The red poppies blow.....

I felt very sad to read the news of Six Canadian peace keepers killed on April 8th 2007 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. And three day later on April 11th 2007, two more Canadian peace keepers are killed by planted road side bombs.

Canada is such a peaceful nation. What I am today, I owed much to the Canadian hospitality and values. As a young man, Canada offer me an opportunity to pursue my university education at subsidized rate. Canadians that I had the opportunity to encounter with, are kind, friendly, righteous, and generous people who made my stay in Canada a memorable experience. I shall always remember Canada's honourable deeds of nurturing me and many others into learned men and and women.

Since 2002, more than 50 Canadian peace keepers had been killed while on duty in Afghanistan. These young patriotic sons of Canada shouldered the heavy moral and emotional responsibilities of international peace keeping in Afghanistan. But are ungratefully, disgracefully, and cowardly being repaid with deaths and casualties.

To all those fallen heroes from Canada, may God bless your souls. May your loved ones find comforts in knowing that your sacrifices have made the world a better and safer place for all. With sadness in my heart, I am reading Lieutenant Colonel John McCray's "In Flanders Fields" in this little corner of my room, to remember your good deeds, kindness, and courage to promote and maintain world peace :

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

To all Canadian peace keepers, May God protect you from all acts of evil, may you accomplished your missions successfully, and may all of you have a safe journey home to your loved ones and beautiful country. God be with ye... Om Namo Amithaba Buddha.


( Note : Sincerely, no insensitivity is intended by this posting to any "religiously" inclined people or religions. And, hopefully, today is not a day of any religious significant that may rendered this posting to be religiously offensive and insensitive. If you felt offended by this posting, please take your nasi lemak's apology and grievance seeking elsewhere !!! )