As I watch news footage on the events occurring today in Libya, my thoughts are on a very kind, gentle man and the father of two young karateka I met in 1987. That was the year I traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for my first USAKF National Karate Championships. The USAKF was then the designated National Governing Body (NGB) for karate in the United States under the U.S. Olympic Committee. I was stranded at the tournament site when a wonderful man, Elia Stratis, offered me a ride. I rode back to the tournament hotel with him and his family and couldn’t have been treated more kindly by the four of them. Neither he nor his wife were involved in karate. But his two children were serious and accomplished competitors. He was so dedicated to his family that had driven out from New Jersey for the championships. I saw him and his family at several more events over the coming year and we always spoke.
On December 21, 1988, Elia Stratis was on his way home from a business trip. He had a long layover in London. While there, he met another businessman. They spoke and the man offered to switch flights with Elia. The man was single and wanted Elia to get home earlier to his family for Christmas. Elia gladly took him up on the offer and was on Pan Am Flight 103, which Kaddafi’s people bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland. A man who his own staff is now describing as a war criminal took from the world and his family a truly wonderful man. I think you can guess my wishes for Colonel Kaddafi.
Sometimes I wonder what goes through people's minds... We as human beings have so much bearing and impact on others, whether we realize it or not.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Kaddafi's regime crumbles!
I WISH HIS REGIME WILL SURELY CRUMBLES IN THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY AMEN.COLONEL KADDAFI FEELS HE IS GOD, I PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT BLOOD HIS SUPPORTERS IS SHEDDING WILL ALWAYS BE IN THEIR DOORSTEP FOR HE WHO KILLS MUST SURELY HAVE DESTRUCTION AWAITING HIM/HER IN HIS OWN DOORSTEP. THAT'S THE RULE. WHAT AGAIN DO HE WANT FROM HIS PEOPLE WHO IS TRIED FOR HIS REGIME. "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH KADDAFI" PLEASE STEP DOWN FOR PEACE TO REIGN AGAIN IN LIBYA. FOR THE SAKE OF THE CITIZENS.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. Hopefully, he will soon be just a name in history and the Libyan people and the world free of him.
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