The First World War (WWI) from 1914 to 1918 had some 25 to 30 million deaths. Its devastating toll was only surpassed by the number of fatalities in the Second World War (WWII). The distinction with the WWI campaign, in comparison to any other war ever fought, was the ambiguous reason and rationale for its beginning and then its extensive escalation.
During the very first Christmas of WWI caroling to the British trenches by German soldiers began. A gifting gesture of whiskey and cigars was given to a Scot Guard by a German patrol. These Germans told the guard that they would not fire their weapons if the British reciprocated. It turned into an episode known in history as the “Christmas Truce”, an unofficial and unauthorized event of that otherwise horrific period.
The truce spread from a specific area in the trenches all down the line and soldiers from both sides climbed out to greet festively each other. The event rebuked by military leaders ended after Christmas and the war, with all of its brutality and atrocity, once again began.
Yesterday, we were fully armed and equipped with our prejudices and ideologies, yet today we need to temporarily surrender our partisan views and come out of our sectarian trenches. For the children, at least the many, it’s a time of joy and exhilaration around the morning tree. For the faithful, it’s a time of observance, commemoration, and celebration.
For those of us battling for the truth, we momentarily sheath the sword – at least during this time of calm, passivity, serenity, and reflection. I thank you for being a subscriber to the Climate Contrarian and wish you a most joyous Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all! Peace on Earth! Vesa J.
And a very Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.
Thank you for all the "accurate " information you have provided us with throughout 2022 and we look forward to more of the same in 2023.
C.