Society & Culture - 21 December 2007

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in t he cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

2007-12-21 06:49:45 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

OK so my friend just had a baby this week, so for Christmas I am making her a basket with a gift card to get a new outfit, a bottle of wine, a pair of movie tickets, a gc to a resturaunt and I was going to include like a "coupon" for one night of babysitting, their choice of day, so her and her bf can have a night out but I dont know what to write on the "coupon" Any ideas on how to word it?

2007-12-21 06:49:18 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Christmas

2007-12-21 06:48:19 · 93 answers · asked by Anonymous in Christmas

((((HUG))))

Namaste

Peace and Love

2007-12-21 06:48:12 · 12 answers · asked by digilook 2 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-12-21 06:48:01 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

could you give me a regional US dessert to follow our Christmas dinner.

2007-12-21 06:48:00 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Senior Citizens

Ok, let me break it down, according to how I understood this story in Genesis....

Jacob lived with Laban and married Laban's two daughters, Leah and Rachel. But Jacob (as any real man should) decided that he needed to build up his own household and wealth. But because Laban knew that Jacob brought blessing to HIS household, he encouraged him to stay on, even offering him whatever wages he chose.

So Jacob chooses to receive the "abnormally coloured" (speckled, spotted, striped) animals as payment. Laban agrees with that because he knows that that would mean Jacob stood the chance of earning much less than if he had asked for the usual 20% shepherds got in those days.

2007-12-21 06:45:58 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

Is it possible for a Christian to be deceived to the point where they become a tool of the enemy?

If not, why not?

If so, do you think you could fall into such deception?

I will share my thoughts when I give best answer.

2007-12-21 06:45:57 · 17 answers · asked by A Voice 5 in Religion & Spirituality

What do you think about the argument for rape being used for pro-choice advocates? I understand a woman's position if she were to get pregnant as the consequence of a rape and as a woman could not imagine what it would be like to be in that position, for sure. However, the statistics are the a raped woman who gets pregnant due to said rape is 4.7%. Why do we base the whole on a fraction of actual pregnacies? This is not even taking into consideration women who may choose to have the child and keep/adopt out the baby. So it cannot even be said that 4.7% of abortions are due to rape because we cannot know how many women opt out of abortion in that circumstance I know there is also the possibility of the women's life being in danger. In this day and age with medical technology; while it certainly DOES happen, it does not even come close to the 4.7% that the rapes do. So, how do we rectify the 90% (and this is a very generous figure) of abortion due to birth control?

2007-12-21 06:45:21 · 15 answers · asked by Loosid 6 in Religion & Spirituality

Mine is 14 members and counting.

2007-12-21 06:44:18 · 21 answers · asked by heart6213a 5 in Other - Cultures & Groups

2007-12-21 06:43:55 · 15 answers · asked by John K 3 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

my names anthony, and i want a scene name. something kindof dark, or kindof happy. anything that starts with an a. like anthony autopsy.

2007-12-21 06:43:54 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

I am 18 years old and I like basically anything. Give me some help please!

2007-12-21 06:43:46 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Christmas

I'm disabled and love archery and badminton, is there anywhere in Dorset where I could get to do archery?

Also does anyone know of a badminton club for disabled people?

Thanks

2007-12-21 06:43:36 · 5 answers · asked by gemstone 5 in People with Disabilities

* REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME * According to the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the
summer each year, Male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of
winter, usually late November.
However Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth
in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's
reindeer in late December, the beloved Reindeer, from Rudolph to Blitzen
had to be Girls !

We should've known. ONLY WOMEN would be able to drag a fat-aass man in a
red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

2007-12-21 06:43:24 · 14 answers · asked by not giving up 3 in Christmas

Zealot, talent, hypocrite are ones I can think of off the top of my head.

2007-12-21 06:43:09 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

Mankind is untrustworthy, and so unless a person(s) was around when the Holy Quran was written there is not proof that its integrity is intact. From century to century man has changed both the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. If you have actual proof that the Bible or the Quran hasn't been altered I would love to hear from you. Otherwise I do not believe in this hog wash. I believe that people that alter the word of our lord will be punished by him for preventing us from learning the truth.

2007-12-21 06:42:43 · 9 answers · asked by Brother 1 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-12-21 06:42:07 · 16 answers · asked by God Still Speaks Through His Word! 4 in Religion & Spirituality

loneliest number that you will....?

2007-12-21 06:41:56 · 9 answers · asked by Afro_Diggy_Act 3 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-12-21 06:40:39 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

iphones are apopular demand to buy your self, going to a spa, getting a new stereo for your car...
what are you gonna buy your self these holidays that you know noone else will buy you...

2007-12-21 06:40:10 · 8 answers · asked by Mario 1 in Christmas

What are some of your traditions surrounding this day?

2007-12-21 06:38:47 · 5 answers · asked by Sister blue eyes 6 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-12-21 06:38:35 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Mythology & Folklore

Man, Im a Christian but If I wasn't, oh boy.....

2007-12-21 06:38:33 · 6 answers · asked by Vanessa M 1 in Religion & Spirituality

one from scratch you know . Like you perfected it and not pasted from some website.

You see my hunnies is always talking about how great his Grandmas divinity was and how she'd alway make him some for Christmas. Well, we tried to buy it everywhere and he is just not impressed with any store bought divinity .

It would mean the world to me if maybe I could surprise him with homemade divinity .

Thank you

2007-12-21 06:36:34 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Senior Citizens

all equally capable, intelligent, creative, empathetic?

2007-12-21 06:35:29 · 14 answers · asked by sweatyshavedpits 4 in Religion & Spirituality

I have decided that anyone who blocks first, deserves the same in return. Something is strange & I think the past is attempting to repeat itself. I won't play this time around.

What do you think about senseless acts from cowards who often use the seniors category to abuse & bully others for their own purposes of entertainment & vengence?

When will this come to a halt?

2007-12-21 06:35:12 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Senior Citizens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDp7pkEcJVQ

2007-12-21 06:33:04 · 11 answers · asked by frank_adams917 2 in Religion & Spirituality

I know apostolic succession is a big thing in the Catholic church. How exactly does it work? Does anyone called to preach by an apostle have apostolic succession? For instance if I lived during the times of the apostles and say Paul taught me and told me to go forth preaching the gospel. Would that give me apostolic succession? Is the important part of apostolic succesion being called by an apostle or one of the successors? What if a priest with the succession conferred it on a non-Catholic priest?

2007-12-21 06:32:16 · 12 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Religion & Spirituality

"U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter (who served as an officer on a United States Navy experimental nuclear submarine, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush have all used this pronunciation."

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

So, is this now a valid american spelling? because typically speeches of state and great works of literature are the core of a language.

2007-12-21 06:31:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Languages