Just something I wrote a few years back when I was in a poetical mood. I post it here as a Christmas card of sorts. Hope it's not too mushy.
If you're going to Midnight Mass, better get there early, 'cause it'll be crowded. At midnight, they cue the bell tower and kick in the full pomp and majesty of the Catholic church: incense, liturgical dancers, and singing in Latin . . .
Adeste fidelis
Laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte regem angelorum
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.
. . . The readings for Midnight Mass are among the most moving in the Bible: Isaiah chapter nine . . .
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. . . .
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. . . .
. . . and Lukes narrative of the first Christmas . . .
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
. . . The recessional will be the Hallelujah Chorus from Handels Messiah. Theyre predicting snow tonight, so it will likely be cloudy; but if its clear, well walk out into the night to the glories of the winter sky: Sirius, Orion and its great nebula, Aldebran, the Pleadies, the planets Jupiter and Saturn. I might even get out the telescope before we go to bed . . .
When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, what is man that thou art mindful of him?
Posted by: Mike ||
12/25/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Non mushy in the slightest, Mike.
Tonight, my wife and I went to Christmas Eve service at the local Methodist Church; first time in what now seems like forever I must admit. And it felt good. (as I write this it is not yet the 25th out here in WA)
Yes the hymms and the story was familiar, but it was more than that. Could it be that I just realized that I have been missing something for many years? I will be chewing on that for the next few days....
Dodd and Kennedy explain the Dodd-Kennedy Sandwich to admiring MSM. Izzat mayo on your collar, Senator?
The time has come for the United States to begin the process of getting our troops out of Iraq.
In Baghdad last week, I joined in a conversation with a West Point graduate who is serving in Iraq. He said, "Senator, it is nuts over here. Soldiers are being asked to do work we're not trained to do. I'm doing work that State Department people are far more prepared to do in fostering democracy, but they're not allowed to come off the bases because it's too dangerous here. It doesn't make any sense."
After spending six days in the Middle East last week - which included visits with the top leaders in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel - it's hard not to come to the same conclusion: Our strategy in Iraq makes no sense. It never really did. It is as bad in person as it appears on television. There are literally dozens of sects, militias, gangs, warlords, foreign terrorists and others killing one another for dozens of reasons in Iraq today, and American troops are caught in the crossfire.
Our brave men and women have done everything asked of them with great courage and honor, but searching for military solutions in Iraq today is a fool's errand. True peace and security in Iraq will not come at the end of an American gun. It will only happen to the degree that Iraq's leaders are willing to take responsibility for governing their own country and securing their own future. America's position should be clear: Iraqis must show they want a country now, or American troops should begin to withdraw.
The good news is that Iraq has leaders who can make a difference. The bad news is that the Iraqi government feels no sense of urgency. I met with the Iraqi president, prime minister and minister of defense last week - my third such visit to Iraq - and once again, I didn't hear Iraq's leaders speak of any timetable for when they will take over. As long as America is there, they can defer responsibility.
The proposal being considered by the administration to add between 15,000 and 30,000 soldiers in a "surge" of American troops will do nothing to address this issue. If anything, "surge" is a tactic in search of a strategy. How does it lead to victory? It won't solve any problems; it won't force the hands of Iraq's leaders; at best, it will simply be one more reason for delay - a delay that will be paid with American blood. That's a price our troops and our nation shouldn't be asked to pay any longer.
Instead, the president should announce in January that we will begin withdrawing and redeploying our troops - to the Syrian border, to stop the flow of terrorists; to the north of Iraq, to better train Iraqi security forces; to Qatar, to form a quick-strike force if necessary to defend our vital interests; to Afghanistan, to resume the hunt for Osama bin Laden; and for those who have already over-extended their tour of duty by one or two years - home. If the Iraqis don't demonstrate the political will to unite, we should begin this process - in consultation with our military leadership - of reducing troop levels within weeks, not months.
We should then undertake a new American policy of intense diplomatic and political engagement with the entire Middle East.
The war in Iraq has lasted longer than our involvement in World War II and left nearly 3,000 Americans dead. If continuing this sacrifice held the promise of achieving American goals, I would support it. But our presence there has become a barrier to our goals. American troops have demonstrated the courage to fight. Now, Iraq's leaders must summon the will to lead. It's the only solution that makes sense.
