'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom home made only of stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give.
And to see just who in this house did live.
As I looked all about a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots covered in sand,
on the wall hung a picture of some far off land.
With medals and badges and awards of all kind,
a sobering thought did come to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I've seen,
for this is the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and opened a door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Could this be the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled in a poncho, a floor for his bed.
His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,
I soon realized this was more than just any man.
I realized the families I'd visit this night,
owed their lives to these people always ready to fight.
In just a few hours all the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate another Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn't help but wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land so far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
He must have awakened for I heard a rough voice,
"Don't cry Santa, for this is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my Country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent so still,
then noticed he shivered from the cold nights chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered my hero, from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with eagle, globe and anchor, emblazoned so bold.
Although it barely fit me, I swelled with pride,
for this one private moment, I felt Marine deep inside.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor, willing to die in a fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, in a voice clean and pure.
Said "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas Day and all is secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi, and good night.
Friday, December 4, 2009
We'll go forward from this moment
Welcome friends, family, and fellow Americans
The article below was written by Leonard Pitts, Jr., a columnist for The Miami Herald, who writes on social, cultural and pop-cultural issues. I read his articles frequently and while I don't always agree with his exact take on what's going on around us, he always provides an interesting, thought-provoking look at issues of the day. This article really captured how I'm feeling this morning and I wanted to pass it along.
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Headline: We'll go forward from this moment
It's my job to have something to say.
They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.
You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.
What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.
Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.
Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.
Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.
Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae, a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though-peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.
Some people-you, perhaps-think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.
IN PAIN
Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.
But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.
I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.
In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.
THE STEEL IN US
You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.
As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.
So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started.
But you're about to learn.
The article below was written by Leonard Pitts, Jr., a columnist for The Miami Herald, who writes on social, cultural and pop-cultural issues. I read his articles frequently and while I don't always agree with his exact take on what's going on around us, he always provides an interesting, thought-provoking look at issues of the day. This article really captured how I'm feeling this morning and I wanted to pass it along.
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Headline: We'll go forward from this moment
It's my job to have something to say.
They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.
You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.
What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed.
Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned your cause.
Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.
Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.
Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae, a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though-peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.
Some people-you, perhaps-think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.
IN PAIN
Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.
But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.
I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.
In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.
THE STEEL IN US
You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.
As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.
So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just started.
But you're about to learn.
शाहजी
हामी चुप लागेर बसेको पनि शान्ति सम्झौता भएर शान्ति प्रक्रिया सफल पार्न नै हो।
प्रथमः त जी शाहजी, तपाईंको नेपाली नै शुद्ध भएन। म भन्नुस्, हामी हैन। दोस्रो, जी शाह चूप नलागी फत्फताउन थाल्ने हो भने जनआन्दोलन-३ नै शुरू हुन बेर छैन।
मुलुक कुन अवस्थातिर गइरहेको छ, कस्तो दिशातिर डोरिएको छ, किन अस्तव्यस्त भइरहेको छ भन्ने कुरातिर नेपाली जनताले नै बोल्नु र भन्नुपर्यो।
पहिला आफैँले जनता मार्ने, अनि आफू सिद्धिने बेलामा चाहिँ जनतासँग गुहार माग्ने? यो त भएन नि शाहजी!
कहिल्यै पनि राजसंस्थाले शक्ति खोजेको छैन।
त्यो त छैन। दाल-भात ज्यूनार गर्ने बेलाँ भटट पारेर सत्ता हत्याएकोमात्रै हो। अनि मन्त्रिपरिषदको अध्यक्ष, अर्थ, संचार आदि इत्यादि मन्त्री बनेकोलाई शक्ति खोजेको भन्न मिल्दैन।
राजसंस्थाको इतिहासमा यस्ता क्षणहरु कति आए-कति गए, नेपाली जनताको चाहनाअनुसार नेपाली राजसंस्था चलेको छ र त्यतैतिर लागेको छ।
नगरकोटमा ११ जना, बेलबारीमा ७ जना, भैरव गण र जंगलतिर त झन् कतिको ज्यान गयो कतिको? ती जनताको ज्यान जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार गएको हो कि? दुई वटा हवाइजहाज लिएर अफ्रिका सफारीमा निस्किएको पनि जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार हो कि? दरबारलाई एघार करोडबाट ६५ करोड रुपैयाँ भत्ता पनि जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार बढाएको हो कि?
