There Is Some Good In All People

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This is the Stan that I know.

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, "SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), November 16, 2000

-- Rick in SW West Virginia (Rick_122@hotmail.com), March 14, 2002

Answers

The first time I saw this it brought tears to my eyes and it still does now. I know we owe so much to all of the men and women who have given to this country, sometimes even giving all they could. I can certainly understand why they can become bitter and feel unappreciated. So many people are so shallow and self-centered and they forget that the world is filled with people who are hurting.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 14, 2002.

That is who I remember also (Stan). I hope we can all remember that there are faces behind these paragraphs. One does not know what stresses or events the other is going thru unless they choose to share it with us. Unfortunately many times men will not do that. We are birds of a different feather and we will let some things consume our souls. This is not my forum and I know some feelings got hurt but may I suggest that we try a little forgiveness. What better "witness" is there than to turn the other cheek ?

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), March 15, 2002.

Yes, that is the Stan we know and love.

I agree with Joel in that we don't know what is driving the current aberration. Even though the range of effects has been incredibly painful for Melissa, to just annoying for others, we do need to forgive him and assume that this is an organic problem.

-- Laura (Ladybugwrangler@hotmail.com), March 15, 2002.


OK these above are the people who I thought where here .What a great example for the world .If we all could have a little more compassion to are fellow man the world would be a better place.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 15, 2002.

Oy vey! If Stan will be reading this, I have a feeling there will be a grin on his face when he finishes. After this long in the forums together, he knows me pretty well. He knows that I speak my mind, although I try hard to be diplomatic. Let's just say that I have nothing to forgive him for. And, I'm a bit of a cynic. I'm going to sit this one out and see what the future brings. God bless!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), March 15, 2002.


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