I propose a Christmas truce

[Neecy]

If warring armies can do it, we probably (maybe) can.



The English-German Truce

The first truce began on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1914, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols, most notably Stille Nacht (Silent Night). The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols.

The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "No Man's Land" where small gifts, were exchanged, such as whisky, jam, cigarettes, and chocolate. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects.

In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in some areas, it continued until New Year's Day.

The French-German Truce

In December 1915, “When the Christmas bells sounded in the villages of the Vosges behind the lines ..... something fantastically unmilitary occurred. German and French troops spontaneously made peace and ceased hostilities; they visited each other through disused trench tunnels, and exchanged wine, cognac and cigarettes for Westphalian black bread, biscuits and ham. This suited them so well that they remained good friends even after Christmas was over.” From an account by Richard Schirrmann, who was in a German regiment holding a position on the Bernhardstein, one of the mountains of the Vosges, and separated from the French troops by a narrow no-man’s-land, described by him as “strewn with shattered trees, the ground ploughed up by shellfire, a wilderness of earth, tree-roots and tattered uniforms.” Military discipline was soon restored, but Schirrmann pondered over the incident, and whether “thoughtful young people of all countries could be provided with suitable meeting places where they could get to know each other.” He went on to found the German Youth Hostel Association in 1919.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce

I promise not to use crude anatomical references for the 24 hour cease fire. Happy holidays to Obama supporters and critics alike, to liberals and DLC'ers, to gun enthusiasts and gun control advocates, to urban and rural, gay and straight, black and white, we give thanks for the one thing that binds us during the truce: we aren't friggin' Republicans.

[DesertFlower]

1. happy holidays to you. nt

[davidwparker]

2. "we aren't friggin' Republicans" - Just a label. Policies are just as bad.

Sounds like you're needing to click the logoff link, then.

See you after the New Year.

[el_bryanto]

3. There's that DU spirit.

I love being part of a forum named Democratic Underground where supporting elected Democrats makes one a despicable sell out. It's kind of magical.

Bryant

[Goldstein1984]

4. I think that some people distinguish between

"democratic" and "Democrat."

I'm not arguing with you, only saying that I think that is what's happening.

I believe that there is a large and growing segment that believes elected officials, Democrat or Republican, have sold out. I still see enough exceptions to that perception to keep me from painting with too broad a brush, but I would agree that too many elected representatives have sold out to make supporting the system an option.

[el_bryanto]

9. I can understand people who feel that way

That said I can't support or understand some of their attacks, which seem intemperate at best.

Bryant

[Goldstein1984]

11. Yes, I think the attacks are misplaced and wasted anger that

really should be directed at the root cause of the problem--a government captured by special interests.

In my short time here on DU, I've already made a few posts that I wish I could take back, either because I was angry, or because I wasn't fully informed, or just because my perspective seemed to hurt someone without generating enough constructive discussion to make up for the hurt.

But I routinely see angry posts that imply a person is unethical or stupid, rather than merely wrong about facts or contrary in interpretation of the facts. It's a waste of time and space.

[LastNaturalist]

5. Good stuff.

Only two more days until "Holiday!"

[lunatica]

6. Truce is good

But I would lay bets that someone hates Christmas and will let everyone know every rotten hateful thought they have about it.

[EFerrari]

7. I can't afford a Christmas anything and actually canceled a doc's appointment today

for the same reason.

And that's just how it is a la that creep Poe of TX.

lol

[suffragette]

13. Hope you're ok

Sent you a PM.
:hug:

[Goldstein1984]

8. I promise to do my best not to use crude anatomical references...

in any of my posts, 365 days a year.

It never made sense to me that Christians trying to kill each other could agree not to do so on Christmas without it occurring to them that they could do the same the other 364 days of the year. I mean, is Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace only on his observed birthday?

Of course, as an Atheist, I'm only expressing an outsider's opinion.

Rec

G1984

[no_hypocrisy]

10. A Silent Night {Christmas 1915} - Jerry Lynch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0ysO58KXE

[Hekate]

12. Happy holidays, Neecy, and may the New Year be substantially better for all of us. nt