मैले सुनेको र ज्ञात नभएको होइन, जनता पनि बोल्न सकेका छैनन्, विभिन्न कारणले।
जनतालाई लाटा ठान्नु भो कि कसो? उनीहरूले सिनु बोक्दा आफ्नै जीउ गन्हाउँछ भन्ने बुझेका छन्।
प्रजातान्त्रिक तौरतरिकाका नाममा बेढंगबाट देशको भौतिक संरचना नास गर्ने कुरा प्रजातान्त्रिक भएन जस्तो लाग्दछ।
के यो शालिकहरू ढालेको प्रसंग हो? जनताले मूर्ति ढाले पनि नेपालभित्रै राखेका छन्, समुद्रपारि लगेर बेचेका छैनन्।
शान्ति होस्, प्रजातन्त्र रहोस्, राष्ट्रियता बलियो बनोस्।
ए हो र भन्या? यस्तो कुरा जी शाहको मुखबाट निस्कँदा कति मानिस हाँसेका होलान् है।
कुन किसिमको राजनीतिक व्यवस्था नेपाली जनताले चाहन्छन्, त्यो नेपाली जनताको चाहनामा हुनुपर्दछ त्यो नेपाल र नेपालीलाई सुहाउँदो होस्।
कस्तो? नेपाली जनता हैन, माटो सुहाउँदो पञ्चायती व्यवस्था जस्तो?
नेपालीको शिर ठाडो पारेर हिँड्ने व्यवस्था होस्।
ठाडै त पारेर हिँडेका छन् नि। कहाँ मुण्टो बटारेर हिँड्या छन् र?
साइलेन्स अल्सो एक्सन।
नारायणहिटीमा जेठ १९ को रात एक्सन चलिरहेको बेला जी शाहजी एयरपोर्टमा साइलेण्ट बस्नुभा थियो रे भनेको सुन्या हो हामीले पनि।
चुप लागेका मात्र छैनौँ। त्यसको धेरै अर्थ छ।
त्यसो भनेर हाम्लाई तर्साउन खोज्या हो जी शाहजीले? अब त तपाईंसँग माइली भाउजू पनि तर्सिन्नन्।
सहरको कुरा गरेर मात्र हुँदैन। डाँडाकाँडामा दुःख पाएर रहेका नेपालीलाई उत्तिकै महत्व दिइनु पर्दछ।
सेनाले चोरी सिकारी गरेको हरिणको सुकुटी टोक्दै ह्विस्कीको नसामा नेपाली जनताको पैसाले इण्टरनेटमा पोकर खेलेर बस्नेले यस्तो कुरा गर्दा जनताले पत्याउलान र भन्या?
राष्ट्रनिर्माता श्री ५ पृथ्वीनारायण शाहबाट नेपालको एकीकरण गरिबक्स्यो, मौसुफबाट एकीकरण नभएको भए आज हामी कहाँ हुन्थ्यौँ?
हामी चैँ यहीँ हुन्थ्यौं, तपाईं चैँ राजस्थान हो कि कतारतिर हुनुहुन्थ्यौ होला शायद। यो कुरा अलिक हाइपोथेटिकल कुरा भयो।
राष्ट्रनिर्मातालाई बेइज्जत गर्ने कुरा आफूलाई र राष्ट्रलाई बेइज्जत गरेको जस्तो लाग्छ।
हैन शाहजी, पृथ्वीनारायणको मात्रै किन यति रटान् लगाएको तपाईंले? आफ्नो बाउ र बाजेको त कुरै गर्नुहुन्न बा।
राजसंस्थालाई अगाडि बढाउने प्रयासमा नेपाली जनता नै अग्रसर हुनुपर्दछ।
कतातिर अगाडि बढाउने? नक्खुतिर कि भद्रगोलतिर?
