Going to say a little something for old Polish guy named Karol

[queeg]

Even God might listen to a devout atheist like me but I think everyone needs to be thinking about an old polish guy named Karol in his apartment in Rome tonight.

[LiberalVoice]

1. Ditto...

and ditto.

[saracat]

I don't agree with him on much but I am thinking kind thoughts of him

tonight. He was such a brilliant and athletic man. This is a sad sight to see. I really don't like to see anyone suffer, and I don't buy into the suffering as being good. Sigh. The poor man. Light a candle for Karol!

[progmom]

2. Very nice idea.

Thanks for that.

[CubsFan1982]

3. I've lit a candle for him.

Dear God, bless and keep your servant Karol Wojtyla, ease his departure from this world and make it as painless as possible and receive him into Heaven with open arms.

Amen.

[Old and In the Way]

4. I give him a whole hellava lot of the credit for standing up for

Labor Unions in Poland and helping to unlock the Iron Curtin. I've not much liked his politics over the past decade, but he rose to the occaision in the 80s.

Godspeed with you Karol.

[QC]

7. Stood up to the Nazis, too.

And he has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq War and advocate of the poor, too. I disagree with his positions on social issues, particularly where sexuality is concerned, but I'm willing to give him his due.

[Lexingtonian]

5. great job his first five or ten years

but the rest.... Let's just say that he's left the next pope a lot of work to do.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Yeah, I know what you mean.

I'm not Catholic, but the Church has much light and dark to it. If his predecesor had been allowed his natural reign, it would have been a better institution, and a better world. But I'm feeling quite sad for old PJII tonight. Much like - and I know this will sound odd to some - when I watched Yasser Arafat choppered out of Palestine for the last time. I'd felt no attachment to the man before, but knowing he was reaching his end in uncertain times and with unfulfilled promise, was affecting.

[cry baby]

8. I'm not catholic, but I prayed that my heart wouldn't be hard

and that I hope the people who love him will be comforted.

[Lone Pawn]

9. Godspeed, John Paul.

I really do cry every time I think about his death. I may disagree sharply with him on matters of sexuality and contraception, but he truly is a good man--one whose heart is and has been consistantly in the right place. He's fought, he's worked, he's endured, suffered, and triumphed, and now, despite his pain, he lies serenely in the dark waiting to meet the God to whom he devoted his life. It's so...sad. A beautiful life, a beautiful man, and such a humbling end.

[Must_B_Free]

10. Sarah Vaughan: "Mystery Of Man: The Poetry Of Pope John Paul II"

http://www.mymusic.ca/product.asp?myptr=theiceberg&muzenbr=189607&last_page=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etheiceberg%2Ecom%2Fartist%2Ehtml%3Fartist%5Fid%3D648

Very nice Album

JazzTimes (10/95, p.149) - "Sarah Vaughan's voice was at its peak of depth, tone and range when she recorded this collection of poetry-set-to-music....This is a tranquil and uplifting album, the message enriched by Francy Boland's soaring arrangements. The 70-piece orchestra, representing 19 nationalities, was conducted by Lalo Schifrin."

Notes

Full title: The Mystery Of Man: The Poetry Of Pope John Paul II.
Personnel includes: Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Lalo Schifrin (conductor).
Recorded in Germany in 1984.

[Joe the Revelator]

11. Great Thread...

as a fellow atheist, i have no issue with sending some good thoughts that mans way. When he dies, may it be peaceful.

[WillowTree]

12. Very classy, queeg. You done good!

And I pray that His Holiness is comfortable and at peace.

[EFerrari]

13. Thank you, queeg. (nt)

[chefgirl]

14. Excellent post!

So glad to hear that youre an atheist too.

You just restored my faith in DUers. :thumbsup:

-chef-

[queeg]

15. Well, I am a closet polytheist

So I am burning a little frankincense in the corner nook with Pallas Athena and Poseidon. But that shouldn't take away a little tear in my eye for Karol. I even waved to him once, and I swear he gave me a little wink.

Not a damn thing wrong with any of us Gay, Straight, Black, White, Red, Brown or whatever just dropping a little hint tonight. If it's his time so be it, but we can all at least agree that he was in his own life story, a man of conviction in war and peace.

[chefgirl]

17. HA! Closet polytheist...

I SO appreciate what you've said.

THERE'S that human decency I was hoping to see here on DU.
Thank you for that.

You may never know how your words impact others.
Just thanks.

:hug:

-chef-

[roguevalley]

16. I'm tired of death. I want to wish for life tonight. Take care, Karol,

even if I never agreed much. I feel for your pain tonight.