Larry King Tribute to "Mattie Stepanek" on now on CNN....9PST/Midnite EST

[Pachamama]

If your not familiar with who Mattie Stepanek and you are tired of watching on the news and reading about the horror, death, sadness and evil that is running our country and in the world, please take the time to watch this re-run of an interview with this remarkable sweet young man who died today at the age of 13...

He was a Poet and a Peacemaker...sadly he couldn't be with us longer...the planet needed him....

:cry:

[Tellurian]

1. Mattie was a phenomenal phenomenon...

March 23, 2004

Mattie has touched the hearts of people worldwide as shown by the My Hero guest book entries devoted to this remarkable young man. My Hero's relationship with Mattie Stepanek has been a tremendous joy for all of us. As many of you might know, on March 8th, 2004, Mattie had a cardiac arrest and remains in critical condition at Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.

To all of those who love and cherish this remarkable young man, we ask you to keep him and his mother, Jeni, in your prayers, but please don't contact the hospital to inquire on his health. Mattie’s powerful message has touched millions of lives and his message of hope will continue to reach people of all ages around the world for decades to come.

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=mattieStepanek

[JI7]

2. Jimmy Carter was one of his favorite people

[Tellurian]

4. If memory serves...

He was a gifted child innately born with the wisdom of Solomon and the compassion of a physician. He seemed to ignore the unique condition that kept him isolated from doing things kids normally do at his age. Instead, He reached out to everyone with peace coupled with the most powerful force on earth, Love.. The world will miss little Matty.

[Pachamama]

8. My favorite Poem for our times.... "For Our World" by Mattie Stepanek

Imagine - this, written by an 11 year old...How wise he was...he wrote this the day after 9/11....Too bad Bush and this country didn't listen....

FOR OUR WORLD

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment…
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment…
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment…
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice…
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment…
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
Used with permission from Hope Through Heartsongs, Hyperion, 2002

[Tellurian]

11. Thanks, Pachamama for posting Matty's wonderful beautiful thoughts...

it is appreciated..

[Pachamama]

15. He was amazing....I thought it was important to take the time for him....

...that he took for us....I wish I could have met him...I geuss, by reading his poetry I will...

:hug:

[Gloria]

3. Oh, this is terrible news!! I would catch Mattie over the last

few years, quite by accident, and stay watching because he was simply a living miracle.

Wise beyond his years, so brave.

I'm really so very sad to hear this....

If Larry King did nothing else, at least he brought us Mattie...

[Wind Dancer]

5. He was such an inspiration!

I was so touched the first time I saw him interviewed, gave his poetry books as gifts many times. So glad he was able to meet his hero, President Carter, before he died - what a wonderful human being.

[Pachamama]

6. I hope Jimmy Carter will attend and speak at his funeral...

In fact, I'd be shocked if he doesn't...Heres' a little quote from Mattie's writings:

"When I grow up, I want to be a peacemaker. My biggest role model for this is Jimmy Carter, who has been a wonderful peanut farmer, politician, and peacemaker... I call him the 'perfect hero.' I would like to work as a mediator, and share my poetry, essays, and philosophy with others so that they may be inspired to work with other people, too. I want people to know that in every life, there are storms. But we must remember to play after every storm and to celebrate the gift of life as we have it, or else life becomes a task, rather than a gift. We must always listen to the song in our heart, and share that song with others. "

:cry:

[Wind Dancer]

7. It would be wonderful if Jimmy Carter did that!

I am so glad you posted Mattie's quote. I love the last line and remember him reading it - "We must always listen to the song in our heart, and share that song with others."

[Oddman]

9. Wow, that show just puts everything in perspective,

a child of 13 can be so defined and aware, so intelligent and insightful. A man of 59 can be so shallow and dense, so unintelligent and imperceptive.

If there is an afterlife, Mattie Stepanek deserves to live there.

If there is an afterlife, the thousands of innocent Iraqis deserve to live there.

If there is an afterlife, the bush administration deserves to watch the deserving from a not so comfortable place in "hell"


A Pathetic Excuse for a pResident

[Pachamama]

10. Amazing isn't it? As I listened to Mattie speak, I thought how is it that

...a young sweet soul like him has such grace and wisdom and speaks so elequently and yet here we have a President who can't even speak English and is so filled with fear and anger...

Thanks for your posting Oddman...my heart and tears tonite are mourning the passing of this sweet soul...

:cry:

[checks-n-balances]

12. Mattie will be sorely missed and he taught through his insights & attitude

Thanks for posting his beautiful poetry. This child of wisdom was truly a role model for people of any age and his mother has to be proud despite the profound grief of the family right now. My son is also 13 and saw some of the program tonight. I will now be able to bookmark Mattie's poetry and share it with my son.

How sad for all of us that people like him seem to be so rare in the world today, and how tragic that he couldn't have fulfilled his potential by reaching adulthood. But I'm thankful that they do come along every now and then, and that they inspire and give other people hope for the world, in their own unique way.

Condolences to his family and personal friends.

[OneBlueSky]

13. here's a nice article about Mattie from awhile back . . .

he was a beautiful child with a beautiful and compassionate heart . . . our world is lessened by his passing . . . may his soul rest in peace . . .

Treasures from the heart, wisdom beyond his years
Area entrepreneur befriends child poet
By RICK OLIVO
The Daily Press
Monday, May 24th, 2004



http://www.ashland-wi.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=174099

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. How very sad...I was moved by him

It's possible people will want more of him in death than in life...what he said has no age now.

[Piperay]

16. I saw Mattie on Oprah

a few years back and have followed him since then. It's hard to believe someone so young had such wisdom and strength, the World is a much sadder place without him. :cry: R-I-P Sweet Mattie O8)

[JCMach1]

17. I can't watch... our 7 year old neighbor kid was just diagnosed

with this disease.

I can't imagine (or want to think) that the sweet kid my daughters play with may have only 6 more years.

:(

[Razoor]

18. He will be missed

I listened to him on larry king last night. I remember last time he was on I think it was before the war started. I cant beleive he passed away. The world right now needs a person like him now. full of wisdom

[Killarney]

19. Oh no! Mattie died today?

He was so inspiring. I saw him on television a few times. The intelligence and peace he had at such a young age was amazing.

[Scout]

20. Thank you Mattie

for your wonderful spirit, you were a shining light for us all.

I never met you, but I'm crying now, and I will miss you.