http://youtu.be/NOz9SpWc_yE
Via Wikipedia; "The Christmas truce (German:Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël) was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas 1914, during World War I. Through the week leading up to Christmas, parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and songs between their trenches; on occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that individuals would walk across to talk to their opposite numbers bearing gifts.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides—as well as, to a lesser degree, from French units—independently ventured into "no man's land", where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs. As well as joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol-singing. Troops from both sides were also friendly enough to play games of football with one another, in one of the truce's most enduring images.
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From The Illustrated London News of January 9, 1915: "British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches"
http://youtu.be/jHhM-1_StJI
Check out the Christmas Truce Podcast
Read and share Christmas in the Trenches
"Christmas in the Trenches" is a ballad from John McCutcheon's 1984 Album Winter Solstice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_the_Trenches
List of anti-war songs
What is the lesson from this Christmas truce day?
The soldiers in the trenches knew that they could not only trust the soldiers on the opposing side, they could also exchange presents and celebrate together in love and with kindness. The war was set aside, as they knew it was an artificial man made construct that had nothing to do with real life and what was valued by the soldiers in the trenches. They were happy to not fight anymore and go home. What got the war started again was the generals. They ordered the soldiers to go back to killing each other on both sides.
What would have happened if the soldiers had not obeyed the orders, on both sides, in the same way that they dropped their weapons and celebrated Christmas together? What if all soldiers had refused to fight and kill each other from that day forward? War would have effectively been banished forever.
What keeps wars going is the profit and power motive, expressed through the control structure that is manned by the CIA, the generals and the profit making military industrial complex. They only way that they can exist and make profits, is to keep the fear going. Fear drives anger, anger drives rage, and rage drives the killing. The military industrial machine profits off of the killing and suffering of millions of people.
What happens if soldiers and the public stop 'obeying' the generals and the 1%? They cannot lock everyone up. They cannot keep the war machine going if no one goes to work to keep making bombs, rockets, DU weapons and nuclear missiles. They cannot keep never ending wars going if the soldiers quit obeying orders and walk home, never to fight again.
PLAN AN EVENT AROUND CHRISTMAS ARMISTICE DAY
We call on the nation to honor veterans and all those who have died in war by working for peace and the prevention of war. It is much easier to prevent a war, than to fight and try to 'win' one.
The goal is to build momentum and build actions leading up to celebrating a Christmas Truce Day in December!
Veterans For Peace is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Christmas Truce. VFP will use this time to urge our country's leaders to follow the example set by the Christmas Truce soldiers who rejected militarism and the glorification of war.
Who better than veterans who work for peace to tell the story of these soldiers' celebration of peace in the midst of war? There is no better way to honor the dead than to protect the living from the fear, terror and morale deprivation of war. Our society needs to hear this story that peace is possible.
~Martin Luther King Jr.
IT IS TIME TO BEAT ALL WEAPONS INTO PLOWS AND DISBAND ALL STANDING ARMIES
Few people know that an international agreement was signed that banned all wars globally. Why do nations still have standing armies and weapons of mass destruction?
It is time to get rid of standing armies and all weapons of mass destruction. The price of not doing so will be WWIII. Humanity will not live through a MAD total nuclear global war.
The End Of All Wars; Kellogg–Briand Pact Abolished And Outlawed All Warmongering
It is time to get rid of standing armies and all weapons of mass destruction. The price of not doing so will be WWIII. Humanity will not live through a MAD total nuclear global war.
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/05/13-close-calls-why-mad-total-nuclear.html
War Has Been Abolished; International Peace Quotes, Songs And Stories; via A Green Road
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/07/international-peace-quotes-songs-and.html
Dalai Lama - Greatest Single Danger Facing Humankind Is Threat Of Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Power Plants: World Peace Approach
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/04/dalai-lama-greatest-single-danger.html
Nuclear Weapon Free Zones Around The World; via @AGreenRoad
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2013/07/nuclear-weapon-free-zones-around-world.html
100 Nations Have Signed Ban On Cluster Bombs, Illegal Weapon Of Mass Destruction, But Not The USA! via @AGreenRoad
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2013/06/100-nations-have-signed-banning-cluster.html
WAYS TO BE INVOLVED OR SHARE WITH MORE PEOPLE
Want to plan an event? Register Your Local Event Here
Here are ways that you can be involved in the efforts to celebrate the Christmas Truce.
Write a Letter to the Editor, Op Ed, or poem
List Of 100 Large Newspapers Letter To The Editor And Op Ed Editors Contact Information
How to write a letter to editor or op ed piece
http://www.aaputah.org/GuideOp-EdPlacementLettersEditor.pdf
Send a copy to casey at veteransforpeace.org to be included/promoted online.
Check out the Christmas Truce Podcast
Read and share Christmas in the Trenches
Save the date! The Christmas Truce Concert with John McCutcheon will be on Dec 20th in NYC. Buy Your Ticket Now!
Spread the message on social media.
If you have suggestions on how we can better promote and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Christmas Truce, please email or call;
Casey Stinemetz
Veterans For Peace
National Chapter Coordinator
Phone: 314-725-6005
Email: casey at veteransforpeace.org
Website: Veterans For Peace
End
Honor Veterans! Celebrate/Organize Christmas Truce in December, In Addition to Or Instead of Xmas
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/11/honor-veterans-celebrateorganize.html
More articles at;
Peace, War, Drones, Human Rights, Justice, Prisons, War on Drugs, Violence Prevention, Death Penalty, Jury Rights, Women's Rights
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/p/human-rightsjusticeprisons.html
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/2014/11/honor-veterans-celebrateorganize.html
More articles at;
Peace, War, Drones, Human Rights, Justice, Prisons, War on Drugs, Violence Prevention, Death Penalty, Jury Rights, Women's Rights
http://agreenroad.blogspot.com/p/human-rightsjusticeprisons.html
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