Best letter ever written?

Hangout GupShup Cafe
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July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

*The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . *

*But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . *
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861/

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Re: Best letter ever written?

How about this letter to be best letter ever written ?

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
From Muhammad, God's Messenger, to Khusrow, the King of Persia. Greetings to the followers of the right path, to those obedient to God and His Prophet, to those who bear witness to God's Oneness, who worship the One God, and who bear witness to the prophecy of God's servant, Muhammad.
Truly I call upon you to obey God's command and convert to Islam. I am God's Messenger to all the people so that living hearts will be awakened and illuminated and so that infidels will have no excuses. Submit to Islam so you will be safe and immune, and if you disobey me and turn down my invitation, you will be blamed for the sins of the magi.

The Random Thread
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Re: Best letter ever written?

No contest. Stephen Ballou died, Islam lives forever.

I did not post this as a religious challenge, or to denigrate other great writings. Stephen Ballou, a mere mortal, writes a flowing piece, where the passages melt into one another. Ultimately, he manages to express the love for his wife, the kind of which the prophet would endorse. He eloquently puts across gallantry and undying bravery, for his cause.

Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic.

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Very good contribution Both Empty and Chingari ...

I would encourage you two and other posters to keep adding to this thread. This thread has a great start to become some of the finest of GENERAL forum

:biggthumb

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Re: Best letter ever written?

I feel like crying…:teary2:

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Re: Best letter ever written?

:(

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Ya if someone writes this letter in current age, after he dies, she finds another love & that cool fresh air on her cheek is of this new lovers breath. Wakie Wakie ... letters are letters ... read them once .. read them twice ... & thats it. Aaj maray kal doosra din.

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Re: Best letter ever written?

I would put your response down to your puerile nature, the exuberance of youth, or pessimistic, cynical opinion on life. You are right though, that such a letter would be rare today. And it would probably be an email anyway. Cold, sharp, and to the point. In this day and age you wouldn’t expect people to have relationships, let alone meaningful ones. Materialism is king. And consumerism his queen. I sincerely wish you good luck in your quest for fulfilment. I hope St Jude never crosses your path.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Beautiful...simply beautiful...and so moving...thank you so much for sharing this Empty...much of what's said in it is so fitting with what I have felt myself that I would disagree with anyone who feels such emotion wouldn't be expressed in today's times...love and loss are both timeless...

TLK: That's such a great idea...I would love to read more like this...

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Re: Best letter ever written?

very well written indeed!

if not the best, then one of the best :k:

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Niksik... you may have my shoulder
Femme .. that's a very blue face! please use my shoulder after niksik..
thank you cG.. TLK and Pheonix .. your comments are appreciated.. so I add another letter I came across..

"Dear Madam:

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln."

(Saving Private Ryan.. 1998)

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Civil War Vs Iraq
I don’t think there’s any foul language here… but it’s perfect for htis thread :slight_smile:

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Reality is bitter. My comment starts with "current age". You can hope for the best, but its just a hope. Its not criticism, what I do, its I just twisted the mirror so that u can see can the other side of mirror too. My simplicity has made u excited & emotional enough to judge my nature & my opinions about life.

:)

You need to see the life in real, experience it well & then perhaps you will come to realise people do have their own opinions, may not match with your but that doesn't mean you should pick ur finger & point at them with your judging comments, only because u didn't their opinion(s). Free world, free speech.

Nevertheless the culture & values of 1861 & 2008 are not even comparable.

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Empty whose multi are you :D

►Geedar Singhi ◄
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Re: Best letter ever written?

And may you live all the days of your life! You know I wans’t being judgmental, but a GS board response doesn’t reflect the tone in my voice, the agreement I may or may not have, or whether I am emotive. Trust me, it takes a lot to get me emotional. And maybe my writing is not so good as to reflect that. But what you said reminded of a scene in a film, Good Will Hunting’ and I found it just for you.

Sean: Thought about what you said to me the other day, about my painting. Stayed up half the night thinking about it. Something occurred to me… fell into a deep peaceful sleep, and haven’t thought about you since. Do you know what occurred to me?
Will: No.
Sean: You’re just a kid, you don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talkin’ about.
Will: Why thank you.
Sean: It’s all right. You’ve never been out of Boston.
Will: Nope.
Sean: So if I asked you about art, you’d probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo, you know a lot about him. Life’s work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientations, the whole works, right? But I’ll bet you can’t tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You’ve never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling; seen that. If I ask you about women, you’d probably give me a syllabus about your personal favourites. You may have even been laid a few times. But you can’t tell me what it feels like to wake up next to a woman and feel truly happy. You’re a tough kid. And I’d ask you about war, you’d probably throw Shakespeare at me, right, “once more unto the breach dear friends.” But you’ve never been near one. You’ve never held your best friend’s head in your lap, watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help. I’d ask you about love, you’d probably quote me a sonnet. But you’ve never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable. Known someone that could level you with her eyes, feeling like God put an angel on earth just for you. Who could rescue you from the depths of hell. And you wouldn’t know what it’s like to be her angel, to have that love for her, be there forever, through anything, through cancer. And you wouldn’t know about sleeping sitting up in the hospital room for two months, holding her hand, because the doctors could see in your eyes, that the terms “visiting hours” don’t apply to you. You don’t know about real loss, ‘cause it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself. And I doubt you’ve ever dared to love anybody that much. And look at you… I don’t see an intelligent, confident man… I see a cocky, scared **less kid. But you’re a genius Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine, and you ripped my ing life apart. You’re an orphan right?
Will nods]
Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally… I don’t give a **** about all that, because you know what, I can’t learn anything from you, I can’t read in some f’ book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I’m fascinated. I’m in. But you don’t want to do that do you sport? You’re terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Friend I disagree. Culture changes. Values , by which I mean honesty, principles, integrity and so forth, never change. A truth today is a truth a millennia from now. I hope you add value to your net worth.

:)

How do you slice your mango?
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Re: Best letter ever written?

Hi, who told you I was schizophrenic..:confused:

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Re: Best letter ever written?

Are you? :cb:

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Re: Best letter ever written?

are you talking to me?

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Re: Best letter ever written?

I have four lines for you mate.

**Turb aash'na'ay kharoosh ho, tu nawa hay mehram'e gosh ho
woh sarood kia keh chhupa hua hay sakoote parda'ay saaz main

Tu bacha bacha keh na rakh issay, tera aina hay woh aina
Keh shikasta ho to azeem tar, hay niga'he aaina saaz main
**
enough said, no more comments from my side.