Neda died with her eyes open for a Free Iran

From twicsy, a twitter image search engine, a picture of Neda posted by bbnetworked - http://twitpic.com/7ylhh - Neda - killed by the Islamic Republic of Iran 6/20/2009 Tehran Iran - 2009-06-21 00:54:38:

Video from YouTube, may be blocked due to age restrictions:

From myself prior to this at Hot Air:

Such as it was, so shall it be:

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

-Thomas Paine, Crisis

Well should we remember these words when others fight for freedom, and our own government place too onerous a tax upon us. It is the right of all men to be free of overbearing, authoritarian government that seeks to take all your liberty, freedom, and welfare from you in the name of doing any good, or any service be it to man or God.

Such as it was, so shall it be.

We are, again, in the times of Paine.

***

Neda died with her eyes open so that we may not shut ours.

To those who seek freedom and liberty at the cost of their lives: you have my love and thanks.

You are marching into Hell.

As we have known that, so shall we know it once again.

A Citizen of the Republic of the United States of America

To the People of Pakistan in mourning of Benazir Bhutto

Today I join with the People of Pakistan who have lost a bright flower of freedom to the ravages of tyranny, Benazir Bhutto.

Photo Source: Getty Images
By: John Moore
Her dreams of uniting Pakistan in freedom were and are opposed by those wishing ill for the Pakistani people and the world.


Source: Getty Images
By: John Moore
Such ones that will kill her seek to kill the dreams of Pakistanis to be free and have liberty to make their lives and those of their children good and meaningful.


Source: Getty Images/AFP
By: AAMIR QURESHI
She has given her life in the quest for freedom for the people of Pakistan and sought that through just means and just ways, and for such a Patriot killed before us, this benefactor of liberty, all those who keep liberty close to heart mourn at this loss.


Source: Getty Images
By: John Moore
In such sorrow of fallen Patriot we must grieve and deeply, and then honor the way the fallen had taken so that their banner need never die with them.


Source: Getty Images
By: John Moore
In that remember that she had never sought revenge, but Justice, and that such that bring unjust death do not deserve hot revenge, but cold Justice so that she will live on by such means.


Source: Getty Images/AFP
By: TARIQ MAHMOOD
That is what she came home to fight for, die for, not just for herself, but for all of Pakistan.


Source: Getty Images/AFP
By: AAMIR QURESHI
Rest In Peace, Benazir Bhutto, we are not worthy of your sacrifice.

Remember those who sacrifice so that we may be free

'Notre Dame, Armentieres, a mute witness to desperate fighting in '14 and critical days in Battle of Lys'.
Source: World of Stereo Views


WWII: 2ID Infantryman and Church Bell

Source: 2ID Museum


Seabee Bill Williams standing by truck full of Saipanese children, enroute to Christmas party. "We had a Christmas party at the 117th Naval Construction Battalion Base for the children of Camp Susupe on December 25, 1944...I went and loaded up the truck with kids and had this photo taken at our base when I got back there. I'm sorry more of the children were not visible in the photo. The photo was taken on 12-25-44."

Source: Williams, W.E.

Source: NPS government archives


Photo courtesy: Michael Yon, Thanks and Praise, 2007
Thanks and Praise: I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome. - Michael Yon

CXIX.
The Ambassadors and Plenipotentiarys of the Emperor, of the King, and the States of the Empire, promise respectively and the one to the other, to cause the Emperor, the most Christian King, the Electors of the Sacred Roman Empire, the Princes and States, to agree and ratify the Peace which has been concluded in this manner, and by general Consent; and so infallibly to order it, that the solemn Acts of Ratification be presented at Munster, and mutually and in good form exchang'd in the term of eight weeks, to reckon from the day of signing.


CXX.
For the greater Firmness of all and every one of these Articles, this present Transaction shall serve for a perpetual Law and establish'd Sanction of the Empire, to be inserted like other fundamental Laws and Constitutions of the Empire in the Acts of the next Diet of the Empire, and the Imperial Capitulation; binding no less the absent than the present, the Ecclesiasticks than Seculars, whether they be States of the Empire or not: insomuch as that it shall be a prescrib'd Rule, perpetually to be follow'd, as well by the Imperial Counsellors and Officers, as those of other Lords, and all Judges and Officers of Courts of Justice.


