The Prince of Peace—rather a seditious title in our age of Homeland Security and endless war, eh? “Love thy neighbor” and “Thou Shalt Not Kill” were  no less subversive 95 years ago, when of a silent night soldiers simply stopped fighting. (Much to the horror of the masters of war.) Brooklyn patriot Brian Frizzell sends this  link (http: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9coPzDx6tA) to John McCutcheon’s “Christmas in the Trenches.” You may want to add Joyeux Noel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424205), a cinematic account of the Christmas Truce, to A Christmas Story,  It’s a Wonderful Life, and the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol in your seasonal movie lineup. And—why not—here’s a pop-canine take on the Christmas Truce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf—13Q0g . While we’re at it, President Obama says that he and Michelle first danced to the music of Stevie Wonder. If he had taken this song to heart he wouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life washing the bloodstains from his hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ1-duv_zNk.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Peace on Earth???

    Aren’t humans amazing Animals? They kill wildlife – birds, deer, all kinds of cats, coyotes, beavers, groundhogs, mice and foxes by the million in order to protect their domestic animals and their feed.

    Then they kill domestic animals by the billion and eat them. This in turn kills people by the million, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative – and fatal – – health conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer.

    So then humans spend billions of dollars torturing and killing millions of more animals to look for cures for these diseases.

    Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals.

    Meanwhile, few people recognize the absurdity of humans, who kill so easily and violently, and once a year send out cards praying for “Peace on Earth.”

    ~Revised Preface to Old MacDonald’s Factory Farm by C. David Coates~

  2. Interesting tidbit of history……I’m watching the army vs navy football game and can’t help but laugh at the pro-war propaganda their spewing. The worst was this commercial by the navy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3wtUCPWmeI “A global force for good”. I am sick of the policing of the world by our military and the propaganda on tv to get young people to join the armed forces. I respect those who choose to join but I don’t support either occupation.

  3. Great resurrectionary Christmas song sung by Stevie Wonder. Couldn’t help thinking of that John Shelley line “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind.” Thanks for posting it.

  4. Ryan:

    The Navy ad made me proud of the Navy.

    JC:

    Sometimes, unfortunately, human beings abuse the responsibility of their stewardship over the world, including cruelty to animals. Using them for food is a legal exercise of that stewardship, not an abuse of it. I won’t address the other complaints; I do not believe they are worth addressing.

    Addressing the original post in a roundabout sort of way, I’d just like to add that world peace is a noble goal, but we must keep in mind that human beings are inherently competitive, opportunistic individuals. We can work for the ideal while remembering the reality. At the same time, we look forward to the eternal peace which exists only beyond our own time and place.

    Just my .02.

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