Sadly, another candle light burnt out a few days ago, the much talented Chinese American historian writer Iris Chang, at her flowering age of 36.
It’s hard to imagine what pain and emotional turbulence she went through with her research and work she did for writing her book “The Rape of Nanjing – the Forgotten Holocaust of World War II ”, considering herself being human, for a history that atrocities were committed the most cold-bloodedly and that man’s inhumanities to man topped the most sinful chapter of mankind’s history, at the call of the unrestting spirits of some 350,000 who were slaughtered in an eight-week period women and children included, with a mission to remind the billions of living today who unfortunately do not seem to have a good memory, for a goal to change the situation of the Japanese society’s collective denial about their crimes and sins over the past 60 years, at the risk of her own safety being threatened by some Right-Wing personnels in Japan.
Now, at the time when Iris Chang’s body is still reserved fresh for the many of her beloved family, friends and admirers to pay final tribute to, my heart still finds much difficulty to rest.
No doubt, there’s still too much for a young brilliant talent like her to contribute to her family, friends and society if she had lived on. However, IF, IF Iris Chang’s name and work can at least cause one ripple in one’s heart, her short-lived life is but given some extra meaning. In a note she wrote to her family, such was her words: “I have lived my life and sincerely dedicated it to my family, my goals and my writing.”
We thus believe, a candle light has shone for a dark night, and burnt out for the the imminent arrival of dawn.
Forever condemned the crimes and criminals in History! Long Live in the hearts of millions the immortal Iris Chang!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Candle in the Wind
Goodbye our rose;
may you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country,
and you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to heaven,
and the stars spell out your name.
And it seems to me you lived your life
like a candle in the wind:
never fading with the sunset
when the rain set in.
And your footsteps will always fall here,
along the Earth's greenest hills;
your candle's burned out long before
your legend ever will.
Loveliness we've lost;
these empty days without your smile.
This torch we'll always carry
for our nation's golden child.
And even though we try,
the truth brings us to tears;
all our words cannot express
the joy you brought us through the years.
Goodbye our rose,
from a country lost without your soul,
who'll miss the wings of your compassion
more than you'll ever know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
风中蜡烛
別 了 我 们 的 玫 瑰 ;
如 你 曾 在 我 們 心 中 滋 長 .
你 以 天 使 之 姿
來 到 人 性 扭 曲 的 地 方 .
你 喚 醒 祖 國 ,
回 應 受 苦 者 的 呼 號 .
此 刻 你 復 歸 天 國 ,
讓 滿 天 星 斗 把 你 輕 喚 .
我 知 道 你 的 人 生
仿 如 迄 立 風 中 之 燭 :
雨 水 把 你 撲 熄
但 不 會 如 日 落 褪 色 .
你 的 足 跡 深 植 ,
印 在 地 球 最 青 蔥 的山 頭 ;
你 的 蠟 燭 早 已 熄 滅
你 的 傳 奇 永 存 不 息 .
永 失 我 愛 ;
空 虛 日 子 沒 有 你 的 笑 容 .
這 支 火 炬 常 帶 在 身 旁
傳 給 祖 國 的 未 來 希 望 .
不 管 如 何 嘗 試 ,
事 實 教 人 無 法 淚 止 ;
縱 有 千 言 萬 試
事 實 教 人 無 法 淚 止 .
別 了 我 们 的 玫 瑰 ,
你 別 了 祖 國 靈 魂 依 舊 在 ,
懷 念 那 悲 天 憫 人 之 心
比 你 想 像 的 更 甚 .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related newsreports and websites of Iris Chang (张纯如)
http://www.sfgate.co...MNGB59PKL01.DTL
http://www.irischang.net/biography.cfm
http://www.amazon.co...272710?v=glance
