[Voice]
It's times like these that I am put in mind of something which my father told me when I was a young man, and which I told my son when he was the same age.
"Never will there come a time when everybody agrees with what you do - nevertheless, never will there come a time when there is not a need for somebody to stand up and say what must be done."
Admittedly, he used this as a justification for many things - the war included - but now of all times, I find myself returning to it and thinking long upon the value of such a proverb.
I remember when Lu Ten delivered it to his own men outside the walls of Ba Sing Se. What a moment of pride that was - to hear my son encouraging his troops with my father's words. I do not think there was a prouder man than I in the world - in any of the worlds - on that day.
My apologies for missing your birthday, my son. I didn't expect it to come around again so soon.
Leaves from the vine, falling so slow
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam
Little soldier boy, come marching home,
Brave soldier boy comes marching home
"Never will there come a time when everybody agrees with what you do - nevertheless, never will there come a time when there is not a need for somebody to stand up and say what must be done."
Admittedly, he used this as a justification for many things - the war included - but now of all times, I find myself returning to it and thinking long upon the value of such a proverb.
I remember when Lu Ten delivered it to his own men outside the walls of Ba Sing Se. What a moment of pride that was - to hear my son encouraging his troops with my father's words. I do not think there was a prouder man than I in the world - in any of the worlds - on that day.
My apologies for missing your birthday, my son. I didn't expect it to come around again so soon.
Leaves from the vine, falling so slow
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam
Little soldier boy, come marching home,
Brave soldier boy comes marching home