Make a new heart and spirit to welcome Jesus, the christ worthly.
Let's prepare ourself and give a new room for the birth of Jesus, our savior to enter in!
Written by Myet Yay
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2008
Christmas is a celebration for all people!
It is not just a feast only on December 25 but each day of the year can be Christmas.
Christmas makes us touch the divine love of God for us in giving Jesus to humanity.
Jesus, the sign of new hope and new life, is the true Christmas.
He is the Spirit of Christmas!
Let us be imbued with this spirit so that Christmas can be a real intimate moment with the members of our family.
… so that Christmas can open our hearts but also our wardrobes and pockets in order
to share to the needy.
… so that Christmas can reconcile our divisions and build fraternity and peace
throughout the year .
May the spirit of Christmas overflow in us with that love and light of Jesus and may this love and light be then poured out into our families, friends and everyone we meet.
I don't need a lot of presents To make my Christmas bright I just need my baby's arms Wound around me tight Oh oh Santa hear my plea Santa bring my baby back to me
The Christmas tree is ready The candles all aglow But with my baby far away What good is mistletoe Oh oh Santa, hear my plea Santa bring my baby back to me
Please make these reindeer hurry Well their time is drawing near It sure won't seem like Christmas Until my baby's here
Fill my sock with candy And a bright and shiny toy You wanna make me happy and fill my heart with joy Then Santa, hear my plea Santa bring my baby back to me
Please make these reindeer hurry Well their time is drawing near It sure won't seem like Christmas Until my baby's here
Fill my sock with candy And a bright and shiny toy You wanna make me happy and fill my heart with joy Then Santa, hear my plea Santa bring my baby back to me
Then Santa, hear my plea Santa bring my baby back to me
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say: "Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history!
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here
We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may his His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him still, The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel
O Come O Come Emmanuel !
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come All Ye Faithful Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
God of God, Light of Light Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's Womb Very God, Begotten not Created O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord
O Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above Glory to God in the Highest; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Yea! Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus! to thee be glory given. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Christmas Song Lyrics - Joy to The World J oy to the world, the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy Repeat, repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessing flow Far as the curse is found Far as the curse is found Far as, far as the curse is found
He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonders, of His love
Ay, Ay, Ay - It's Christmas
Girl it's that time for year to sing Feliz Navidad underneath the tree there should be some presents there from Santa Claus
Girl I'm begging you don't be mad at me I forgot it's Christmas and you're oh so hard to try to please
Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't know what to do Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you I can give you ay, ay, ay all you need is ay, ay, ay un poquito ay, ay, ay on this Christmas night, yeah
Girl, pretend my arms are like shiny, big red bows wrapped around your kisses underneath the magic mistletoe Girl, my gift of love is comin' from the heart peace on earth, goodwill to all starts right here where we are Everybody sing Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't know what to do Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you I can give you ay, ay, ay all you need is ay, ay, ay un poquito ay, ay, ay on this Christmas night, yeah
Vamono'
Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't know what to do Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you I can give you ay, ay, ay all you need is ay, ay, ay un poquito ay, ay, ay on this Christmas night Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't know what to do Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you I can give you ay, ay, ay all you need is ay, ay, ay un poquito ay, ay, ay on this Christmas night
Ay, ay, ay - Ay, ay, ay Que bueno esta Ay, ay, ay - Ay, ay, ay Ay, ay, ay - Christmas night Ay, ay, ay - Que bueno Ay, ay, ay - Lo-le-lo-le Ay, ay, ay - Arriba eh Ay, ay, ay - Ay, ay, ay!
Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't know what to do Ay, ay, ay, it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you I can give you ay, ay, ay All you need is ay, ay, ay
The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) all right you Chipmunks! Ready to sing your song? -I'll say we are! -Yeah! -Let's sing it now! Okay, Simon? -Okay! Okay, Theodore? -Okay! Okay, Alvin? Alvin? ALVIN! -OKAY!!!)
Christmas, Christmas time is near Time for toys and time for cheer We've been good, but we can't last Hurry Christmas, hurry fast Want a plane that loops the loop Me, I want a hula hoop We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.
Okay fellas get ready That was very good, Simon. -Naturally. Very good Theodore. -Ahhh. Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it. Ah, Alvin. Alvin. ALVIN! -OKAY.
Want a plane that loops the loop I still want a hula hoop We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late. We can hardly stand the wait Please Christmas, don't be late.
Very good, boys -Lets sing it again! Yeah, lets sing it again! No, That's enough, lets not overdo it -What do you mean overdo it? -We want to sing it again! Now wait a minute, boys -Why can't we sing it again? -[chipmunk chatter] Alvin, cut that out..Theodore, just a minute. Simon will you cut that out? Boys...
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
All: A dream is a wish
YEAH!! YEAH!!
