With a dove in your hands.
Revelation 13:18
Here is wisdom Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Don’t Deceive Me
Duh Ratnika
“Duh ratnika,” which translates to “Warrior Spirit” in English, is a concept that reflects the ethos and values of Croatian soldiers. It embodies principles such as courage, honor, loyalty, and resilience. This concept is deeply rooted in Croatian military tradition and is often highlighted in their training and operations.
Key Elements of “Duh Ratnika”
- Courage and Bravery:
- Croatian soldiers are trained to face adversities and challenges with courage.
- Emphasis on overcoming fear and demonstrating bravery in the face of danger.
- Honor and Integrity:
- Maintaining a high standard of ethical behavior and integrity.
- Soldiers are expected to uphold the honor of their unit and the Croatian Armed Forces.
- Loyalty:
- Loyalty to the nation, comrades, and the principles of the Croatian Armed Forces.
- Strong sense of brotherhood and solidarity among soldiers.
- Resilience and Perseverance:
- Ability to endure hardships and remain steadfast in challenging conditions.
- Continuous effort to improve and adapt to new situations.
- Patriotism:
- Deep love and dedication to the homeland.
- Willingness to defend Croatia’s sovereignty and independence.
Cultural Significance
- “Duh ratnika” is not just a military concept but also a part of the national identity.
- It is celebrated in various military ceremonies, commemorations, and cultural events.
- The concept is often reflected in Croatian literature, films, and art that depict military history and heroism.
Training and Implementation
- The values associated with “Duh ratnika” are instilled in soldiers from the beginning of their training.
- Regular drills, physical training, and mental conditioning are designed to build and reinforce these qualities.
- Leadership programs and mentorship are crucial in passing down the “Duh ratnika” to new generations of soldiers.
The “Duh ratnika” represents the core values that guide Croatian soldiers in their service and is an integral part of their military culture.
Dan Pobjede – Victory Day
New MP Thompson song.
Jozo Behind Enemy Lines
Re: M.P. Thompson’s lyrics on English
LET NO ONE TOUCH INTO MY LITTLE PART OF THE UNIVERSE (Neka nitko ne dira u moj mali dio svemira)
East, West, everyone defends their own,
But I am must not that what is mine
Sice forever.
My only world.
Only because of that, they say I am a fascist,
And I never wanted anything someone else’s,
Only her,
Free country.
I live peacefully proud of my own,
Even though not always everything’s my way.
I am attacked by those servile penman,
As if thej were the ones who protected villages.
Mice,
Crawling out of their holes now!
Oh, how their faces become vampire-like
When our checkered banner unfurled flies.
Saintly flag.
I live peacefully proud of my own,
Even though not always everything’s my way.
Let it be heard, let it be known,
Let the banner fly,
Let no one touch
My little piece of the universe.
They lie in the ether, deluding people,
As if it was nothing they judge the just.
Of course I am guilty,
But only because I exist!
Patriotism they pronounced for fascism,
That’s how they defend their communism.
Flimsy demagogy!
I live peacefully proud of my own,
Even though not always everything’s my way.
Let it be heard, let it be known,
Let the banner fly,
Let no one touch
My little piece of the universe.
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES
In AD 312, the Roman Empire is up for grabs. Its previous emperor, Diocletian, divided the realm between two senior and two junior emperors, but the complex arrangement has collapsed. The successors are at one another’s throats. Young general Constantine, son of Constantius, one of Diocletian’s co-emperors, has military successes under his belt, but now he faces a formidable veteran with a larger army and a better strategic position. What shall he do?
Constantine realizes that he needs help from a power greater than himself, but who or what? He has his doubts about the traditional Roman gods. He prays earnestly that the true God, whoever that may be, will “reveal to him who he is, and stretch forth his right hand to help him.”
He does not know it yet, but that prayer will change the course of Christian history as well as of western civilization. Later he will tell his friend Bishop Eusebius the incredible story of that hour. When Eusebius reports it in his history, he admits it is hard to believe.
What happens that is so hard to believe? Constantine suddenly sees a bright cross of light emblazoned against the noonday sky and upon it the inscription: “In hoc signo vinces” —“In this Sign Conquer.”
It brings Constantine the assurance he needs. He accepts this as the answer to his prayer and orders his soldiers to inscribe crosses on their shields. Encouraged by his vision in the heavens, he hurls his troops against his rival Maxentius at Rome’s Milvian Bridge. Surprisingly, Constantine is victorious. Maxentius is among those who drown in the Tiber.
Afterward Constantine does not forget to whom he owes his victory. For close to two hundred and fifty years, since AD 64 when Nero initiated violence against it, the Christian church has been a persecuted minority in Roman lands. Only a few years earlier, between 303 and 311, it suffered through Diocletian’s savage “Great Persecution.” Now Constantine issues orders that the Christian church is to be tolerated just as other religions are. Although he does not make Christianity the official religion of the empire, Constantine bestows favor on it, builds places of worship for Christians, and presides over the first general church council. He becomes the first emperor to embrace Christianity and will be baptized on his death bed—waiting so late for fear his duties as emperor might cause him to sin after he receives the solemn rite, blotting out its efficacy.
Writing Constantine’s biography, Eusebius will describe him as God’s gift to a suffering church. His Greek account will give the quote simply as “Conquer by this.”
For the first time in its short history, the church can worship and grow without constant fear of deadly persecution.
—Dan Graves