The meaning of Christmas

[Antoni Chmielowski]

Gentleman,

at this time of year we all think of Christmas, I hope this picture reminds us all of the ultimate sacrifice that was made to keep us all free from tyranny.

This picture was taken by me during a visit to Oosterbeek in 2003



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Ernest_Queripel

[Huib Versloot]

This reminds me of a poem I wrote back in 1989 inspired by some pictures I made at the Canadian war cemetery at Holten a few summer earlier. (people do funny things when they're young. Btw the attached picture is just form the net, not the original)

The english version I did just now as I figured most here can't read Dutch...

Foto van Canadese begraafplaats

Als ons oog loopt over dit groene gras
Naar het witte kruis in blauw gesneden
Gaan wij met voorzichtige pas
Over zielen die wij zacht betreden.

En komen vragen over dit verleden
Was ook toen deze zee van licht?
In het verlies van ieder jong gezicht
Wordt ’t natwoord door het weer vermeden.

Zodat ontroering of wat wij menen
Al heel snel is verdwenen.

Want fel wordt het Mapleleaf beschenen door de zon
’t Licht gunt ons niet de namen van degenen
Die schaduwen zijn achter de witte stenen
Die rezen toen het doden begon.

Holiday picture of a Canadian cemetery

As our eye walks over the green cut grass
Towards the white cross cut in blue
We carefully pass
Over souls we barely touch.

And do we wonder about this past
Was back then such a sea of light?
In the face of young lost lives
The answer by the weather is denied.

So emotion, just before getting near
Has already disappeared.

For on the Mapleleaf the sun shines bright
It’s light won’t gives us the names
Of the white stones' shades
That rose when the killing started.

Huib 1989

[K K Rossokolski]

That is very thoughtful, thank you, Huib. And perhaps more young people will do "funny' things like that, and just perhaps gain some insight of the price that others have paid for freedoms they take for granted as a birthright. There are millions watching, thinking,planning who do not share this mindless attitude,

Sadly, whenever I look at a memorial -and I always stop at the War Memorial in Australian towns through which I pass- the words of Plato, written nearly 2500 years ago, always come to mind, with a message of hopelessness that sadly has stood the test of time, and appears in its turn on this forum........

"Only the dead have seen the end of war.''

KKR