Raven: A dream is a wish your heart makes When you're fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches whatever you wish for you keep. Ha
Alyson: Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smilin' through
Annalise and Orlando: No matter how your heart is grieving if you keep on believing
All: In dreams you will lose your heartaches Whatever you wish for you keep
Dylan and Cole: You wake with the mornin' sunlight To find fortune that is smilin' on you
Annalise and Orlando: Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow
Raven, Annalise, and Orlando: for all you know tomorrow
Raven: The dream that you wish will come true
Ricky: No matter how your heart is grieving
Kyla: If you keep on believing
Raven: The dream that you wish will come....true
Boys: A dream is a wish
Girls: When you can dream, then you can start a dream is a wish you make with your heart When you can dream, then you can start a dream is a wish you make with your heart
A dream is a wish you make with your heart When you can dream, then you can start A dream is a wish you make with your heart
A dream is a wish you make with your heart When you can dream, then you can start A dream is a wish you make with your heart
A dream is a wish you make with your heart When you can dream, then you can start A dream is a wish you make with your heart
In the following brief narrative, War, Love, Loss, and...Hope, Karen guerilla fighter, Mahn Robert Ba Zan, recants his war experiences in an honest and no holds barred fashion. Members of Zan’s ethnic group, the Karen, have been embroiled in armed conflict with successive Burmese governments for the last 50 years. His accounts clearly show the heavy price this war has extolled on combatants on both sides, as well as the civilian population. Zan’s story is one of both victory and waste, revolutionary fervor and hopelessness, and is perhaps, a miniature representation of the nature of war itself. Living in a torturous paradox, Zan, a man who detests killing, feels impelled to shield his people from the savagery of the Burmese Army. Despite the travails of war, Zan holds fast to his ideals and wishes to see all those who are abused and exploited by the Burmese regime, including the Burmese foot soldiers whom he must face on the battlefield, to someday realize the dream of peace and hope for Burma.
Background: The Struggle
The Karen revolutionary struggle in Burma is among the most brutal, longest running, and least known armed conflicts of the modern era. The current military dictatorship in Burma, whom the Karen revolutionaries oppose, has been staunchly criticized by a myriad of nations, as well as world, religious, and human rights organizations for brutalizing its own people. Today, in the hills and jungles of Burma the Karen and a handful of other anti-Burmese military dictatorship groups continue to hold out against the illegal and abusive Burmese regime. Presently, there are nearly 300,000 peoples from Burma that are refugees.
Our very beautiful and once prosperous country of Burma has been under inhuman and barbarous Burmese military rule for more than 30 years: no elections, no free speech, no free press, no demonstrations, no freedom of thought, no freedom of assembly, and no freedom of religion. The Burmese army uses 200 battalions(100,000 soldiers) to oppress and kill our Karen people. Our people in Burma have become Burmese slaves. But some of us have made it to America, and here we are free.
As soon as my feet touched American soil, I felt like I was dreaming. In America there were no inhuman acts, no big guns, no mortars, no rockets, no small arms fire, no army jet bombs, no forced relocation, no forced labor, no villages burned down, no girls and women crying, and no gang rapes.
I would like to tell you of some of my experiences in war, which has taken my brothers, nephews, cousins and many loved ones.
The Loss of a Brother
October 1987: The Red Hill Battles of Wakha
The Red Hill Battles of Wakha are among the most well known battles in Karen war history. The battles were fierce with deafening gunfire and explosions that lasted both night and day. When the battle was over, a private from our 101 Special Force informed me that nephew Moe Aung Win was wounded. Unfortunately, we had become accustomed to our comrades getting wounded at the front. But the private continued his report and informed me that my brother had been killed in action. I could not believe my ears, I felt as if thunder had struck my head. Of my two brothers, now the youngest was dead. Was this the revolution reward I deserved and the gift that I inherited from my father?
A few days before my brother had fallen, he told me, “Brother, I am going to get married!” I replied, “You are now of marriageable age?” He said, “You have to make a wedding ring for me.” In my surprise I shouted, “An ounce of gold for a wedding ring, it will cost at least two thousand five hundred Baht(Thai currency). Where can I find this much money? I am soldier and I spend all of my time at the front line.” But that day I promised him that I would try to get him the ring. Now my brother is dead and I do not know where the wedding ring is either.
A funeral service was arranged and he was buried with a gunfire salute and full military honors. During the burial, as tears jumped out of my eye sockets, I clenched my fist and swore to take revenge for my dear brother.
A Lesson from War
How many lives have been destroyed during the fifty years of this civil war in Burma? How many tears have fallen for those who have died? How much property has been destroyed? How many widows have been made? How many human bodies have been mutilated and disabled? There has been countless suffering over the last fifty years of civil war, so much suffering that only God can calculate it.
On May 27, 1989, a platoon of comrades and I were sent to reinforce Wakha. We prepared all of the supplies that we would need: food, water, ammunition, and medicines. We knew that soon we would be facing fierce fighting. We were well prepared and had invested our lives in the defense of our position. Once our preparations were finished, I said to my heart, “Brother, I will take revenge for your blood tonight.”
