Heart of Africa

Division once stood

to shatter thy native rest -

hear me, Rwanda!

Thou must now stand firm

at the heart of Africa -

one soul; one whole one!

Ne'er again

Ne'er again.

---<--@

Deny the spirit of War

a footing in thyself, O Beautiful Rwanda - forever!

Unity (the one peace that prospers).

Work (the labor of nations - building up the earth).

Patriotism (an indivisible love of Country).

All nations are endowed by God with just one heart -

one spirit to inspire her peoples, embracing their souls,

calling their generations forth from timelessness into time,

establishing upon their midst one rule, one abiding will of peace -

one undertaking of Country, one ascent, one lineage of victory;

one unity that shelters against the darkness and against War

binding all her sons and daughters together unto one soul,

from generation to generation to the last of her generations

so that they belong together: one love, one labor, one destiny.

Stand for thy own native peace;

serve and prosper thy peoples;

defend the life of thy one nation -

steadfastly, always, and with virtue.

Mabuhay, Rwanda!

Christmas to Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Peace, I salute you -

Christmas to Christmas,

we go - each year to each year -

and from hope to hope.

Have we forgotten

the hope of two thousand years?

Christmas to Christmas...

Let us now

remember...

---<--@

Come see -

To each of us is born this day,

in a manger surrounded with love - and only with love,

and in all hearts sincere, willing, humble, and contrite -

Emmanuel, Jesus Christ the Lord!

Alleluia to God,

alleluia to the LORD -

Peace is among the nations,

good will to all men and women of peace.

Vaclav Havel

I am drawn to thee -

even now that thou art gone...

I am drawn to thee!

Thou art gone, dear sir -

the earth mourns at thy passing...

but thy spirit, soars!

Thou art gone,

but not quite...

---<--@

Vaclav Havel (19361005-20111218) - recalled by God, of natural causes - Czech poet, patriot, enlightened leader of the Czech Republic, loyal son of the Czech people, singer of hope, exemplar of peace, friend of all free nations of the earth - via con Dios.

On purposeful politics: "True politics, worthy of the name — and the only kind I will practice — is the politics of service to one's neighbor. Service to the community; service to those who will succeed us ... If you are modest and do not lust after power, not only are you suited to politics, you absolutely belong there."

On globalization: "An amalgamation of cultures is taking place. ... We are in a phase when one age is succeeding another, when everything is possible and almost nothing is certain."

On hope and persistence: "The only lost cause is one we give up on before we enter the struggle."

On revolution and retribution: "Violence is well-known to breed violence, which is why most revolutions have degenerated into dictatorships, devouring their own offspring - not knowing that they were digging their own graves and confining society in a vicious circle of revolutions and counter-revolutions."

On a keeping a sense of humor: "Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not."

"Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed."

O Sophie

O Sophie, Sophie -

thou put men like me to shame.

Leaving me breathless!

Thou art a bright star

that in the darkness may not

be consumed - ever!

In thy heart,

Germany.

---<--@

Sophia Magdalena Scholl (19210905-19432202) of valor and love of Country - Young Flower of the White Rose Movement, gave her all to help obtain and preserve for captive Germany the image of her own true self, murdered in the paroxysm of the last days of Hitler's lunatic dream - brave and true to the very last - a citizen of both heaven and earth - I salute you, Sophie, and I love you - glory to God and honor to you and your companions forever - via con Dios.