हामीले दुई वर्षअगाडि गर्न खोजेको प्रयास पनि २०४७ सालकै नेपाल अधिराज्यको संविधानअनुसार नै जनताको नासो जनतालाई फर्काउने प्रयास प्रजातान्त्रिक तौरतरिकाबाट गरेकै हो।
हो त, २० लाख जनताले नारायणहिटी घेर्ने भएपछि त्यसै त गर्नुपर्या थियो।
माओवादीले प्रयोग गरेका उपायहरुबारे खुसी थिएनौँ। त्यसैले हामीले कुनै न कुनै किसिमबाट जनताको माग बमोजिम शान्ति प्रयासमा लागेका हौँ। सफल हुन सकेनौँ। हामीले त्यो मान्नै पर्छ। त्यसको नतिजा अहिले राष्ट्र र जनताले भोगिरहेको जस्तो लाग्छ। हामीले कोसिस गरेको प्रयास ठीकै थियो, कुनै न कुनै रुपले प्रमाणित हुँदै गएको छ कि जस्तो लागेको छ।
यो फेरि हामी-हामी दोहोरियो। नेपाली व्याकरण सिकेर म भन्न सिक्नुस्।
नेपाली जनताले जस्तो चाहना गर्छन्, राजसंस्थालाई त्यतैतिर ढाल्नुपर्दछ र त्यसअनुसार अगाडि बढाउनु पर्दछ।
बल्ल कुरा ठीक गर्नुभो। राजसंस्थाको वास नक्खुको कालकोठरीमा होस् भन्ने जनताको चाहना छ।
प्रथमः त जी शाहजी, तपाईंको नेपाली नै शुद्ध भएन। म भन्नुस्, हामी हैन। दोस्रो, जी शाह चूप नलागी फत्फताउन थाल्ने हो भने जनआन्दोलन-३ नै शुरू हुन बेर छैन।
मुलुक कुन अवस्थातिर गइरहेको छ, कस्तो दिशातिर डोरिएको छ, किन अस्तव्यस्त भइरहेको छ भन्ने कुरातिर नेपाली जनताले नै बोल्नु र भन्नुपर्यो।
पहिला आफैँले जनता मार्ने, अनि आफू सिद्धिने बेलामा चाहिँ जनतासँग गुहार माग्ने? यो त भएन नि शाहजी!
कहिल्यै पनि राजसंस्थाले शक्ति खोजेको छैन।
त्यो त छैन। दाल-भात ज्यूनार गर्ने बेलाँ भटट पारेर सत्ता हत्याएकोमात्रै हो। अनि मन्त्रिपरिषदको अध्यक्ष, अर्थ, संचार आदि इत्यादि मन्त्री बनेकोलाई शक्ति खोजेको भन्न मिल्दैन।
राजसंस्थाको इतिहासमा यस्ता क्षणहरु कति आए-कति गए, नेपाली जनताको चाहनाअनुसार नेपाली राजसंस्था चलेको छ र त्यतैतिर लागेको छ।
नगरकोटमा ११ जना, बेलबारीमा ७ जना, भैरव गण र जंगलतिर त झन् कतिको ज्यान गयो कतिको? ती जनताको ज्यान जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार गएको हो कि? दुई वटा हवाइजहाज लिएर अफ्रिका सफारीमा निस्किएको पनि जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार हो कि? दरबारलाई एघार करोडबाट ६५ करोड रुपैयाँ भत्ता पनि जनताकै चाहनाअनुसार बढाएको हो कि?
मैले सुनेको र ज्ञात नभएको होइन, जनता पनि बोल्न सकेका छैनन्, विभिन्न कारणले।
जनतालाई लाटा ठान्नु भो कि कसो? उनीहरूले सिनु बोक्दा आफ्नै जीउ गन्हाउँछ भन्ने बुझेका छन्।
प्रजातान्त्रिक तौरतरिकाका नाममा बेढंगबाट देशको भौतिक संरचना नास गर्ने कुरा प्रजातान्त्रिक भएन जस्तो लाग्दछ।
के यो शालिकहरू ढालेको प्रसंग हो? जनताले मूर्ति ढाले पनि नेपालभित्रै राखेका छन्, समुद्रपारि लगेर बेचेका छैनन्।
शान्ति होस्, प्रजातन्त्र रहोस्, राष्ट्रियता बलियो बनोस्।
ए हो र भन्या? यस्तो कुरा जी शाहको मुखबाट निस्कँदा कति मानिस हाँसेका होलान् है।
कुन किसिमको राजनीतिक व्यवस्था नेपाली जनताले चाहन्छन्, त्यो नेपाली जनताको चाहनामा हुनुपर्दछ त्यो नेपाल र नेपालीलाई सुहाउँदो होस्।
कस्तो? नेपाली जनता हैन, माटो सुहाउँदो पञ्चायती व्यवस्था जस्तो?