CXXI.
That it never shall be alledg'd, allow'd, or admitted, that any Canonical or Civil Law, any general or particular Decrees of Councils, any Privileges, any Indulgences, any Edicts, any Commissions, Inhibitions, Mandates, Decrees, Rescripts, Suspensions of Law, Judgments pronounc'd at any time, Adjudications, Capitulations of the Emperor, and other Rules and Exceptions of Religious Orders, past or future Protestations, Contradictions, Appeals, Investitures, Transactions, Oaths, Renunciations, Contracts, and much less the Edict of 1629. or the Transaction of Prague, with its Appendixes, or the Concordates with the Popes, or the Interims of the Year 1548. or any other politick Statutes, or Ecclesiastical Decrees, Dispensations, Absolutions, or any other Exceptions, under what pretence or colour they can be invented; shall take place against this Convention, or any of its Clauses and Articles neither shall any inhibitory or other Processes or Commissions be ever allow'd to the Plaintiff or Defendant.


CXXXII.
That he who by his Assistance or Counsel shall contravene this Transaction or Publick Peace, or shall oppose its Execution and the abovesaid Restitution, or who shall have endeavour'd, after the Restitution has been lawfully made, and without exceeding the manner agreed on before, without a lawful Cognizance of the Cause, and without the ordinary Course of Justice, to molest those that have been restor'd, whether Ecclesiasticks or Laymen; he shall incur the Punishment of being an Infringer of the publick Peace, and Sentence given against him according to the Constitutions of the Empire, so that the Restitution and Reparation may have its full effect.


CXXIII.
That nevertheless the concluded Peace shall remain in force, and all Partys in this Transaction shall be oblig'd to defend and protect all and every Article of this Peace against any one, without distinction of Religion; and if it happens any point shall be violated, the Offended shall before all things exhort the Offender not to come to any Hostility, submitting the Cause to a friendly Composition, or the ordinary Proceedings of Justice.


CXXIV.
Nevertheless, if for the space of three years the Difference cannot be terminated by any of those means, all and every one of those concern'd in this Transaction shall be oblig'd to join the injur'd Party, and assist him with Counsel and Force to repel the Injury, being first advertis'd by the injur'd that gentle Means and Justice prevail'd nothing; but without prejudice, nevertheless, to every one's Jurisdiction, and the Administration of Justice conformable to the Laws of each Prince and State: and it shall not be permitted to any State of the Empire to pursue his Right by Force and Arms; but if any difference has happen'd or happens for the future, every one shall try the means of ordinary Justice, and the Contravener shall be regarded as an Infringer of the Peace. That which has been determin'd by Sentence of the Judge, shall be put in execution, without distinction of Condition, as the Laws of the Empire enjoin touching the Execution of Arrests and Sentences.


CXXV.
And that the publick Peace may be so much the better preserv'd intire, the Circles shall be renew'd; and as soon as any Beginnings of Troubles are perceiv'd, that which has been concluded in the Constitutions, of the Empire, touching the Execution and Preservation of the Public Peace, shall be observ'd.


CXXVI.
And as often as any would march Troops thro' the other Territorys, this Passage shall be done at the charge of him whom the Troops belong to, and that without burdening or doing any harm or damage to those whole Countrys they march thro'. In a word, all that the Imperial Constitutions determine and ordain touching the Preservation of the publick Peace, shall be strictly observ'd.

Peace of Westphalia, 15 MAY 1648 and 24 OCT 1648
Full text available: The Avalon Project, Yale University

A treaty well worth keeping, as it has the power to raise a cross in Baghdad, unmolested on the day of its raising with help from all religions of the Land of Iraq.

My deepest thanks to our soldiers who keep the Great Peace during Wartime, when so much else may slip aside.

Merry Christmas to All.

A day which shall live...

A day which shall live...