Of course, there will always be hatred and vengeance as long as the civil war continues. And where there is aggression, there will also be self-defense. My platoon and I were ready. I told my comrades, “Let the enemy come through. Let them pass through the second fence and do not fire until they reach the third fence. I will be the first to open fire.” All of my comrades agreed and waited for the enemy to approach the fences, which were only twenty five yards from our position. At last the enemy came. Two by two and then four by four they entered through the first fences. In the moonlight, I could see them clearly. With my finger on the trigger of my Browning Automatic Rifle(BAR), I tried to concentrate on the fire fight that was soon to come, but my mind was conflict. On the one hand, I felt that the approaching enemy was responsible for my brother’s death. They were the ones that burned our Karen villages and raped our Karen women. On the other hand, the enemy in front of me were young men who had not chosen to join the Burmese Army but were forcibly conscripted. All of us had been born in the same country and we were all brothers. We did not know each other and we had no personal conflict with each other. I knew that soon they would be dying in front of me. I would be killing them. I felt both hatred and brotherly union spirit towards them.
The enemy soldiers methodically cut through our barbed wire fences. Soon they had cut through the first fence and had started cutting through the second. The enemy was probably getting more and more excited as they thought that they would catch the “ringworm Karen”(derogatory Burmese term for Karen people) sleeping.
The enemy dismantled the second fence and now was started on the third. At this time I decided to fire and I pulled the trigger of my BAR. Almost instantly the group of Burmese soldiers in front me collapsed and died.
The fighting began at 3:00 am. The gunfire and explosions were so hellish it felt as if the end of world was coming. Shortly, all the soldiers who entered the second fence were killed, but the enemy kept pouring in wave after wave. The defensive spirit of the Karen fighters was stronger than the enemies will to overrun us. Gradually, the enemy’s offensive waned and the gunfire ceased. All of the defenders of Wakha were heroes.
I was full of joy and shouted, “Brother, we have made it! We have avenged you!” The enemy dead were scattered everywhere. Some of the dead Burmese soldiers hung in barbed wire and others lay in the bamboo. It was an ugly scene.
Lance Corporal Saw Nge stepped out of our bunker and began to collect the guns of the dead Burmese soldiers. “Take care and pass the weapons to each other. Be careful of land mines!” I cautioned. I saw my beloved comrade Bajamod bring back two 40mm grenade launchers and two G-4 rifles into our bunker. One by one many different weapons poured into our bunker. The total enemy equipment that was seized was: 79 individual weapons(including two Browning pistols) and two PRC radio sets.
I sat on top of my bunker and stared down at the bodies of the slain enemy soldiers. Most of the bodies were badly mutilated. As a soldier, I was full of joy because we had seized many weapons and munitions and above all, we won the battle. But in reality did I really win? Could I ever really avenge my brother? Did I not kill my brethren, my own countrymen? Is this the right way for us Karen people to solve our political problems? Is this a fair solution?
How can we reconcile our differences with our brethren? How can we help erase the mistrust between our peoples? Is killing the only way that our differences can be solved? Is this the solution? As Barat Dogre said, “War destroys not only the vanquished but the also the victor.”
Even though we long for peace and are sickened by all the bloodshed, if the other side continues to send tens of thousands of troops into our territory to kill our Karen people, rape our Karen women, burn our villages, forcefully relocate our people, what can we do? Should we keep quiet and bear these abuses and insults in our ancient homeland? Is it wrong for us to defend ourselves, with whatever means, in order to shield ourselves from these inhuman acts? Should we be considered rebellious? What can we hope to accomplish by preaching the message of peace to the murderous Burmese military junta? Can non-violent struggle be applied in all situations?
Consider the military actions taken by NATO and the US against dictators like Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia. If these actions were taken in order to preserve freedom, peace, and human rights, why shouldn’t they(US and Nato) take the same actions against the abusive military dictators in Rangoon and restore peace in Burma? I would personally like to know Daw Su’s feeling on this matter so that we can review our current strategies and plans.
I was born and grew up in this cruel civil war. I have lost my brothers and many comrades. I myself was seriously wounded and tens of thousands of my people are now refugees. The economic situation in Burma is in shambles, and so many peoples from Burma work in neighboring countries in horrible conditions. This is what we have reaped from our civil war in Burma. I am naturally anti-war. I bitterly hate war. I pray that this cruel civil war will come to an end soon.
We all vow and pledge to join hands with you in course of freedom and People’s Democracy in Burma.
May all vicious hate end among the various peoples of Burma.
May all peoples of Burma enjoy equality and freedom.
May love and peace last forever among our peoples.
May all peoples of Burma receive human rights and justice.
May tri-party talks take place soon.
May there be a genuine federal union established in Burma.
May there be love, peace, and prosperity for all children in Burma.