The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Voltaire, international edition
Netanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en
Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en
Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en
Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en Voltaire Network >>
|
neither King nor Kaiser
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
opinion/analysis
Thursday December 25, 2003 14:03 by © Iosaf the ipsiphi O as if.
![Report this post to the editors Report this post to the editors](../graphics/report.gif)
The songs that crossed no mans land this day in 1914 and 1915 must never be disregarded.
Not only did they stop firing, not only did they walk across the yet undecided Borders of their empires and play football, they sang. The Lutheran Hymn book which had sung in the East met the 14 psalms and hymns that accompanied Calvin and Knox to the North and counterpointed with the dullest nineteenth century English songwriters and a lot of Latin in Irish accents.
Now we don't know their hymn sheets anymore.
And we mostly don't play international football.
But somethings never ever change.
Neither King nor Kaiser. but humanity. men whose average age was 19. men who were seperated from their families. men who were wearing uniforms. men who were housed in trenches. men who starved later in those trenches. men who played football.
Neither King nor Kaiser.
but humanity.
men whose average age was 19.
men who were seperated from their families.
men who were wearing uniforms.
men who were housed in trenches.
men who starved later in those trenches.
men who played football.
1914 -- All Quiet on the Western Front?: Just after midnight on Christmas morning, the majority of German troops engaged in WWI cease firing guns & artillery, & commence to sing Christmas carols.
At certain points along the Eastern & Western fronts, the soldiers of Russia, France, & Britain even hear brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing. At the first light of dawn, many of the German soldiers emerge from their trenches & approach the Allied lines across no man's land, calling out "Merry Christmas" in their enemies' native tongues. At first the Allied soldiers suspect it to be a trick, but soon climb out of their trenches & shake hands with the German soldiers. The men exchange presents of cigarettes & plum puddings & sing carols & songs & the Christmas Truce lasts a few days.
Documentation is fragmentary since it was contrary to direct orders & the legal penalty for such fraternizing with the enemy was death! But even in this brutal war, peace was found on this day by ignoring political & military authority.
for other events on this day see
http://www.infoshop.org
for the link to the daily bleed.
http://www.eskimo.com/~recall/bleed/1225.htm
This morning Mass was celebrated at the traditional Bethleham church of Cisjordania, as it was _not_ last year at the traditional birth place of Jesus known as Christ of the house of David.
He most certainly passed on his torch.
And so too did those men who disobeyed at pain of death orders to avoid the ultimate immorality, that of taking without just cause the lives of other fellow men.
They chose to play football exchange rations and humanity on 25/12/14 and again 25/12/15.
I today remember my family and loved ones, friends and comrades, and those men who unlike I never had a choice to avoid their poverty, conscription, military service and death for either King or Kaiser.
|
View Full Comment Text
save preference
Comments (10 of 10)