नेपालीको शिर ठाडो पारेर हिँड्ने व्यवस्था होस्।
ठाडै त पारेर हिँडेका छन् नि। कहाँ मुण्टो बटारेर हिँड्या छन् र?
साइलेन्स अल्सो एक्सन।
नारायणहिटीमा जेठ १९ को रात एक्सन चलिरहेको बेला जी शाहजी एयरपोर्टमा साइलेण्ट बस्नुभा थियो रे भनेको सुन्या हो हामीले पनि।
चुप लागेका मात्र छैनौँ। त्यसको धेरै अर्थ छ।
त्यसो भनेर हाम्लाई तर्साउन खोज्या हो जी शाहजीले? अब त तपाईंसँग माइली भाउजू पनि तर्सिन्नन्।
सहरको कुरा गरेर मात्र हुँदैन। डाँडाकाँडामा दुःख पाएर रहेका नेपालीलाई उत्तिकै महत्व दिइनु पर्दछ।
सेनाले चोरी सिकारी गरेको हरिणको सुकुटी टोक्दै ह्विस्कीको नसामा नेपाली जनताको पैसाले इण्टरनेटमा पोकर खेलेर बस्नेले यस्तो कुरा गर्दा जनताले पत्याउलान र भन्या?
राष्ट्रनिर्माता श्री ५ पृथ्वीनारायण शाहबाट नेपालको एकीकरण गरिबक्स्यो, मौसुफबाट एकीकरण नभएको भए आज हामी कहाँ हुन्थ्यौँ?
हामी चैँ यहीँ हुन्थ्यौं, तपाईं चैँ राजस्थान हो कि कतारतिर हुनुहुन्थ्यौ होला शायद। यो कुरा अलिक हाइपोथेटिकल कुरा भयो।
राष्ट्रनिर्मातालाई बेइज्जत गर्ने कुरा आफूलाई र राष्ट्रलाई बेइज्जत गरेको जस्तो लाग्छ।
हैन शाहजी, पृथ्वीनारायणको मात्रै किन यति रटान् लगाएको तपाईंले? आफ्नो बाउ र बाजेको त कुरै गर्नुहुन्न बा।
राजसंस्थालाई अगाडि बढाउने प्रयासमा नेपाली जनता नै अग्रसर हुनुपर्दछ।
कतातिर अगाडि बढाउने? नक्खुतिर कि भद्रगोलतिर?
हामीले दुई वर्षअगाडि गर्न खोजेको प्रयास पनि २०४७ सालकै नेपाल अधिराज्यको संविधानअनुसार नै जनताको नासो जनतालाई फर्काउने प्रयास प्रजातान्त्रिक तौरतरिकाबाट गरेकै हो।
हो त, २० लाख जनताले नारायणहिटी घेर्ने भएपछि त्यसै त गर्नुपर्या थियो।
माओवादीले प्रयोग गरेका उपायहरुबारे खुसी थिएनौँ। त्यसैले हामीले कुनै न कुनै किसिमबाट जनताको माग बमोजिम शान्ति प्रयासमा लागेका हौँ। सफल हुन सकेनौँ। हामीले त्यो मान्नै पर्छ। त्यसको नतिजा अहिले राष्ट्र र जनताले भोगिरहेको जस्तो लाग्छ। हामीले कोसिस गरेको प्रयास ठीकै थियो, कुनै न कुनै रुपले प्रमाणित हुँदै गएको छ कि जस्तो लागेको छ।
यो फेरि हामी-हामी दोहोरियो। नेपाली व्याकरण सिकेर म भन्न सिक्नुस्।
नेपाली जनताले जस्तो चाहना गर्छन्, राजसंस्थालाई त्यतैतिर ढाल्नुपर्दछ र त्यसअनुसार अगाडि बढाउनु पर्दछ।
बल्ल कुरा ठीक गर्नुभो। राजसंस्थाको वास नक्खुको कालकोठरीमा होस् भन्ने जनताको चाहना छ।
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