Sen. CHRISTOPHER J. DODD is a Democrat from Connecticut.
#1
"W" isn't listening to the Congress or the American people, Mr Dodd. My suggestion would be to align yourself with the concensus brought forward to cut the war spending, no more blank checks... otherwise STFU!!
#2
We should then undertake a new American policy of intense diplomatic and political engagement with the entire Middle East.which has worked so magnificently in the past.
Yes we are and our troops have not been shot at nor bombed since a tiny SS resistance faction was crushed by around 1947. About the only problem they've had in Deutschland ever since is beer brawls and knocking-up Frauleins.
#5
"Dodd: Begin withdrawing, redeploying troops now"
Normal people with actual brains: STFU, asshole.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/25/2006 10:46 Comments ||
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#6
Yes Lancaster, but check on the number of dead soldiers due to training accidents and vehicle traffic. Betcha the number exceeds what the MSM keeps pushing in our face in the ME.
#7
remember when he supported the Sandinistas and the El Salvador rebels? He hasn't gotten any smarter or more pro-American. He's a walking POS
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/25/2006 12:16 Comments ||
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#8
After spending six days in the Middle East last week - which included visits with the top leaders in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel
Move along, nothing happening here.....
these mind games are killing me, stop negotiating for us!
We need to have communication amongst ourselves, not have our politicians going over there to discuss with the other countries. Seems bassackwards to me.
Maybe they should talk with the second or third string of players like themselves, in the other countries if they get to at all. How is it they get audiences with the top leaders anyway?
And who's paying for all of their travel?
Posted by: Jan ||
12/25/2006 12:17 Comments ||
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#9
#8 Jan: "And who's paying for all of their travel?"
We are, silly rabbit.
Who didja think?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/25/2006 13:05 Comments ||
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#10
smn: "W" isn't listening to the Congress or the American people, Mr Dodd. My suggestion would be to align yourself with the concensus brought forward to cut the war spending, no more blank checks... otherwise STFU!!
While I strongly disagree with Dodd, I have to disagree with this position even more. Cutting off funding means a duplicate of what happened in Vietnam you fool. But, of course, that's what you want isn't it?
Even Dodd isn't advocating cutting the troops and the Iraqi (Hah!) "government" off from funding isn't going to make this country stronger or make our friends any happier about the whole situation.
All you seem to care about is getting a pound of flesh from the Republicans, the administration, and maybe the American people and our troops in general.
The election was no friggin' "consensus" and no mandate on Iraq despite what your dhimmi buddies want to say. Most people in this country support our troops and would never want to see their funding cut off in any manner.
Maybe it's you who ought to STFU and listen to what others here on RB and in your own neighborhood are saying.
#11
Whenever I hear Dodd's name, I think of an incident where he and Teddy were drinking in a private room of a restaurant, and decided to rape a waitress, right there on the table.
The girl was advised by her friends and boss not to make an issue of it, or she would be harmed. Eventually she had to seek treatment for at least two venereal diseases.
#12
"While I strongly disagree with Dodd, I have to disagree with this position even more. Cutting off funding means a duplicate of what happened in Vietnam you fool. But, of course, that's what you want isn't it?"
Exactly, Greg. The left culture is pulling out all the stops in a misguided effort to repeat its greatest triumph, the 1975 sellout of South Vietnam. Just last week, Alan "Strawman" Colmes described present-day Vietnam's Stalinist dictatorship as a "vibrant democracy" in an attempt to suggest that the same imaginary outcome would result from leaving Iraq.
Unless he owns a lot of Nike stock, Colmes cares not a whit for what it is really like in Vietnam these days. What he cares for is re-living the glory of his youth, an ambition he shares with millions of media conformists who are more ignorant than he, but no less callous.
In broadest terms, this war is nothing less than a surge-point in human evolution, serving to identify and concentrate those elements who will be a detriment to human survival in the future. Practically all the evil, dishonest forces on the planet are coalescing around the compulsive liars and power-seekers of the institutional media. They will either be eliminated in a final showdown or humanity will face a new dark age.
#13
#9 B S,
I thought there were strict guidelines about using funds. I suppose you're right though, that we pay, they probably find all kind of loopholes to use.
Posted by: Jan ||
12/25/2006 23:54 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
