A beautiful poem to read at Christmas time.

-- (ProudToBe@An.American), December 28, 2004

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-- (ProudToBe@An.American), December 28, 2004.

A Soldiers Christmas" Twas the night Before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bed room 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 site did I see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree, No stockings by the mantle, Just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of far distance 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 had found the home of a soldier once I could see clearly I heard stories about them, I had to see more So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door. The solider lay sleeping, silent, alone, Curled up in this, His one bedroom home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, Not how I pictured a United States Solider. Was this the War Hero of whom I’d just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan, I soon understood this was more than a man. 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 celebrate a bright Christmas day. They enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of these solders like the one lying here. I could not 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 Dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Soldier awakened and I hear a rough voice, “Santa don’t cry, this is my life, my choice: I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more "My life is my God, my country my Corps.” The Solider rolled over and soon drifted to sleep I couldn’t control it I started to weep. I kept watch for hours. So silent and still And we both shivered from the cold nights chill. I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night, This guardian of honor, so willing to fight. Then the Solider rolled over with a voice soft and pure, Whispered, "Carry on Santa, all is Secure" One look at my watch and I knew he was right Merry Christmas my friend and to all a good night.

-- Roger (niatross65@hotmail.com), December 28, 2004.

Roger, you can stick your saccharine ode to an atheist militaristic chauvinist Christmas anywhere else you like, but please, NOT HERE! This is a Catholic site. We believe what Christmas is really about is God coming among us as a man, to bring salvation and peace to the world. THIS is what is "beautiful" about Christmas, not the trash you posted.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), December 28, 2004.

steve, the tradition of santa claus dates back to St. Nicholaus... you should take it up with the teachings of the church if you have a problem with one of its saints.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), December 28, 2004.

Paul, please don’t insult everyone’s intelligence with that old canard. The modern “Santa” as presented in that doggerel is about as far removed from the real St Nicholas as you can get. The real St Nicholas would certainly not have promoted war or nationalism.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), December 28, 2004.

ah, but he might support a lonely soldier doing his sworn duty. you too quickly mistake soldiers for politicians, steve. we arent the makers of war, we are the tools of war.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), December 28, 2004.

Santa Claus promotes war and nationalism??

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 28, 2004.

Steve,

Your ignorance is very sad. Also I suggest you take a writing class… your adjectives do not properly describe the poem and are overly used.

I can not take credit for writing the poem as the author is unknown. When it comes to thinking about Soldiers on Christmas, I don't think one can be sugary enough. My prayers and heart go out to the men and women serving our country especially those in a hostile fire area.

Do you find the Soldiers who celebrated Christmas by knelling in prayer at mid night in the Iraq desert to be atheist? Were they spreading militarism as they gave thanks to Christ and asked him to watch over their families and fellow Soldiers…while not thinking of themselves? Or how about those who stand guard over the Iraqi Christians and pray with them? Bet it really irks you when the Soldiers give money out of their own pocket for them to buy church supplies and food with.

Are the ones who share their Bibles with the Iraqi children celebrating the “atheist militaristic chauvinist”, Christmas you describe? How terrible if must have made you feel when these same Soldiers spent Christmas day teaching the children about the birth of our Savior.

Imagine the nerve of these “chauvinist” Soldiers, ensuring females children go to school…and having the nerve to teach them self worth along with the basics.

Good bye.

“ To those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know”. Author unknown.

-- Roger (niatross65@hotmail.com), December 29, 2004.

True Paul, but if the politicians had no “tools”, they wouldn’t be able to make war, would they? As the “tools” in this case volunteered, they must share some of the blame.

“Your ignorance is very sad.” Pray tell what I am ignorant of??

“I suggest you take a writing class… your adjectives do not properly describe the poem and are overly used.” The only adjective I used to describe the "poem" was “saccharine” and I used it only once. And you yourself agreed with me that it is a proper description: “I don't think one can be sugary enough”.

If you want to post us another poem about soldiers doing the good things you mention, NONE of which are mentioned in the doggerel you posted, we would all be very grateful. You seem to think that pointing out the obvious truth that this doggerel is a “saccharine ode to an atheist militaristic chauvinist Christmas”, is equivalent to saying “everything which soldiers ever do is atheist, militaristic and chauvinist”. Address what I was talking about and don’t bring in these other irrelevancies. The point is, the poem stinks (in regard to literary merit, theology, culture and taste) and is a travesty of the Christian celebration of Christ’s birth.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), December 29, 2004.

I think the point of the poem was to remind us of the sacrifice soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines make to secure the peace and fight tyranny. We can argue the justice of specific conflicts, but I didn't see a problem with the basic message. What am I missing?

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), December 30, 2004.

Steve,

You base your statements on hate of the Government and Soldiers.

Find me one Soldier who is "atheist, militaristic and chauvinist".

Do you know the meaning of this words, or do you just like to throw them around?

Also, they are adjectives...and way over used.

With that said I am done responding to your baseless hate speak.

"Brave men die but once...cowards die many times over"

-- roger (niatross65@hotmail.com), December 30, 2004.

Kindly click on the link in the opening message of this thread. The poem posted by Roger is NOT the poem that was supposed to be the subject of this thread.

And I don't care if Steve or anyone else dislikes that poem too. I won't get into any arguments about it. Steve is the kind of person that only a mother could love.

-- (ProudToBe@An.American), December 30, 2004.

Roger, I am amazed that you conclude that I somehow “hate” anyone. Why don’t you stop your outpouring of condemnation long enough to read what I actually said. I used “atheist, militaristic and chauvinist” to describe the type of Christmas the poem is celebrating, NOT to describe any soldier. If for some reason you believe my description is inaccurate, please explain why.

“Proud to Be”, I’m also proud to be an American. And proud to be a Catholic who doesn’t like to see the celebration of our Savior’s birth misused for non-Christian and even anti-Christian purposes. Sorry for not addressing your poem. I agree your poem is not as bad as Roger’s. It’s also pretty dire but at least it doesn’t bring “Santa” into it. And thanks for your concern, but I have plenty of people who love me.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), December 30, 2004.

Steve,

Leave well enough alone, and stop "smearing up" every thread with you sad, liberal opinion.

It was a " beautiful poem"!

-- - (David@excite.com), December 31, 2004.