Stars in the night sky

Stars in the night sky

God created light. What is this light? This is not exactly the sunlight but, for the lack of an easier term, is called synonymously as if it were the sunlight. Without the light, we are spiritually in darkness that we cannot say the precious from the vile. The light enables us to make right decision and good choice. The light is compared to the sun by analogy. The sun brings us such a beautiful world into our sight. In the early morning when the sun is on the rise from the east, we start our day with a new hope and expectation, but we see the sun set to the western sky with nothing much accomplished every time, hope with wearied bodies waning unknowingly. God is graceful, faithful, and long suffering to give us another day for another chance. The light is from the wisdom of God. We often waste daylight in vain. Then we come into a long dark night until the next sunrise.

I used to walk alone in the dark at times to and from school, when I was in teen years. I was walking on a rural hillside path where no passerby could be seen after sunset. The full moon gave me enough light to find way home safe. But the moonlight made into my sight a fantasy world of weird shapes of rocks and trees combined with their shadows nearby on my way. They sometimes gave me chilly feelings, because they seemed to be in motion, as I moved for the walking.  With no moon, I could see countless number of stars glittering in the sky. Everywhere else was dark, quiet and open space. Stars hardly gave me light I needed. But they became my companion. The north star, the big dipper, and many other constellations were not strangers to me. Those stars seemed peaceful so as to make me think that they have so many stories to tell me, if I had ears to listen. They have been there in the sky probably millions of years watching persons including me. They must remember my father who became a victim of the Korean war. They may have witnessed all the joys and sorrows of the human race on earth. They looked to me like saints, the souls of sons of God, who once lived on earth. What did they do to become saints as such? I asked myself. Were they really saints in the heaven, they might watch and guide me walking alone on the road. Then, I was no more alone. I was with the saints.

The Genesis says that God created the light the first day of the creation and the sun the fourth day. I wonder how three days and three nights were counted before the sun was created. I do not pretend this is the only thing not to understand. I realize that my knowledge is so narrow and limited as I feel as if to walk in the dark night I experienced years ago. Now, I praise God, You created light. Your word is the light. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (May 26, 2013, KYP)

American Bulwark

American Bulwark

Mr. Hicks was Deputy Chief of Mission in Libya, the number two U S official in Libya, when Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans were attacked and killed in Benghazi during the night on September 11, 2012. He is a 22-year career professional in the State Department and has received numerous recognitions of outstanding performance in his job. He decided to stand on a testimony to describe what really happened the night in Libya as the highest official in the region after the death of the ambassador. He took the risk of losing his job. In fact, he was demoted for his action. He was not very likely to be political, but rather to follow his conscience. Let American conscience be free from suffocation. God bestowed us the freedom.  

In his testimony in oath at the congressional hearing on Benghazi attack held on May 8, he said, that he had the last conversation with Mr. Stevens, who said, “We are under attack,” and that he reported the night to Washington that the attack was done by organized terrorists. This is very different from the YouTube video story the Government issued later. The U N ambassador Rice appeared on five different TV shows to insist that the Government have information on the attack of being a spontaneous mob, and of being instigated by the YouTube video. She tried to quell any idea of an organized terrorist attack. Her intention is still unknowable, but she certainly confused American thinking.

A citizen, Mother of Mr. Smith, a State Department information officer, one of the dead victims, complains that she has not yet received a full explanation as to why and how his son really died. She has been told so far that the spontaneous mob killed him.  If Mr. Hicks’ testimony is true, the Government highest officials are likely to have lied to her face to face and nose to nose (in her own word). The testimony indicates that they knew from the beginning the terrorist attack and made up the video story for a political reason. The former CIA director conceded in a different occasion that he knew, based on his information collected, the terrorist attack from the beginning even before the video story came out. Ms. Smith is sad, because she is neglected by the Government. We also are sad, because we all be neglected one by one.

“What does it make difference?” The then State Secretary Clinton asked in a hearing. We do not exactly know what she meant by the question. She acted as if she was still a better politician to handle this mess. She acted as if she did nothing wrong, but she was missing the point. At issue is the Government credibility in jeopardy. No government can or should cook up a phony story for political expediency. Americans want to know who fabricated the video story. No government can run without credibility and Americans cannot live in peace and engage in business activities without trusting the Government. We are urgently in need of the restoration of credibility. In the current standing, no one can predict as yet where the Benghazi scandal will lead to. Credibility is the American bulwark. Thank you, Mr. Hicks, for your courage to speak. The more will follow you to break silence. Have you ever thought some of the four might have been saved, had we have acted? Truth will prevail in the end. (May 10, 2013, KYP)