saw around me. I tried to find someone who I know in the briefing meeting. But it was impossible. The street was full of people. They did everything. But apart of people tried to find out what is happen to the JW Marriot Hotel. When I still confuse about this, I followed what other people did. I saw to the side of the hotel which was pouring out smoke, but there was no fire. I was shock. That side was the restaurant of the hotel. The place where I would having breakfast with the other Asian novelists.

I fell silent upon realizing that I was safe from that accident. I did not know, I could say this as an accident by what I saw around me. Every people felt scare. Suddenly, someone came close to me. He was one of the participants in the international meeting. He said something, but I could not hear anything. He brought me stay away from the hotel. He tried to know that I was okay by find out that there was no part of my body which was injured. He said something for the twice. But I still could not hear anything.

In the side of the street, the police came so quickly. After that the fireman and the fire engine also came to the hotel. They looked so confuse and busy to help people who injured. Now, I was surprised by a white person who was carried by other people to stay away from the hotel. He was injured. He was bleeding. I really saw the bloody white person.

I did not know that I am afraid or not. I just confused because I could not hear anything. It was almost twenty minutes after the accident. Ambulances came to bring the explosion victims to the closest hospital around here, including me. When I arrived in the hospital, I was handled by a nurse. She did an examination to me. She used stethoscope to know my heart beating. She said something, but I could not hear anything. She went out and came back with a man besides her. He was a doctor. I could know him from his clothes. He also tried to say something to me. But I still could not hear anything. He wrote something in the piece of paper, and gave it to me. I accepted the paper and read it. How surprised I was when I read the paper,

“You cannot hear anything, because your eardrum is injured and going to be broken because of the bombing.”

I was shock. I could not accept this. It was kind of mentality killing for me.

Bombing is not only an accident, but also something that could be happened anywhere and anytime. We never know what will happen to us later. Like me, I am one of the JW Marriot Bombing victims. Maybe we think that we are safe enough from the bombing, but actually we do not. We have to wary to the bombing every time in our life. We have to prepare ourselves if it happened to us. Try to be careful to go to anywhere is a good way to avoid ourselves from the bombing. We have to always remember that the bombing maybe still hunts us. But do not worry; keep on praying everywhere we are is the best way ever.

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Welcome for Student of English Literature Uai

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