A Soldier's Silent Night... A load of crap!

[Adapted from the original U.S.M.C. Version]

The original version was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987 under the title "Merry Christmas, My Friend."

The audio recording of this adapted version was recorded by Father Ted Berndt and his daughter Ellen Stout. Father Berndt was a priest at Bread of Life Charismatic Episcopal Church in Dousman, Wisconsin, a proud Marine, and a WWII Purple Heart recipient.

The poem was recorded in one take. The recording received a national A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) award from the March of Dimes and continues to be played in radio stations across the country.

Father Berndt passed away March 19th, 2004 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. According to his daughter, "All he ever wanted to do was touch lives...to make a difference. We are blessed to share "A Soldier's Silent Night" again with you this Christmas."

A Soldier's Silent Night

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM 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 SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE. (non-religious?)

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, (Written prior to even Desert Storm)

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, (a hero, I give credit where due)

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, (what does this mean?
Is it saying that there is something "dark and dreary" about being a soldier?)

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. (Why on the floor? Is he
suffering from PTSD? Look it up.)

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, (Why, soldiers police
there areas...more so the Marines.)

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. (US Soldiers? If you really pay attention he's saying all soldiers everywhere. The problem
is...and what makes this song the second most offensive Christmas themed song of all
time...that it is soldiers that soldiers fight.)

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE. (No the don't. Ask
the people of North Korea or China if they owe their freedom to soldiers. It is this
gibberish that makes this song crap.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. (Where could he be
that would fit the description...one bedroom house made of plaster and stone but
with a fireplace and a mantel?)

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY; (If Santa cried over every
soldier or sailor with a sad story, then he'd have no time to do anything else.)

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS." (A reference back to the
original version with a Marine. Why is it more popular now as a soldier? What
does that say about the warped perspective of the jingoist American?)

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL (Isn't he supposed to be
a bit busy Christmas Eve? What they hell would he just watch the guy sleep?)

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL. (Santa Shivering?
Okay that puts this soldier either in the Arctic Circle or Antarctica. Why not give
the guy a blanket Santa?

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT. (Real symbol of "Peace on
Earth, good will toward men!)

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE." (Really?
There have been few Christmas Eve's over the past century when there wasn't fighting
somewhere.)

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

The only song more offensive and stupid than this one that is played almost
as much is, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Just the title of that one is offensive to the people it was aimed at helping.

From Band Aid 20:

[Chris Martin:]
It's Christmastime, there's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade

[Dido:]
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime

[Robbie Williams:]
But say a prayer, Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun

[Sugababes:]
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

[Fran Healy:]
Where the only water flowing (okay till you see the rest)

[Fran Healy & Sugarbabes:]
Is the bitter sting of tears

[Fran Healy & Justin Hawkins:]
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
(What does this even mean? What's coming gives this a chilling and
almost evil overtone.)

[Bono:]
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you (powerful, I have no problem here)

[Will Young & Jamelia:]
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime (There's snow in the mountains
of Africa all year round but most of it is going through Summer)
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life (the few Christians?)

The song has now turned into a nearly racist but completely bigot and hateful
description of African through Western Christian eyes of a place where not
only does being a Christian put you in a distinct minority (outside of the South)
but can in places get you killed. The authors of the song should know better
and it makes it a thousand times more offensive when you realize that they
in fact did know better.

[Ms Dynamite & Beverly Knight:]
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow (This now become a fantasy world of complete
bullshit. There are rivers all over Africa, rain forests, and farms everywhere._

[Group of ten and Joss Stone:]
Do they know it's Christmastime at all? (They really don't give a shit. Most
are Muslims and don't care a rats ass about a made up holiday for Christians)

[Tom Chaplin (Keane):]
Here's to you

[Justin Hawkins (Darkness):]
Raise a glass for everyone

[Dizzee Rascal:]
Spare a thought this yuletide for the deprived
If the table was turned would you survive

[Busted:]
Here's to them

[Justin Hawkins (Darkness):]
Underneath that burning sun

[Dizzee Rascal:]
You ain't gotta feel guilt just selfless
Give a little help to the helpless

[Joss Stone & Justin Hawkins:]
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

[Tom Chaplin:]
Feed the world

[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin:]
Feed the world

[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:]
Feed the world

[Tom Chaplin & Chris Martin & Sugababes:]
Feed the world

[Everyone in full chorus line.]
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again - [repeated]

[Group of ten:]
Feed the world

[Everyone in full chorus line.]
Feed the world - [repeated to end]

[Joss Stone ]
[Ad libs over outro]

Have to question the decision making of Obama...

Two of the three major differences between Obama and McCain are now off the table. How do you question McCain's age with an old man as your VP candidate? How do you truly claim to represent change and call McCain a part of the "Washington Establishment" when Biden has been in Washington even longer.

I'm still voting for Obama but I know a lot of my Republican friends are going to be second guessing this bonehead move too and go back to the Grand Old Party.

With so many strong Democrats to choose from, to pick someone who barely could get noticed when he ran for President THIS year is moronic.

Biden only brings two things that Barack claims he needed...he'll be someone he can work with and he'll get up in his face. He kills the change message, his foreign policy cred is good but the campaign has been saying he didn't need that.

IF McCain chooses Romney, THEN Biden looks better because he isn't a millionaire.

Again, I'll vote for Obama but this is a very bad choice. If McCain was the man he was in 2000, this move would have switched me back.

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That's right...my Republican Party. I've been a Republican all my life and have never voted for a Democrat for President...till this year. Barack Obama is what this country needs to turns us around.

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